Russell Maliphant announced as NYDC Artistic Director
Photo credit
Gigi Giannella and Tony Nandi
Entering its eighth year, National Youth Dance Company (NYDC), the country’s flagship company for young dancers run by Sadler’s Wells, appoints its next two Guest Artistic Directors, Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Russell Maliphant in 2019/20 and acclaimed choreographer Alesandra Seutin in 2020/21.
NYDC has begun its search for the next intake of 30 young dancers to join the company and work with its newly appointed Guest Artistic Director, Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Russell Maliphant, to begin creating the new commission in autumn 2019. NYDC Workshops are taking place across England until 8 July to find the next cohort.
Russell Maliphant takes over from current Guest Artistic Director, the Olivier award-winning dance artist Botis Seva whose work created for NYDC, MADHEAD, premiered at DanceEast in Ipswich on 20 April. MADHEAD tours to the remaining six venues across England this summer, closing at Sadler’s Wells on Friday 19 July.
Russell Maliphant established his own dance company in 1996 as the framework to create productions and work with his own ensemble of dancers. Since then, he has received two Olivier awards, three South Bank Show awards and four Critics’ Circle National Dance awards, amongst many other national and international awards and nominations. The Russell Maliphant Dance Company became one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations in April 2018.
Maliphant’s work has also been performed by renowned dance artists including Sylvie Guillem, BalletBoyz, Munich Ballet and English National Ballet, for whom his piece Second Breath was part of the critically celebrated programme Lest We Forget. Maliphant became an Associate Artist of Sadler's Wells in 2005 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts from Plymouth University in 2011. Two graduates of NYDC, Edd Arnold and Folu Odimayo, make up part of the Russell Maliphant Dance Company and can be seen performing in Silent Lines at Sadler’s Wells, on 18 & 19 October.
Russell Maliphant, NYDC Guest Artistic Director 2019/20, said: “I am very happy to be working as the next Guest Artistic Director for National Youth Dance Company. NYDC provides great opportunities for young dancers to develop in to world class performers - I have seen this in action over the years and have personally worked with some of that talent in my own company. I’m looking forward to starting this season with another new generation of dancers here in the UK.”
NYDC brings together the brightest talent from across England, immersing the members fully in the process of creating, performing and touring new work, giving them a unique insight into the dance profession. It has a track record of putting young people on paths to successful dance careers, with over 80% of all former NYDC dancers now either in further dance studies, in vocational training or working professionally. Graduates have since danced in Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Rambert2 and Jasmin Vardimon Company. Graduate Ruby Portus is also part of Sadler’s Wells’ Young Associates programme.
NYDC is jointly funded by Arts Council England, under National Portfolio Organisation funding, and the Department for Education. National portfolio funding has been awarded for 2018-2022, and current funding is confirmed until March 2020.