Sam Bateson: The Art of Moving With Intention

CHOREOGRAPHY BY SAM BATESON

ARTIST: SAM SMITH - LATCH

LOCATION: THE MANOR LDN DANCE STUDIO, FINSBURY PARK, NORTH LONDON

Sam Bateson explores the space between music and movement, bringing an expressive contemporary approach to The Manor LDN.

For Sam Bateson, movement is not simply about what the body can do — it is about what it can communicate. A contemporary dancer, choreographer and teacher, Sam has developed a movement language centred around musicality, texture and intention. At The Manor LDN, he brings that approach into the studio, creating work that asks dancers to connect with the music as much as the choreography itself.

Sam’s work sits within the contemporary dance world, where storytelling and physical expression can be just as important as technique. His approach allows movement to breathe, using changes in dynamics, weight and timing to create something that feels connected to the music rather than simply placed over it. It is an approach that gives dancers room to explore both the physicality of a movement and the feeling underneath it.

That philosophy is particularly natural for a track like Sam Smith’s “Latch”. Originally released as a Disclosure single featuring Smith, the song became an early defining moment in Smith’s career, blending electronic production with a vocal performance built around intimacy and emotion.

At The Manor LDN, Sam brings that emotional quality into the room through his choreography to “Latch”. The result is a piece built around control, release, musicality and expression — encouraging dancers to find their own connection to the movement rather than simply reproducing the steps.

Watch Sam Bateson’s “Latch” choreography below and experience his movement language at The Manor LDN.