Spitfire presented as part of Sadler's Wells & BBC Arts' festival of dance

Matthew Bourne's Spitfire (originally performed in 1988) is part of BBC Arts and Sadler's Wells' festival of world-class dance, Dancing Nation. This hilarious work places the most famous nineteenth-century ballet showstopper ‘Pas De Quatre’ in the world of men’s underwear advertising. It is both a celebration of male vanity and an affectionate comment on the preening grandeur of the danseur noble. Here it is seen in the expanded 6-man version performed by New Adventures principal dancers, with slightly adapted choreography to suit these socially distanced times. 

Recorded at historic Sadler's Wells, London - one of the world's leading dance houses. Bold new works are staged alongside modern classics from big-name artists and breakthrough talent from the ballet, contemporary and hip-hop worlds. 

Dancing Nation is a vivid snapshot of the British dance scene in all its forms. Companies and artists are featured across three programmes, with performances across spaces throughout Sadler’s Wells. 

Dancing Nation presents a vivid snapshot of the British dance scene in all its forms, with performances from Akram Khan with Natalia Osipova, Candoco Dance Company, Oona Doherty, English National Ballet, Boy Blue, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Far From The Norm, Breakin' Convention, HUMANHOOD, Anthony Matsena, Northern Ballet, Shobana Jeyasingh, and Rambert.

Dancing Nation is available from The 28 January 2021 for 30 days in three programmes presented by Brenda Emmanus, and is free to watch on BBC iPlayer. Spitfire is included in the first part. Dancing Nation is also available to worldwide audiences via the Sadler's Wells Digital Stage programme.