California Connections

Martha Graham, Kenneth MacMillan, Bella Lewitzky

Sea of Troubles

Film

In partnership with The Royal Ballet

★★★★★

“A blazing triple bill at Sadler’s Wells”

The Guardian

★★★★

“Breathtakingly beautiful”

The Observer

“…Beauty, grace and Real Emotion from Yorke Dance Project”

L.A. Times

★★★★

“a masterful re-staging of Macmillan’s short ballet”

Everything Theatre

★★★★

“an exceptional blend of old and new”

The Guardian

A dynamic contemporary ballet company

Upcoming Performances

California Connections

This powerful mixed-bill illuminates the ground-breaking work of three icons of contemporary dance; Isadora DuncanMartha Graham and Bella Lewitzky.

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Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet Isadora, was created in 1981. This original three-act ballet captured the life of San Francisco native, Isadora Duncan. YDP’s Isadora has been reimagined and distils MacMillan’s original into a one-act, chamber work exploring the conflict between Isadora’s search for love and her pioneering mission to change the very nature of the art of dance.

Martha Graham spent her formative years in Santa Barbara, California. She experienced her first dance performance, by the Denishawn Company, in Los Angeles, whom she soon went on to dance with. Graham created her masterpiece Errand into the Maze in 1947, exploring the depths of human fear and sexual power struggles, based on the legends of Ariadne, Theseus and the Minotaur

Lewitzky, whose highly acclaimed company was rooted in Los Angeles, made the boldly sculptural and physically demanding Meta 4 with an original score  by Robert Xavier Rodriguez in 1994. 

Rounding out the programme, artistic director, Yolande Yorke-Edgell premieres a new work inspired by the power of these three women and the essence of their enduring legacies.

Under the artistic direction of Yolande Yorke-Edgell, Yorke Dance Project is a dynamic contemporary ballet company rooted in tradition while dancing our way into the future.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1998 before relocating to the UK in 2009, the hallmark of YDP’s unique programming is our commitment to presenting immaculately re-constructed classics alongside premieres by both established and emerging choreographers. We combine each of our productions with dynamic outreach activities to engage, inform and inspire the public.

The company’s compellingly, athletic dancers at the peak of their creative powers are joined by guest artists from The Royal Ballet, the Martha Graham Dance Company and celebrated, London-based freelance artists.

What’s Happening

Upcoming Film Screenings

Upcoming Film Screenings

Sea of Troubles by Kenneth MacMillan October 2023 Tuesday 10 October — The Royal Opera House, London Saturday 14 October — Merlin Theatre, Frome Monday 30 October — Bryanston College November 2023 Thursday 9 November — Dorchester Arts Sunday 12 November — The Soho...

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California Connections: Three Pioneering Women

California Connections: Three Pioneering Women

Yorke Dance Project celebrates our 25th anniversary with a new programme honouring the company’s connection to California and the legacies of three pioneering female choreographers—Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Bella Lewitzky. This powerful mixed-bill illuminates...

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ON THE AND: HONOURING THE LEGACY OF SIR ROBERT COHAN, CBE

ON THE AND: HONOURING THE LEGACY OF SIR ROBERT COHAN, CBE

  An exciting programme of works by the late choreographer, featuring guest artists from rambert school of ballet and contemporary dance, yorke dance project, the royal swedish ballet school, and the former richard alston dance company. The Place TheatreLondon...

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V&A Screening

V&A Screening

lOCKDOWN PORTRAITS Sunday 24th April 2022 V&A MuseumLondon SW7 2RL Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre 4 — 5.30pmFree Event www.vam.ac.uk A screening of the atmospheric Lockdown Portraits, which brings together seven solo dance performances, choreographed...

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V&A Pop-up Performances

V&A Pop-up Performances

CONNECTING TO COHAN Sunday 24th April 2022 V&A MuseumLondon SW7 2RL 12 — 3pmFree Event www.vam.ac.uk Choreographed over Zoom during lockdown by renowned dancer and choreographer Sir Robert Cohan and set to music by Nils Frahm and Ólafur...

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TAlk: Morley College with Charlotte Edmonds

TAlk: Morley College with Charlotte Edmonds

Cameo, a place where influential female and non-binary figures in dance can make meaningful contributions by choreographer Charlotte Edmonds About this event Cameo is an event series hosted by Choreographer and Dance Artist Charlotte Edmonds featuring interviews with...

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National Dance Awards nominations 2022

National Dance Awards nominations 2022

The nominations are in for the 22nd Critics' Circle National Dance Awards and we are absolutely delighted to have received 3 nominations. Our Nominations are: BEST INDEPENDENT COMPANY BEST MODERN CHOREOGRAPHY Robert Cohan for Afternoon Conversations with...

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Spring Newsletter 2022

Spring Newsletter 2022

WHAT’S HAPPENING ACE CRF FUNDING The company are thrilled to announce that we have been successful in our application to Arts Council England for round two of the Cultural Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support!  This generous grant will be used to...

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Freya Jeffs in Self by Charlotte Edmonds