In conversation with Aaron Wright

“It's definitely going to be the dance event of the year, and we hope it's going to pique the interest of lots of audiences who might not have tried dance before.”

 - Aaron Wright

Aaron Wright. Image credit Pete Woodhead.

Aaron Wright is a curator of contemporary performing arts, originally from the Midlands, and currently serves as Head of Performance & Dance at London’s Southbank Centre, a role he took on in 2023. Alongside his work at the Southbank Centre, he runs the queer performance club night Knickerbocker at The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick.

We spoke with him ahead of the debut of Rambert and (LA)HORDE’s collaborative performance We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon at the Southbank Centre from 4–5 September 2025, discussing the excitement of presenting large-scale dance experiences, introducing new audiences to contemporary performance, and how this ambitious collaboration reflects the Southbank Centre’s vision for accessible and innovative dance.

We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon transforms the Southbank Centre’s architecture into part of the performance itself, what does presenting a work of this scale and ambition mean to you as curator?

In a city like London, dance is often the underdog. We have such a huge and thriving theatre ecology, that dance often gets overlooked. To present a dance event on such a huge scale is a statement of intent. There will be 80 performers with over 30 pieces featuring dancers from both companies, DJs, digital works, a limousine and community performers! It's definitely going to be the dance event of the year, and we hope it's going to pique the interest of lots of audiences who might not have tried dance before.

Rambert and (LA)HORDE are both known for bold, uncompromising work. Why did you feel now was the right moment to bring them together on this stage?

We have developed a relationship with both Rambert and (LA)HORDE over a number of years. Rambert are literally our neighbours just across the road, and we hosted LA(HORDE) Ballet national de Marseille back in March 2024 with their show Roommates. We were keen to all work together because we all share an interest in creating new and extraordinary performances for audiences. This felt like the major, bold collaboration we'd all been looking for. So we've spent the past 18 months growing the audiences in London, with presentations of their previous collaboration Bring Your Own in the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Roommates, wowing audiences. The word has spread and people are hungry to see more!

We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon, performative and danced exhibition of (LA)HORDE with the Ballet National de Marseille BNM at the National Dance Theater of Chaillot. Lazarus, an adapted creation from Oona Doherty, a choreographic piece with 11 dancers from the BNM. With Malgorzata Czajowska, Matteo Fogli, Laura Mello Rella, Pere Sansaloni, Samuel Gilovitz, Amy Lim, Rubia Serena Veth, Nonoka Kato, Lola Ruscica, Yoshiko Kinoshita, Nathan Gombert. France, Paris, 2022-11-02. Image credit Amaury Cornu / Hans Lucas.

What do you hope audiences, especially those less familiar with dance, will carry away from this premiere?

We hope that they have a good time, that they see something they've never seen before and hopefully see parts of the Southbank Centre they haven't seen before either too. It's a really great entry point, for audiences who aren't so familiar with dance. You can move around, explore, watch things for as long or as little as you like. You aren't trapped in a seat, so you can curate your own experience and if you don't like something... you can move on! We really hope it will give people a taste for dance, and that they'll want to go out there and see more dance in the future.

You became Head of Performance and Dance at the Southbank Centre in 2023, what moment has felt most defining for you?

I think presenting the UK debut for major Polish director Lukasz Twarkowski, was a major moment. It was his production of an adaptation of the book The Employees by Olga Ravn, a dystopian sci-fi set on a spaceship. It transformed the Queen Elizabeth Hall with audiences able to sit on the stage and walk around to get up close to the action. We had 6 performances that were hugely popular with audiences who responded with the most amazing feedback saying that they'd never seen anything like it. That's what excites me most - being able to present shows in London that wouldn't be able to happen otherwise, and that aren't like anything we've seen in the UK before. We're excited to shake up and inspire the arts ecology here - and I think we're starting to get somewhere.

We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon. Image Credit Thierry Hauswald

If you had to distil this premiere into just three words, what would they be?

Pulsating, exploratory and sexy

How does this production reflect the Southbank Centre’s vision for dance today?

We're interested in introducing new audiences to dance. We're excited by these more immersive, experiential events as they are a great entry point for people who might be a bit nervous committing to a full length contemporary dance show. It's a great taster, where people can sample lots of different things in one night. It's also incredibly contemporary - it's far removed from ballet and more classical dance. It's got much more in common with music videos than people dancing en pointe. There's also a social element to it. More than ever people want opportunities to congregate and meet people. We hope as people move around the building thousands of conversations will start - which you just don't get when the audience is seated watching a show.

The [Quick] #FLODown:

Best life advice? 

I think deciding you're going to do something is harder than the actual doing of it. So take the jump, it's easier from there.

A book or text you return to for inspiration?

I don't think I've ever read a book more than once! I think the last one that really left a big impression on me was Liveforever by Andrés Caicedo.

Can’t live without?

Currently... vinted :(

Which artist, living or dead, would you most love to have a conversation with? 
I love the choreographer Trajal Harrell - it would be great to chat with him about his work.

What should the art world be more of and less of?

Less objects more feelings

Rambert and BALLET NATIONAL DE MARSEILLE, under the direction of (LA)HORDE join forces to transform the entire Royal Festival Hall and the wider site of the Southbank Centre with the UK Premiere of We Should Have Never Walked On The Moon (3 - 6 September 2025).

Instagram: @aaronzimbra
LinkedIn: Aaron Wright