My approach to performance is interdisciplinary and over the years I have worked with theatre companies including: Volcano, Peta Lily, Red Shift and The Laboratory Theatre of Manipur. Dance companies including: Ultima Vez, Kokuma and ACE. And in film with Shane Meadows, Jonathan Mostow, BBC, Channel 4, ITV and others. I have created many pieces for theatre and often work as an acting coach, movement director and choreographer for films including, Elaine Constantine's BAFTA nominated Northern Soul - for which I was also the choreographer - and on The Receptionist by Jenny Lu.
My early training was at Bretton Hall and I went on to train with Rena Mirecka (Grotowski Company), Desmond Jones School of Mime, Lokendra Arambam and John Martin (Pan Projects Intercultural Theatre). Stylistically my body of work might fall under the banner of physical theatre, though I find this term problematic.
Capoeira has been a part of my everyday life and training since 1988 and I qualified as a Professor in 2001 under the guidance of Associação de Capoeira Senzala, Santos, Brasil. I was the first practitioner to introduce and develop Capoeira in the North and the Midlands, establishing schools at Manchester University, Birmingham Dance Xchange and Leeds University from 1997 - 2007. Over the years I have taught thousands of students in the UK and abroad, worked with numerous contemporary dance and theatre organisations, performed throughout the UK and developed several formados (teachers)
I was the Artistic Director of the maverick Manchester-based Urban Expansions (1999 - 2006), responsible for the successful stage play, Once Upon a Time in Wigan as well as the Batizado Urban Dance Festivals. I went on to become the Artistic Director of Cambridge-based Dance Offensive (2006 - 2013). I worked for Sadler's Wells Breakin' Convention Project, on their Open Art Surgery artist development programme as a mentor and assistant to Jonzi D (2013-2015). I regularly work as a mentor and dramaturg with artists straddling theatre, dance and film
A Brief View of Past Work
2017- ongoing
Movement Director-Choreographer-Acting Coach
Multiple commercial projects in Fashion and Film
Clients include Gucci, Kenzo, Nike. See Industry Art for more
2015-16
Creator-Dramaturg: BLOCK - DDT Project
Arts Council funded dance/theatre research and development project. Investigating processes of displacement, social loss, OCD and gentrification. Working with hip hop dance artists in the space of UK theatre.
2015
Acting Coach: Uncanny Films,
The Receptionist Director Jenny Lu, London
2015
Actor: Paramount Pictures
Hunters Prayer, Director Jonathan Moscow, UK
2014
Dramaturg: DASS 2014, Royal Academy of Dance, London
A Dance Theatre Laboratory residency with the Russian Contemporary Dance Academy
Actor: Wildgrass Films
Long Forgotten Fields Director John Stanford, UK
Dramaturg/Choreographer: New Manoeuvres.
‘Not Waving’ at the GOlive Festival, Lion and Unicorn, London
Dance Dramaturg: Passion & Purpose.
‘S.T.U.P.I.D’ at the Chelsea Theatre, London
Dance Dramaturg: Crimson Grae & the Rovers.
‘Re: Redrum’ at Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne and Breakin’ Convention, London
2013-15
Guest Mentor: Breakin’ Convention - Open Art Surgery.
A dance research programme headed by Sadler’s Well. Assisting artistic director, Jonzi D
Birmingham, Doncaster and London
2010-13
Choreographer/Acting Coach: Stubborn Heart Productions
‘Northern Soul’ a film by Elaine Constantine (Universal 2014)
BAFTA nominated and NME winner, Best New Film, 2015
2013
Dramaturg/Choreographer: New Manoeuvres.
Carcharodon a dance for film, Cambridge
2006-13
Artistic Director: Dance Offensive, Cambridge
Training emerging young performers, including young offenders and at-risk groups, through an extensive developmental programme. Devising and choreographing shows, fusing theatre, dance and film. Winner of two Youth Justice Awards.
“It's experiments such as these, which break with convention in order to explore the stage, that keep the festival ahead of the game.” Sanjoy Roy- Guardian 2010 (Breakin' Convention)
“The most serious minded work came from Cambridgeshire based company dance offensive. In a thoughtful, clever blend of movement and text.” Donald Hutera - Times 2011 (Breakin' Convention)
2004
Actor: BBC Films
The Miners Strike, Director Steve Condie (Mike)
2003
Actor: Warp Films
Dead Man's Shoes' Director Shane Meadows (Tuff)
2003
Choreographer: Red Shift Theatre Company
The Legend of King Arthur, Director Jonathan Holloway
2003-5
Choreographer/Director/Producer Urban Expansions Limited
‘Once Upon a Time in Wigan’, a play about Northern Soul, politics and life.
The production was collaboration with Contact Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Written (under a commission by Urban Expansions Limited) by Mick Martin
Nominated for three MEN theatre awards.
“Once Upon A Time In Wigan is one of the best new plays to hit the stage in a long time and deserves to have ‘em queuing like they used to outside the Wigan Casino” Glenn Meads - Whats On Stage 2003
“Drama lovers can admire the soul of Paul Sadot’s sharply observed production” Alfred Hickling - Guardian 2003
2001
Lead Choreographer/Producer: Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
For the specialist stages: Breaking, Bhangra, Capoeira and Street Dance
2000
Lead Dancer: Ocean Colour Scene, 'July' (Film)
1999 -2000
Performer: Volcano Theatre Company
Moments Of Madness by Paul Davies, Director Fern Smith, UK Tour.
1998:
Performer: Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
Trafford Tanzi by Claire Luckham, Director Fern Smith, (Dad) UK Tour
1998
Performer: Millstream Theatre Company
Adventures In A West Yorkshire Landscape by Mick Martin, Director Chris Masters, UK Tour
1997:
Performer: Laboratory Theatre of Manipur
Macbeth Stage Of Blood, Director Lokendra Arambam, Watermans Arts Centre, London
1997- 2013:
Founder: Capoeira Norte (Professor Tijolo),
Training under Master Sombra, Associação de Capoeira Senzala, Santos since 1988.
Introducing Capoeira to the Midlands and North of England, establishing schools at Leeds University, Manchester University and Birmingham Dance Xchange.
Teaching in Europe, Australia, Brasil, Singapore and Russia.
The first Capoeira practitioner in the UK to transcribe the movements of Capoeira into a hybridized and integrated performance context for dancers. Working with Kokuma, ACE, Red Shift, Ludus, Volcano, Nike and others.
1996
Capoeira Instructor: Wim Vandekeybus and Ultima Vez, Belgium
A week long residency working with the company dancers.
1996
Actor: Peta Lily and NTC
The Porters Daughter by Peta Lily (Witch, Serving Boy, MacBeth), UK Tour
1995
Director: House Theatre Company
The Immigrants Song by Mick Martin, Bradford Alhambra.
1994
Director: Action Theatre Company, Singapore
'Six Lonely Oysters' by Ovidia Yu
Re-staged in 1996. Singapore Times best new play award 1996.
“Side splitting humour, fast moving and stimulating” ChristineKhor - Business Times
1991
Actor: House Theatre Company
On A Stone Bridge by Mick Martin, Director Mike Sherwood, (Pank) UK Tour
