10 top ballet and dance shows to see in 2024
Cinders!
Choreographed by the company’s artistic director Christopher Hampson, Scottish Ballet’s lively and now completely redesigned take on the Prokofiev favourite heads off on an extensive tour – with Cinderella played on alternate nights by male and female dancers.
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (scottishballet.co.uk), Jan 5-20, then touring
Mary Skeaping’s Giselle
English National Ballet gets their season off to what should be a superb start, with a revival of this ravishing, painstakingly faithful production of the 1841 Romantic classic.
London Coliseum (ballet.org.uk), Jan 11-21
Manon
Fifty years since its creation, and still one of ballet’s all-time masterpieces, Kenneth MacMillan’s dark, sexy, ever-astonishing tale of a courtesan who can’t choose between love and lucre returns – absolutely do not miss it.
Royal Opera House, London WC2 (roh.org.uk), in rep Jan 17-March 8
La Strada
The former jewel of both the Royal Ballet and English National Ballet, Alina Cojocaru (still only 42) produces and stars in this all-new adaptation of Fellini’s famous 1954 film, dancing opposite her husband – and an artist of no less brilliance – Johan Kobborg.
Sadler’s Well, London EC1 (sadlerswells.com), Jan 25-28
Festival of New Choreography
A series of performances and events that sees the Royal Ballet setting out to champion new, diverse voices in choreography, with performances taking place throughout the Royal Opera House.
London WC2 (roh.org.uk), in rep Feb 5-21
The Sleeping Beauty
Peter Wright’s version of the 1890 Tchaikovsky/Petipa/Ivanov classic gets everything exactly right, and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s fine dancers tend to make it fly.
Mayflower, Southampton (brb.org.uk), Feb 8-10, then touring
São Paulo Dance Company
The most celebrated dance troupe from a huge, dance-obsessed nation makes its UK debut, complete with works by the likes of Goyo Montero and Nacho Duato.
Sadler’s Wells, London EC1 (sadlerswells.com), Feb 9 & 10
Nelken
Never mind a dozen red roses – this St Valentine’s Day, why not treat your beloved to 8,000 silk carnations? You’ll find them strewn across the stage in this 1982 hit by the late Pina Bausch, here delivered by the company she founded, Tanztheater Wuppertal.
Sadler’s Wells, London EC1 (sadlerswells.com), Feb 14-22
Romeo & Juliet
Northern Ballet’s response to Prokofiev’s work-of-art score is adapted by producer Christopher Gable and choreographer Massimo Moricone, with designs by the terrific Lez Brotherston.
Grand Theatre, Leeds (northernballet.com), March 8-16, then touring
Kenneth MacMillan triple bill
The Royal Ballet delves deep into the MacMillan treasure chest and digs out three short pieces: 1955’s Danses Concertantes (his first major work), 1976’s Requiem (inspired by the death of choreographer John Cranko) and 1984’s more divisive Different Drummer.
Royal Opera House, London WC2 (roh.org.uk), in rep March 20-April 13