Year 2 students from Invicta Primary School in Blackheath attended the rehearsals of the world premiere of new dance/music show Voices of the Amazon at Studio Wayne McGregor at Here East in Hackney Wick.

The performance both entertained and helped develop the children’s understanding of deforestation and the loss of natural medicines and plants in the Amazon rainforest, which is now on the KS2 geography syllabus.

The children got an exclusive sneak peek of the show which will open at Sadler's Wells on July 4 and were able to ask producers Sisters Grimm questions about the production.

Voices of the Amazon is set in the Amazon rainforest and, through dance and music tells the story of two sisters and their overwhelming love for each other.

The story also highlights the damaging effects of deforestation and the loss of renewable medicines and plants, and aims to engage audiences with these global environmental issues facing our world.

With Trump recently announcing he is undoing a number of President Obama’s climate policies, this show has never been more relevant.

The international cast includes six performers from Brazil who have never before been to Europe let alone performed at one of the most prestigious dance houses in the UK.

The narration has been recorded by Jeremy Irons and the production is supported by WWF and the Eden Project along with science consultant Alexander Van Tulleken (CBBC's Operation Ouch, Channel 4’s How to Lose Weight Well).

Voices of the Amazon was created by Sisters Grimm, who are Grammy-nominated Ella Spira and former Royal Ballet dancer Pietra Mello-Pittman.

Ella has written the score, Pietra is directing and Helen Pickett is choreographing.

Sisters Grimm produced the highly successful sell-out show INALA, set in Africa, choreographed by Mark Baldwin and featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo and dancers from Rambert and the Royal Ballet.

Article submitted by Alex Buchanan