Emma Farnell-Watson & Keiran Lai, Aṁṁonia
UK
Director: Joe Connor
Choreographers/Performers: Emma Farnell-Watson, Kieran Lai
Commissioned by Sadler's Wells Digital Stage & Studio.
About Aṁṁonia (2025)
Aṁṁonia draws inspiration from Pina Bausch’s work, exploring the hidden power dynamics within society. The film follows two cleaners who, through the possessions they find in a messy hotel suite, begin to imagine and embody the lives of the guests. The movement reflects how objects shape character, power, and ways of moving. It delves into class boundaries and the unseen structures that confine people, using dance to express what’s often hidden from view.
About Emma Farnell-Watson
Emma’s work spans both screen and stage. Drawing from her dance career working with notable contemporary companies such as Hofesh Shechter and an extensive range of commercial brands, she has developed her own creative language and voice as a maker. She has choreographed for brands Chanel, Magnum, Adidas, Marimekko, Burberry, Macdonalds and Marks and Spencer, for artists Freya Ridings, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Jamie Cullum, Hikaru Utada, and Copenhagen Concerto Orchestra. Her latest TV series was Age of Innocence for Netflix. She has assisted on Season 2 of Sandman for Netflix, for the BBC series Dope Girls, for Bulgari’s recent showcase event and on videos for George Ezra, Baby Queen, eurovision contestant Claude, on a new creation for Rambert Dance Company with Emma Evelein, with Benoit Swan-Pouffer on the feature film Roots Manoeuvre directed by Raine Allen-Miller, and with Corey Baker on a new Harry Potter Series as part of the core choreography and movement team. Her last job assisting at Regent Park Open Air Theatre’s new production of Fiddler on the Roof won three Oliviers and was nominated for Best Choreography. Her latest short film, Aṁṁonia, was commissioned by Sadlers Wells, featured on the Directors Library, won silver at the 1.4 awards, and was nominated for best short at the National Dance Awards.
About Kieran Lai
Kieran is a dedicated movement artist from the street dance world and full-time content creator, collaborating with a vast variety of brands for advertising. His experience on screen and stage has led to him developing a versatile and articulate movement vocabulary. He was noticed by Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent and reached the Live Semi Final. Since then he has had a colourful career applying his understanding of Street Dance styles on a variety platforms. He has choreographed for brands like Just Dance, Google Pixel and Chanel. He was also the assistant choreographer for the Rag & Bone music video and part of the Skeleton Crew for the movie Wicked working with the renown choreographer Christopher Scott. His versatility extends to musical theatre as well and was part of the Original Cast of the West End hit musical & Juliet for 2.5 years.
About Joe Connor
Immensely talented and with a self-described “curious soul,” Joe has made a name for himself in film, music, theatre and photography. Experienced and single minded in his quest to direct Joe is a creative polymath; director, recording artist, photographer, mime artist, clown! Joe’s commercial work includes films for Land Rover, Volvo, Nike, Puma and most recently Summer of Music for BBC Creative. His films have been shortlisted at Cannes Lions, D&AD’s, British Arrows and 1.4. Joe has directed music videos for Harry Styles, Ellie Golding, Paul Weller, Coldplay, Sam Smith and Placebo and has picked up several best music video nominations at the UKMVAs. Joe is the co-founder and artistic director of the acclaimed visual theatre company Parrot in the Tank, has directed fashion films for Paul Smith and with Hollywood luminaries Tom Hiddleston, Lily James and Stanly Tucci and shot still portraits of Ed Sheeran, Anthony Joshua and Kylie Minogue. Joe’s drive and energy is led by his love of entertainment and all the ways to tell a story, whether through music, imagery, language or performance. Having trained as a theatre director at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating with First Class Honours—in mime!—and spent nights working as a 35mm projectionist at The Everyman Cinema, he has a great and passionate understanding in the power of film and the endless potential for the creativity that it provides.