Sadler’s Wells’ education programme, Connect, has long expressed the simple ethos of Lilian Baylis, one of the most visionary directors of Sadler’s Wells, to make the arts accessible to everyone. In our contemporary lives, we recognise that dance connects people, promotes confidence and physical wellbeing. Our work prioritises community involvement, educational insight and challenges perceptions of who can dance.

Activities are carefully designed to suit all tastes and experiences, drawing on the diversity of Sadler’s Wells dance programming. Our activities truly cater for 0s to 90s with local primary school children rubbing shoulders with our resident over 60s performers, Company of Elders.

Connect’s work is at the heart of the Sadler’s Wells vision which embraces artistic excellence and opening the theatre to new audiences and experiences. Activities range from post-show talks, lecture-demonstrations, an over 60s arts appreciation club, weekly Baby Groovers classes for toddlers and their carers, termly dance development projects in primary and secondary schools and large-scale community events. The highlight of our calendar is the annual Connect Festival which provides a showcase for many of our projects and offers upto 2000 members of our local community a chance to perform at Sadler’s Wells.

London Youth Dance, which promotes and supports youth dance activity in the capital is based at Sadler's Wells. Visit www.londondance.com/youth for all the latest news on workshops, performances, classes, opportunities, youth group auditions and ticket offers and sign up for monthly ebulletins of youth dance news relevant to young people - and to youth dance practitioners.

Visit our events page to see what’s on or view past projects on our projects showcase page.