DESTINO: March – May 2009
Destino was a unique collaboration between Dance United, Sadler’s Wells, the Adugna Community Dance Theatre Company of Ethiopia and over 140 non-professional dancers from diverse London communities with ages ranging from 9 to 90.

Destino brought them all together on the world famous stage at Sadler’s Wells to perform an integrated programme that united the worlds of professional and non-professional dance.

Destino also brought Dance United’s work full circle. The company grew out of a street children’s dance project in Ethiopia that launched the international careers of Ethiopian dancers, Junaid Jemal Semdi and Addisu Demissie. Both dancers performed at Sadler’s Wells before accompanying Destino on a major tour of the UK before taking it back to Ethiopia for sell-out performances in Addis Ababa, which also featured a company of disabled dancers.

The performance showcased two new commissions from Hofesh Shechter and Russell Maliphant & Adam Benjamin as well as a large-scale inter-generational piece choreographed by Tara Jane Herbert and Susannnah Broughton, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The remarkable story of Destino, and the incredible journey it chronicles for many of the performers, was also captured on camera and is now a moving documentary film which traces the story of Destino from the back streets of Addis Ababa to one of the most famous dance stages in the world.

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