Sadler’s Wells releases three short film commissions that reimagine classic works and announces new public call out

From today, three new short films inspired by a classic piece of work are available to watch for free on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage platform. After a public call out in early 2024, three artists were selected to create a unique short dance film responding to the theme The Classics ReFramed. 189 entrants responded to the public call out and applied for the commission. Emma Farnell-Watson, Folu Odimayo and Mythili Prakash were selected and worked alongside Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage team to produce the film. Watch the three final films here.

Emma Farnell-Watson’s Aṁṁonia draws inspiration from Pina Bausch’s work, exploring the hidden power dynamics within society. The film follows two cleaners who, through the possessions they find in a messy hotel suite, begin to imagine and embody the lives of the guests. Choreographed by Emma Farnell-Watson and Kieran Lai, the movement reflects how objects shape character, power and ways of moving. Directed by Joe Connor, it delves into class boundaries and the unseen structures that confine people, using dance to express what’s often hidden from view.

Set in a decaying nightclub, Folu Odimayo’s The Lions are Coming follows three individuals trapped in the aftermath of an invasion by a group of land-hungry dogs. Once a central place for their community, they find their home reduced to a wasteland and on the verge of redevelopment. Inspired by the ideas of rebirth in the classic dance piece The Rite of Spring, Director Odimayo uses the setting of a queer club to look at wider themes of gentrification and colonialism. The film explores the resilience of marginalised and oppressed communities in their fight for reclaiming their spaces and lands, and the power of dance as an engine for change, togetherness and joy.

Mythili Prakash’s Mollika reflects on the ephemeral nature of time through the dancing body and the power of intergenerational relationships. This poignant dance film is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s song “Amar Mollikaa Bone” about the fragrant jasmine flower that blooms at night and wilts by morning. Directed by Pratyusha Gupta and Mythili Prakash, the film features dancer and choreographer Mythili Prakash alongside her mother and dance teacher, Viji Prakash, and daughter, Rumi Prakash-Gollapudi, with music arranged and performed by Sushma Soma.

Sadler’s Wells has announced the theme for the next public call out is The Floor is Yours. The theme takes inspiration from The Dance Floor, the public performance space at the new venue Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford. The Digital Stage & Studio team is looking for artists to explore how movement can appear in everyday life or unexpected places - whether that's taking inspiration from memories of first dancing in parents’ living room, to finding freedom dancing at clubs. The public call out is open until Thursday 3 April 2025 and the selected films will premiere on Digital Stage in early 2026. The commission is open to dance artists of all styles, aged 18+. Selected artists will receive £6,000 to produce the film with support from the Sadler’s Wells in house videography team.

Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage allows audiences to experience world-class dance in a range of formats from in depth conversations with choreographers to documentaries, podcasts to free activity and educational packs.