She's Got The Moves...

Meet the Movement Director – Denni Sayers, she’ll be working with young people performing at the Proms this year.

I will be working with all the young performers, helping them get match fit for their Proms performance. I will also work with the presenters, and the other performers in the show. Last year I had a great time working with a huge firebird puppet, this year I hope to get the entire audience on their feet dancing to Bernstein’s 'Mambo'!

What is a Movement Director?

A movement director is responsible for anyone moving around on the stage. Sometimes that means choreographing dances, and sometimes it’s just a question of helping people feel comfortable with what they are doing on stage.

When I work with very big groups of people on stage it’s also a question of good traffic control, getting 60 people on and off, with only one narrow entrance, takes organisation and planning. The Royal Albert Hall is a very special place to choreograph in because of its unusual shape. I work very closely with the director and with the conductor to make the show musically and visually exciting.

What’s your favourite thing about the job that you do?

I get to work with lots of different types of performers, with wonderful live music, and I get to travel a lot too. I am writing these answers from my hotel in Chicago at the moment, next week I will be in Northern Ireland, then Southampton, and after the Proms I go to work in Copenhagen.

What is your favourite piece and why?

I am loving the energy and drama of the Shostakovich piece, and I have always loved the 'Mambo', ever since I was a dancer in 'West Side Story', it’s impossible to sit still when listening to it.

What are you most looking forward to about the Proms?

Being in the audience of the Royal Albert Hall, sharing the energy coming off the stage as our young performers get to make music alongside the amazing live orchestra. And I can’t wait to see everyone up dancing to the 'Mambo'!

We'll be revealing the young performers who will be appearing at this year's Ten Pieces Proms shortly.