We are thrilled to announce the our eight dancers selected to join our award-winning company, Shechter II, the only paid professional development programme of its kind for emerging contemporary dancers in the UK.
Over 1,200 dancers aged between 18 and 25 from 49 countries auditioned for Shechter II. Their ambition was to be part of our biennial programme which aims to develop young dance artists of today who deeply understand their practice, who are engaged, curious and who embrace self-reflection.
The final eight were selected as the most inspiring dance talent from across the globe, including 2 dancers from our partnership with Northern School of Contemporary Dance: Matilde Agostinone (Italy), Teige Bisnought (UK), Nagga Baldina (Italy), Skiye Nataliah (UK), Federica Fantuzi (Italy), Woojin Kwon (South Korea), Armand Lassus (France) and Ella Roberts (UK).
They will be performing Shechter’s compelling new work IN THE BRAIN
Choreography & Music: Hofesh Shechter
Lighting Design: Tom Visser
Part rave. Part ritual. IN THE BRAIN is an invitation to let go – to move, to surrender to the music, and to be swept away in rhythm.
Brought to life by the fierce, unstoppable energy of Shechter II, IN THE BRAIN is a space to break free. To lose yourself. To surrender to the rush of movement, the weight of bass, and the euphoria of bodies locked in Shechter’s signature groove.
Here, the dancers don’t just perform – they unleash. They embody the rhythm, shattering the barrier between stage and audience, pulling you into a fevered, all-consuming experience that leaves you craving more.
Developed from CAVE, a shorter work originally produced by Martha Graham Company and Studio Simkin, which explored nightlife and human gathering through dance and its transcendental quality, IN THE BRAIN builds on this, transforming the theatre into a visceral, high-voltage celebration of movement, music, and pure, unfiltered energy.
Performed by Shechter II
WORLD PREMIERE: 5–6 March 2026, Dampftzentrale, Bern, Switzerland (as part of Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps)
LONDON RUN: Wed 22 – Sat 25 July 2026, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London
PRESS NIGHT: Thursday 23 July 2026, 7.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London
UK dates
10 May 2026 The Riley, Leeds, UK
27-30 May 2026 HOME, Manchester, UK
12-13 June 2026 York Theatre Royal, York, UK
22-25 July 2026 LONDON PREMIERE -Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London, UK
Tickets for the London premiere go on sale Friday 5 December via southbankcentre.co.uk. For international Spring tour dates head over to our What’s On page
As part of Shechter II 2026, Jerwood x SII, funded by the Jerwood Foundation, is a Continued Professional Development (CPD) offer to the 8 dancers. Their CPD includes health and wellbeing, workshop leadership training, self-directed research and development, a week of creation with a guest choreographer, self-promotion and an expanded dance science programme in collaboration with The Place – a deepening partnership which will reflect a renewed commitment to shaping the future of dance through innovation, and to advocate for best practice in the training and support of young dancers.
Commissionners and Co-commisoners
As part of Shechter II 2026, Jerwood x SII, funded by Jerwood Foundation, is a Continued Professional Development (CPD) offer to the 8 dancers. Their CPD includes health and wellbeing, workshop leadership training, self-directed research and development, a week of creation with a guest choreographer, self-promotion and an expanded dance science strand delivered with The Place. Developed through longitudinal research at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) and The Place, the programme shares principles of health, wellbeing, and professional growth reflecting our shared commitment to innovation and best practice in supporting the next generation of dance artists.
IN THE BRAIN is produced by Hofesh Shechter Company. Commissioned by Agora, Cité Internationale de la Danse, Montpellier. Co-commissioned by Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps, Château Rouge, scène conventionnée – Annemasse, Espace 1789, scène conventionnée danse – Saint-Ouen, Scène nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse, Düsseldorf Festival!, with production support from Théâtre de la Ville Paris.
IN THE BRAIN is based on an original work called CAVE, produced by Martha Graham Company and Studio Simkin, which premiered at City Center Dance Festival, New York City, on 6 April 2022.
Hofesh Shechter Company gratefully receives support towards the delivery of Shechter II 2026. This includes core funding from The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Hofesh Shechter Company is delighted to announce renewed project funding from Jerwood Foundation towards Jerwood x SII – a Continued Professional Development (CPD) offer to the dancers.
Hofesh Shechter Company is supported using public funding through Arts Council England and benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects.
For press information and reviewing tickets please contact Cliόna Roberts on 07754 756504 or e-mail cliona@crpr.co.uk