Six Lethargies : Preview
Fascination in Physicality
Six Lethargies : Preview
In The Rehearsal Room
BalletBoyz at the BalletBoyz Studio, Kingston, 3rd November
Preview by Heather Moulson
I felt a sense of great privilege to be invited to a rehearsal by BalletBoyz, the remarkable contemporary dance company now in its 25th year, founded by the innovative Michael Nunn and William Trevitt.
Welcomed by the company into a stunning studio space, I sat there with awe witnessing incredible talent choreographed by Iván Pérez and Seirian Griffiths. Eight dancers, three girls and five boys, gave an intensive preview of their major new work, Six Lethargies, which has its world première at Sadler’s Wells later this month. I will be there on the first night!
I was impressed by the relaxed atmosphere and was fully absorbed in such professionalism and respect by these unique participants. Reluctant to leave but still excited about talking to Michael Nunn, William Trevitt and the two wonderful choreographers, we were taken to another studio where another fascinating session took place. After a discussion on the set and backdrop, we were told we had witnessed a sequence of the middle point of the Six Lethargies concept in the other studio, the most inter-related and intense point of the production. This was the peak of the narrative line.
Their aim is not to get caught up about drama, just to explore what it makes one feel as a human being, and the hope that people will come away with an experience. Well, I already had.
This is an ambitious production for BalletBoyz with up to 44 male and female dancers on stage. Musical director Keaton Henson, who has an impressive background, will work with 37 onstage string players. Rehearsing for seven weeks, the company have been taking on the vast subject of visceral emotions, gravitational feel and embrace, and looking at ways to grow. It is an amazing and clever concept. The dancers will be bringing in their own interpretations for the five performances at Sadler’s Wells.
I could sense the tangible uplift in this small community. They expressed that looking through a macro lens that made this notion more abstract and evocative, allowing one to think clearly. With their movement growing into so much interpretation and ambiguity, the ripple of intensity was not missed.
The BalletBoyz have worked hard and deserved this splendour after 25 years, and I will be applauding them on the opening night. Many thanks to dancers Joshua Attwood, Dan Baines, Alex De La Bastide, Paris Fitzpatrick, Dylan Jones, Elisabet Liisu Cerenius, Faye Tan and Kai Tomioka and choreographers Iván Pérez and Seirian Griffiths for showing us such insight to a powerful production. Thank you to Michael Nunn and William Trevitt for opening up to us about such a fascinating concept.
Please go and see Six Lethargies at Sadler’s Wells from the 18th to 21st November. I’m sure it will be well worth a visit.
Heather Moulson, November 2026
Photography by Alex Storey
