Sadler’s Wells Young Associate 23/24: Elisabeth Mulenga

Rambert School is delighted to share that third year student, Elisabeth Mulenga, has been selected to join 23/24 Sadler’s Wells Young Associate cohort. Over the next two years Elisabeth will be provided with a professional development pathway tailored to her, as well as the opportunity to present her own original work as part of Sadler’s Wells’ artistic programme. Upon hearing of her selection Elisabeth said “I am so joyful and grateful to have this opportunity. I look forward to expanding and pushing my ideas to new places with the support of Sadler’s Wells.”

Elisabeth was born in Birmingham and is of German and Zambian heritage. Elisabeth’s choreography comes from a practice of sensitivity and awareness, aiming to notice and give justice to the extremities and fullness of lived emotional experiences. Her work can be unflinching and disturbing as well as tender and intimate.

Elisabeth finds a lot of inspiration in writers and film directors who notice and articulate such specific details and nuances in the human psyche. Her choreographic choices are also influenced by her spirituality and cultural identities.

Elisabeth began experimenting with screen dance during the pandemic, creating and performing in films, before starting to explore choreography for live performances. Elisabeth was part of NYDC’s eighth cohort, before training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

Elisabeth has performed in works by Thick & Tight, Jessica Nupen, Magnus Westwell, Kennedy Junior Muntanga, Ivan Michael Blackstock, Gianna Gi and Russell Maliphant. In April 2022, Elisabeth competed in the Grand Final of BBC Young Dancer 2022, winning the Choreographic Innovation Award for her solo ‘Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?’.

The biggest congratulations to Elisabeth! Meet the other Young Associates via the Sadler’s Wells website.