This March, Alexander Whitley Dance Company premieres its most ambitious project to date with a new double bill The Rite of Spring / Mirror performed at Sadler’s Wells East from Wednesday 18 – Saturday 21 March.
Combining contemporary dance with live motion capture and AI technologies, the production investigates the tension between human agency and the forces that shape our fate. Drawing on mythology, machine logic, and raw physicality, the two new works reflect on our past and envision possible futures, from the growing influence of algorithmic systems to ritualised acts of surrender. Together, they offer a visceral journey through observation, transformation, and the enduring human need to be seen.
The double bill opens with Mirror, inspired by philosopher Shannon Vallor’s book The AI Mirror and set to a score by Galya Bisengalieva, who’s described as a “powerful force in new and primordial music”. This new work examines the risks that AI poses to human relationships when we form attachments to its reflections and mistake them for something deeper than they are. This is followed by a radical reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s seminal work, The Rite of Spring, which reframes its primal themes of community and sacrifice in the context of our collective surrender of trust to AI.
Alexander Whitley is a leading Artistic Director and choreographer celebrated for his technologically innovative and intellectually engaging productions that push the boundaries of contemporary dance. Widely regarded as one of Britain’s most exciting emerging talents, he explores the transformative potential of digital platforms, blending movement with cutting-edge technology to create multi-disciplinary experiences.
His choreography has graced stages for prestigious companies including The Royal Ballet, Rambert, BalletBoyz, Candoco, Gandini Juggling, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Hessisches Staatsballett in Germany. Whitley previously appeared at Sadler’s Wells with his company’s work Anti-Body in the Lilian Baylis Studio in 2022, but The Rite of Spring / Mirror marks AWDC’s debut on the main stage at the new Sadler’s Wells East.
In 2014, he founded Alexander Whitley Dance Company (AWDC), an internationally acclaimed, artist-led creative studio dedicated to redefining dance through pioneering integrations of digital technology. The company crafts groundbreaking performances across live stage, screen, immersive installations, and interactive platforms. These works have toured major UK venues and international festivals, and have earned a reputation for ambitious, thought-provoking explorations of the human-digital interface.
Trained at the Royal Ballet School and beginning his career with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Whitley transitioned into contemporary dance with companies like Rambert, Michael Clark Company, Sydney Dance Company, and Wayne McGregor Random Dance. His visionary approach continues to place him at the forefront of innovation in the field.
Alexander Whitley said, “This production marks an important moment for the company, with our debut at Sadler’s Wells East and our first return to a landmark of modern dance. I’m drawn to revisiting The Rite of Spring now because it was forged in a time of social rupture that echoes the paradigm shift we’re experiencing in the age of AI, and because the music’s raw, volatile energy embodies the instability and urgency of these moments of profound transformation. Where Mirror approaches AI through the lens of an intimate relationship, Rite expands that inquiry to the scale of community. Together, they exemplify what our work is about: using new technologies creatively to engage with the deeper societal shifts they are bringing about.”
Rob Jones, Sadler’s Wells Associate Artistic Director said, “This double bill has been a long time in the making and we are very proud to be able to present it at Sadlers Wells East. Alexander Whitely is a true innovator, and we can’t wait to see his take on the Right of Spring and new creation Mirror.“
Alexander Whitley Dance Company’s The Rite of Spring / Mirror will be at Sadler’s Wells 18-21 March 2026. Tickets are on sale now from £15 at www.sadlerswells.com
