Sadler’s Wells announces next Guest Artistic Directors of National Youth Dance Company

Alleyne Dance is a unique and powerful company that blends Caribbean, hip hop and kathak, within a contemporary dance context. The choreographic language focuses on rhythms and textures with movement that is athletic, fast paced and dynamic, with infusions of lyrical and fluid motion.  

Founded in 2014 by sisters, Kristina and Sadé Alleyne, the company strives for high quality and excellence in their three main objectives of Performance, Participation and Development.

Alleyne Dance has worked with acclaimed companies including Martha Graham Dance Company, Trioler Landstheater: Ballet Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre and 2Faced Dance Company. Some awards the company has received include Best Independent Company – National Dance Awards, Black Female Icons of Lewisham – Brockley Max and The Mayor of London and Bench 2019 Women of Colour Commission. Both Sadé and Kristina have performed on the Sadler’s Wells stage many times with various acclaimed companies.

National Youth Dance Company, run by Sadler’s Wells is England’s flagship company for young dancers. Since its inception 364 dancers have joined the company, working intensively with renowned dance artists as Guest Artistic Directors including Boy Blue, Oona Doherty, Wayne McGregor, Alesandra Seutin, Russell Maliphant, Botis Seva, Sharon Eyal, Damien Jalet, Michael Keegan Dolan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan & Jasmin Vardimon.  

Kristina and Sadé Alleyne said, “We are thrilled to step into this role as Guest Artistic Directors and to shape a new, vibrant chapter with NYDC. Alleyne Dance has always been about pushing physical, emotional, and creative boundaries, and we look forward to bringing that same energy and vision to this exciting journey. We believe in dance that speaks, challenges, and inspires, and we can’t wait to discover the voices that will help us tell powerful new stories."

Hannah Kirkpatrick, Head of National Youth Dance Company, said, “We are so excited that Kristina and Sadé will be starting this new chapter with NYDC. They have been connected to the company since the early days having worked as rehearsal directors when the company was led by Akram Khan. They know NYDC well and were a clear choice to follow Boy Blue, as they trained with them when they were teenagers. It’s set to be a fantastic year, they have a huge amount to share with our young people. We are looking for dancers from all dance styles and backgrounds and can’t wait to meet them!”

This month NYDC will begin its search for the next intake of young dancers to join the company and work with Alleyne Dance to create a new piece of work from autumn 2025 which will premiere in April 2026. To find these young dancers, NYDC Experience Workshops will be taking place across England from May to July in the following towns and cities: Leeds, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Falmouth, Blackpool, London, Ipswich, and Coventry. The final audition will be held in London at Sadler's Wells East on Saturday 6 September.  

This year’s NYDC cohort premiered current Guest Artistic Director Boy Blue’s new work Gravity at Leeds Playhouse on Friday 18 April and will embark on a nationwide tour with a performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on Saturday 19 July as well as a performance at Sadler’s Wells East on Friday 25 July as part of the new annual YFX Festival, which celebrates and showcases the exceptional range of youth dance work across the United Kingdom.

Sign up for the workshops on the NYDC website here: National Youth Dance Company How to Join NYDC - National Youth Dance Company