Crystal Pite, Ballet Black and Kate Prince to feature in BBC Arts 2020 dance season

A new dance work by choreographer Crystal Pite and documentaries about Ballet Black and Kate Prince will feature as part of BBC Arts’ 2020 dance season.

The season will focus on female choreographers and include live performances filmed at Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Opera House in London.

Revisor, a new “dance theatre hybrid” by Crystal Pite and actor-writer Jonathon Young, will be screened on BBC 4, recorded during its run at Sadler’s Wells. The work, which explores “conflict, comedy and corruption in the potent relationship between language and the body”, will be filmed and directed by Jeff Tudor.

Revisor review at Sadler’s Wells, London – ‘Gogol meets Kafka in a dark farce’

Imagine Kate Prince: Every Move She Makes will follow the choreographer and founder of ZooNation dance company as she embarks on her West End production, Message in a Bottle. The production is set to music by Sting, and opened at London’s Peacock Theatre in February 2020.

It will be shown on BBC1.

Commissioner for BBC Arts Emma Cahusac said: “It’s an honour to be able to showcase such a brilliant range of talent from the world of dance. Whether it be the global superstars of ballet or flamenco, groundbreaking new works from leading choreographers, or beloved traditional dance moves that we all enjoy today, I couldn’t be more excited about curating this year’s line-up for our audiences.”

Inspired by the life of Carlos Acosta, Yuli: The Carlos Acosta Story is based on the dancer’s autobiography and will be shown on BBC2, commissioned for BBC Arts by Mark Bell. The film is directed by Icíar Bollaín and written by Paul Laverty.

Sadler’s Wells and ClearStory have collaborated to produce a second series of Danceworks, showcasing four documentaries for BBC4. It will include a 30-minute film following the work of Ballet Black founder Cassa Pancho and dancer Mthuthuzeli November, as he choreographs his new work, The Waiting Game, ahead of its world premiere at the Barbican later this month.

The series will also feature short films about choreographer Sharon Eyal, flamenco dancer María Pagés, and Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers Gorka Márquez and Karen Hauer.

Directed by Richard Macer for BBC4, documentary Men in Dance will follow students and principal dancers at the the Royal Ballet at different stages of their careers, exploring “masculinity and the pursuit of perfection”.

Director of the Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare said: “I’m passionate about opening up dance to new audiences.

“Working with the BBC on the Men in Dance documentary has provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate our extraordinary artists and provide an insight into the unique life of the male dancer, from student in training to star on the stage.”

“Richard Macer has spent a great deal of time shadowing the company to create a film that reveals the passion, determination, strength and artistry that define the male dancer today and make the Royal Ballet so very special,” he added.

Choreographer Crystal Pite: ‘I love working with the rhythm and the complexity of language’