This term, young dancers from balletLORENT's Youth Academy have taken centre stage in shaping a brand-new production, The Best Worst Dances. Through close collaboration with choreographer Liv Lorent and the balletLORENT company, both junior and Creative Studio groups have played an instrumental role in researching and developing ideas for the future performance.
The young participants have explored a diverse range of dance styles, from the high-energy moves of K-Pop and Bollywood to spontaneous steps they have picked up from gaming and social media. The project has delved into the essence of uninhibited dance, drawing inspiration from iconic moments in film and television, as the dancers embrace movement without self-consciousness, fear, or restriction.
Currently in an exciting experimental phase, The Best Worst Dances highlights the captivating nature of dance that defies convention. It celebrates the pure joy of movement—the way people dance when no one is watching, free from judgment and full of creative expression. The input from the Youth Academy has been integral to the artistic development of this project, directly influencing the choreography and overall vision of the professional production set to take place later this year.
Once fully realised, The Best Worst Dances will be performed by balletLORENT’s professional dancers, featuring special cameo appearances from Youth Academy participants and members of the local West End community. This collaboration promises to be an exciting showcase of talent, energy, and fearless creativity.
This weeks performance, was a special preview of the work in progress, giving our guest audience a first glimpse at this unique and dynamic project.
Performing from the Youth Academy:
JUNIORS: Leo Fashanu, Alex Fashanu, Liam Phillips, Gino Mayer, Hayden Cook, Klaudia Pechova, Promess Longi, Arjun Kaul, Ruby-May Gregory, Peter Cunningham, Abigail Bess, Carter Sumner, Willow-Grace Cleghorn, Lyla Dylan France.
CREATIVE STUDIO: Michael Rance, Jack Haycock, Cameron Earl, Jamie Matthews, Otto Purtill-Ritchie, Albie Crompton.
DIRECTION: Liv Lorent
REHEARSAL ASSISTANTS AND PERFORMERS: Debbi Purtill, Gavin Coward, John Kendall, Tassia Sissons, Alicia Meehan, James Southward.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting production as it moves toward its grand debut later this year!
