“Our works are experiences, rather than entertainment.” ~Rudi Cole
It’s a hot day in Barcelona, as I speak with HUMANHOOD Co-Founders Rudi Cole and Julia Robert, ahead of their company’s arrival at Sadler’s Wells East with their latest production, Vortex.
During HUMANHOOD’s 10th anniversary year, Vortex has already completed successful tours to European and UK destinations to sell out audiences and is now preparing to head to London from 10 – 14 November, ideally to the same kind of reception!
Clearly, they are succeeding in reaching new viewers and not just dance fans. Robert reveals she’d received feedback from viewers who would not normally go to watch dance at the theatre. They’d declared they had enjoyed the full experience and world that encompassed them on stage, which wasn’t ‘just watching’ a dance. “There’s already a mood, an energy on stage that invites them in,” Robert explains. “People loved it; that’s something to celebrate. Vortex is very different from (previous work) ͚∞ {Infinite} which had a voice that guides. Vortex is more of a dance piece but still has a meditative quality and a continuous, ever-evolving space.”
“Our works have a mystical element to them,” continues Cole, “and it’s down to the individual in the auditorium, rather than passively watching, to experience it in their own way without feeling like they’ve missed something or not understood something.”
The co-creators, passionate in detailing their explorative style, wanted to maintain a close relationship with their composer and lighting designer, and so kept very involved in all aspects of creation for Vortex, which was designed on a large breathable scale to enable its travel to different sized stages and venues on tour.
They describe their non-narrative pieces, that instead embody universal themes, energy and motion, that will naturally evoke different feelings and meanings to different people. Speaking of the initial birth of their creative style, Robert reveals that watching narrative theatrical pieces left her feeling bored. With a physics degree behind her, she explained similarities between physics and her choreographic work, in that both required use of the imagination and creativity. “You have to look for questions no one has asked before,” she said, “Enter into the unknown territory. Asking questions and engaging with our physicality, sweating in the studio and finding those answers; I find it super exciting not knowing where it will go, where it will finish. I want that feeling of surprise and discovery for the audience.”
Choosing dancers to be part of this very unique company must be quite a challenge. Indeed, Robert discloses that one company member has been with them for nine years now, whilst others are new. Dancers who bring diversity and unity at the same time are sought after for this freelance company based in both Birmingham and Barcelona, with both cities offering different benefits. For this small organisation of dancers, the sense of group energy and connection as human beings is vital, to maintain their onstage connection, and to move as one body – to succeed.
“We look for great musicality in dancers, an acute sense of rhythm,” Cole divulges further, explaining that during research and company classes, improvisation always plays a great role. During their works, the shape and pathway of movement is set, but individual movement comes from the artists in spontaneous inspiration. “We want artists who have a passion to understand movement, to be an investigator and an explorer of movement,” he says.
I ask Cole and Robert if they are inspired for future works while they are in creation for a current work and am met with a hundred percent positive answer. “Ideas expand as we are creating,” Robert says. “We might find answers to questions we haven’t asked yet, and maybe we’ll save it for the next production.” Speaking of next time, work is currently underway for their next dance work, Light. “The idea is about the first time we heard, ‘Let there be light,’” Robert explains. “There is so much darkness around us – how can we let more light in?”
As choreographers, Cole explains that one of the best methods of development was for them to receive critical feedback. “When we started, there was a lot of mimicking and copying; you can’t deny your training and background,” he says, acknowledging that it takes time to develop an authentic voice to express oneself. “Determination is great,” Robert adds, “but also listen to what life is asking of you.”
HUMANHOOD 10 years on from the starting blocks, look forward to giving members of the public the opportunity to get involved. On the last day of their run at Sadler’s Wells East, on 14 November 2026, ticket holders have the chance to book free tickets to attend a pre-performance SYNC session with Cole and Robert. The immersive session is open to all abilities – in keeping with their inclusive philosophy, and part of HUMANHOOD’s mission to bring the power of movement to communities, to anyone seeking a deeper connection with their body, soul and spirit. Participants will absorb an understanding of Robert and Cole’s somatic movement method, which originated as a practice to help professional dancers connect to the spiritual essence behind their dancing.
As the time draws closer for curtain up in London, Cole draws a picture for us of the company’s ideal case pre-performance scenario, approximately half an hour before the performance is due to commence. “Curtain down, and a dim light on stage, we invite dancers on stage. Each dancer has their own space, but we are also sharing that space, so we are aware of each other and their dynamics,” he says. “We come together and do a calm, soothing, grounding movement as a collective. Not just to calm the mind, but to connect with all the body. Bringing the mind in sync with the body.”
A one-act performance is ideal for Robert and Cole’s creation style, where the seamless action will uphold the hypnotic or trans-like state both the audience and the dancers enter into once the production begins. “To have an interval would break into that and cut the atmosphere and flow. We want the voyage to continue all the way,” explains Robert.
It will be fun to imagine the preparation described above taking place behind the curtain, once I’m seated in the audience at Sadler’s Wells East; waiting for the curtain to rise on Vortex, and seeing where the journey will take me. Will you be riding, too?!
HUMANHOOD will present Vortex at Sadler’s Wells East from 10 – 14 November. For tickets and more information, visit www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/humanhood-vortex.
By Louise Ryrie of Dance Informa.
