“IT MEANS everything to be able to present ‘Until We Sleep’ in an area I very much owe the start of my career to,” says Botis Seva, speaking ahead of his latest work being shown at Sadler’s Wells East next month.
After international acclaim for BLKDOG, the Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and Olivier Award-winning choreographer’s new Hip Hop dance theatre production is set against the backdrop of authoritarian power, a lone nomad searches for faith while guiding a restless community through shifting realms of time.
With Seva’s signature blend of physicality and freeform movement, the dancers of Far From The Norm navigate a world shaped by struggle and resilience.
The Far From The Norm’s distinctive style of Hip Hop theatre, is a dark atmospheric journey through resistance, transformation and survival.
Driven by a haunting soundscape of percussion and guttural textures by Torben Lars Sylvest, the choreography pulses with urgency.
Feathered costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight evoke warriors shedding past identities, while stark lighting from Tom Visser carves the stage into a volatile arena—one where a higher force looms, unrelenting and divine.
Until We Sleep explores the tension between hope and responsibility, asking what we cling to in order to keep going. Visceral and poetic, it’s a powerful invocation of the human spirit’s fight to stay awake in a world that wants it to sleep.
Seva enthused: “From performing in school talent shows in Dagenham, to creating my early works in the East London dance community, it means everything to be able to present Until We Sleep in an area I very much owe the start of my career to.
“I’m so proud to present my next work at Sadler’s Wells East after BLKDOG’s run at Sadler’s Wells in Angel.
“I really hope this space can be an entry point for young people like me who want to dream in a world of possibilities.”
Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, said “We are so happy to be presenting Until We Sleep at Sadler’s Wells East this summer.
“Botis is a hugely talented choreographer, it’s why we appointed him as an Associate Artist last year, and it’s been great to see his work evolve over the years from his early presentations as part of Breakin’ Convention to the extraordinary BLKDOG that filled our stage in Angel.
“He’s assembled a fantastic team of creatives for his new piece Until We Sleep working with the brilliant Far From The Norm dancers.
“A really important pillar of our work at Sadler’s Wells East is to be able to showcase the extraordinarily rich dance scene in this part of London, platforming local east London-based choreographers, and when we were pulling together our opening programme for the new venue, we knew Botis had to be part of it!”
‘Until We Sleep’ runs at Sadler’s Wells East between June 24 – 28, 2025
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