Empower in Motion Gala, Sadler's Wells

Empower in Motion – A Ballet Inclusive, to give it its full name, brings to Sadler's Wells international ballet stars, choreographers and dancers with disabilities in a gala that will illustrate how far the boundaries of dance are being pushed, while at same time raising funds for Children Today, which works with children and young people with disabilities across the UK.

Host for the evening will be the disability campaigner, podcaster, junior doctor and Children Today patron Grace Spence Green.

Among those taking part will be the Russian-born freelance ballerina Maria Kochetkova, formerly a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, as well as, briefly, English National Ballet. Here's a sampler of her talent:


Kochetkova will be joined by Daniil Simkin, one of the most thrilling and musical dancers anywhere, who is currently a principal with American Ballet Theatre and Berlin State Ballet. Together they'll perform in the world premiere of The Owl Falls, a contemporary piece by the dancer and choreographer Sebastian Kloborg.

Simkin will also partner Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Yaoqian Shang for the first time in a gala staple, the virtuoso pas de deux from Le Corsaire.

English National Ballet's newest and most exciting partnership, Sangeun Lee and Gareth Haw, will dance a pas de deux from that jewel of Romantic Ballet, Giselle, in which they have recently dazzled a packed Coliseum.

Gala Ambassador Joseph Powell-Main, who describes himself as 'a dancer and choreographer on crutches and wheels', will present the world premiere of Passionately Defiant, a piece based on his own dance journey. Powell-Main will also perform with Hannah Rudd in the duet The Sleepwalker, inspired by the opera La Sonambula and devised by Royal Ballet principal Alexander Campbell with choreography by fellow Royal Ballet artist, Kristen McNally, to a score Sophie Cotton.

Also performing are the youngsters of The Royal Ballet School, National Youth Ballet, Parable Dance and Stopgap Dance Company.

In short, this is sure to be an inspirational and entertaining show which, in the words of its producers Ross Freddie Ray and Henry Dowden, 'celebrates the power of inclusivity', as well as raising funds for a good cause.