Must-see events at the Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival
Spring is on its way and there is a contemporary dance festival just around the corner. Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels London 2025 will run from 12 March to 8 April collaborating with partners who are titans of London’s cultural scene: Sadler’s Wells, Royal Ballet and Opera, Tate Modern and Southbank Centre. This wonderfully curated festival is offering a vibrant celebration of choreographic arts featuring 15 productions, including 10 premieres, with over 350 dancers participating across 38 performances. A chance to immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of contemporary dance and witness the dynamic expressions of movement and artistry that the festival has to offer.
Over the years the festival has been staged in Hong Kong, New York, Kyoto and London. This year’s edition will feature recent as well as repertory works accompanied by dance workshops, artist forums and awareness-raising initiatives, all highlighting the links between choreographic heritage and contemporary creation.
We first became aware of Van Cleef & Arpels history with dance when we viewed “The Art of Movement” exhibition at the Design Museum in London in 2022, unveiling many dance related pieces from their patrimonial Collection, including jewellery clips depicting feminine figures performing leaps and entrechats. Their history with dance is a perfect alignment to collaborate in celebrating contemporary choreographic art. Here are some standout performances to consider:
Trisha Brown Dance Company & Noé Soulier – Working Title & In the Fall
Trisha Brown, photo Johan Elbers.
#FLODown: This promises to be a stellar double bill. The repertoire piece WORKING TITLE (1985) was in its day a groundbreaking work by Trish Brown, one of the most influential choreographers of her time. Working Title exemplifies her signature postmodern approach to movement requiring exceptional athleticism and stamina from the dancers. The evening is paired with IN THE FALL (2023) by Noé Soulier, a French choreographer. Aptly, he is another boundary pushing choreographer in contemporary dance and promises more raw physicality as the audience will have the opportunity to observes the controlled unpredictability of his choreography.
Date: 12 – 13 March 2025. Location: Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4TN. Price: from £15 + £4 building maintenance fee.Book now.
(LA)HORDE / Ballet National de Marseille – Age of Content
Ballet National de Marseille + (LA) HORDE, Age of Content, photo Gaëlle Astier-Perret
#FLODown: There are two good reasons to head to this performance. The venue itself and the artist collective that call themselves (LA) HORDE. The chance to see Sadler’s Wells newest state of the art venue is enticing. The venue opened this year in the East with a spectacular opening night.
(LA) HORDE is a collective of three artists: Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Harel. The show will draw on action films, musicals and the video game universe giving us a groundbreaking performance that explores the impact of digital culture on contemporary dance. The boundaries between real life and virtual bodies will be explored while incorporating some monumental stage design. Known for their multidisciplinary approach, (LA)HORDE delves into themes of rebellion and community, making this a must-see for those interested in the fusion of dance and digital media. The collective defines this phenomenon by the term/concept: post internet dance.
Date: 14 – Sunday 16 March 2025. Location: Sadler's Wells East, 101 Carpenters Rd, Stratford Cross, London E20 2AR. Price: £15 + £4 building maintenance fee. Book now.
Lyon Opera Ballet – Merce Cunningham Forever (BIPED and Beach Birds)
Merce Cunningham, photo Annie Leibovitz.
#FLODown: This performance pays homage to the legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham. Featuring two of his seminal works, BIPED and Beach Birds. Despite his passing in 2009 at age 90 his inspiring work continues to influence the dance world.
Beach Birds (1991) is the result of his long and fruitful partnership with composer John Cage. To create BIPED (1999) with music by Gavin Bryars, Merce Cunningham generated movements using a computer software, producing a choreography for artificial shapes: giant slender forms projected next to the people dancing on stage, multiplying moving figures and dimensions.
The Lyon Opera Ballet will no doubt be bringing the pieces to life with a contemporary flair, offering audiences a chance to experience Cunningham’s enduring influence on modern dance.
Date: 19 – 20 March 2025. Location: Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4TN. Price: from £15 + £4 building maintenance fee. Book now.
Neither Drums Nor Trumpets – Pam Tanowitz
Pam Tanowitz, Neither Drums Nor Trumpets, photo Mark Garvin.
#FLODown: Acclaimed choreographer Pam Tanowitz presents a new work that blends classical ballet vocabulary with modern movement. Known for her intricate and innovative choreography, Tanowitz’s performance is anticipated to be a highlight of the festival.
Neither Drums nor Trumpets uses Paul Hamlyn Hall’s rich history, namely its application as a flower market, dance hall, storage for theatre scenery and now as a gathering hospitality space, weaving it through the work.
Date: 25 - 26 March 2025. Location: Royal Ballet and Opera, Bow St, London WC2E 9DD. Price: from £15. Book now.
Robyn Orlin – we wear our wheels with pride…
Robyn Orlin: We wear our wheels with pride. Image Credit Jérôme Séron
#FLODown: I predict this one to be a colourful, uplifting show well worth seeing. Its full title WE WEAR OUR WHEELS WITH PRIDE AND SLAP YOUR STREEET WITH COLOUR….WE SAID BONJOUR TO SATAN IN 1820, by South African choreographer Robyn Orlin, presents a piece that challenges social norms and explores themes of identity and community. The piece is a homage to the rickshaw drivers of South Africa’s past. Orlin has invented a ‘rickshaw dance’, a celebratory dance imbibed with a joyous thirst for life. A true tribute to the Rainbow Nation.
Her provocative and engaging style promises to offer audiences a thought-provoking experience.
Date: 21 - 22 March 2025. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. Price from £22. Book now.
Lastly be sure to look out for the rare opportunity to participate in workshops with some of the artists and companies – separately for both professional dancers and the keen amateur! Workshops link.
Tickets for these performances are available through the respective venues’ box offices. Given the festival’s popularity, it’s advisable to secure your seats early. For a complete schedule and additional information, visit the official Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival website.
Words by Natascha Milsom
