Ballet Black at 25: anniversary double bill comes to Sadler’s Wells

Ballet Black at 25 comes to Sadler’s Wells in London for 4 nights only, from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 October 2026, with every performance at 7.30pm. The anniversary double bill pairs Ingoma, the 2019 work that won an Olivier Award in 2020, with …all towards hope, a joyful new commission from Hope Boykin made especially for the company’s 25th year.

For 25 years, Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black has brought bold new ballet to stages across the UK, creating and sharing original stories with dancers from around the world. This anniversary season celebrates a quarter of a century of innovation, mentoring and collaboration, while looking ahead to the future.

Dates and seats for all 4 nights are on our Ballet Black 25 at Sadler’s Wells page.

Ingoma: a story of strike and resilience

Ingoma was the choreographic debut of Mthuthuzeli November, a former dancer with the company. It is inspired by the 1946 South African miners’ strike, a precursor to the movement against apartheid, and captures the suffering and resilience of Black miners and their communities, bringing rarely told stories to the ballet stage.

The work won the 2020 Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and the Black British Theatre Award for Best Dance Production. Ballet Black counts that Olivier win among its landmark firsts for Black artists in dance. November joined the company as an apprentice and now makes work for main stages, including the Royal Ballet and Opera.

A joyful new commission opens the evening

The evening opens with …all towards hope, a new commission from Hope Boykin, who is described by Sadler’s Wells as Alvin Ailey royalty. Boykin is twice a winner of the Bessie Award, and this piece is her UK choreographic debut. She describes her approach like this:

“I make work and create environments from personal and lived experiences.”

Her piece is a celebration created especially for the company’s 25th year, a vibrant tribute to its journey and a bold look towards its future.

What the critics have said

The Sadler’s Wells listing quotes these reviews:

• “After 25 years and counting, Cassa Pancho’s fine company remains essential.” The Arts Desk, 5 stars
• “Dazzling double bill brings forth resistance and hope.” The Guardian, 4 stars
• “A timely, powerful, inspiring, honest show of dance.” Gramilano, 5 stars

When is the anniversary double bill on at Sadler’s Wells?

There are 4 performances, on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October 2026, and every show starts at 7.30pm. The theatre is on Rosebery Avenue in London, EC1R 4TN, and the nearest Underground station is Angel.

How long is the show?

The evening runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes, including an interval of 20 minutes. The new commission comes first and lasts about 35 minutes. Ingoma follows the interval and also lasts about 35 minutes.

Is it suitable for children?

The age guidance is 7 and over. The show contains haze, bright lights and strobe lighting, so bear these in mind if anyone in your group is sensitive to them.

25 years of change in British ballet

Cassa Pancho founded Ballet Black in 2001, and it is the UK and Europe’s first Black professional neoclassical ballet company. Pancho’s motto, Change Not Trend, sits at the heart of its mission to show diversity on stage and open the art form to Black and Asian dancers.

Over more than 2 decades the company has performed in over 100 venues and built the most diverse audience in the UK for classical ballet. Pancho has personally commissioned over 70 new works, supporting female choreographers from the earliest stages of their careers, and Ballet Black is the first and only UK company to have won all 3 of the Critics’ Circle company awards.

After London, the anniversary tour continues to Watford on 4 November and Nottingham on 12 November.

For all 4 London dates, see Ballet Black 25 at Sadler’s Wells.

Header photo: ASH.