Turning tips into memories

Christmas Dance 2019

By Teresa Guerreiro on 1/9/2019

London has dance for all the family this Christmas, with brand new works alongside much loved classics. Here are the highlights

Rina Kanehara, Fernando Carratalá Coloma in ENB's Nutcracker (c) Laurent Liotardo

English National Ballet, Nutcracker 2019, London Coliseum

The Nutcracker is the Christmas ballet par excellence, though fewer productions make their way to London this year. However, English National Ballet's Nutcracker, full of sugar and spice and all things nice, will fulfil a long tradition with a Christmas residency at the Coliseum....

WHEN

11 Dec 2019 – 05 Jan 2020, 19:30 See website for schedule of matinées Dur.: 2 hours 15 mins inc one interval

WHERE

London Coliseum
St Martin's Lane, , London , WC2N 4ES

BRB The Nutcracker, Anniek Soobroy & Marion Rainer as Snowflakes, Steven Monteith as The Wind, photo Bill Cooper

Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker 2019, RAH

The second Nutcracker of the 2019 festive season comes from Birmingham Royal Ballet in a brief foray to London. Its superb production transforms the Royal Albert Hall into a truly magical set for the company's gorgeous dancing. Definitely a post-Christmas treat for the whole family.

WHEN

28 Dec 2019 – 31 Dec 2019, 19:00 29 Dec 13:00 & 17:30; 30 Dec 14:00 & 19:00; 31 Dec 12:00 & 16:00 Dur.: 2 hours 10 mins inc one interval

WHERE

Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP

Gary Avis as Dr Coppélius, Marianela Nuñez as Swanilda (c) ROH 2019 Gavin Smart

The Royal Ballet, Coppélia, ROH

Not seen at Covent Garden for more than a decade, Coppélia returns this season as the Royal Ballet’s not entirely seasonal, but nevertheless cheerful and enchanting offering for Christmas 2019.

WHEN

28 Nov 2019 – 07 Jan 2020, 19:30; 23, 28, 30 Dec & 4 Jan at 14:00 & 19:00, 31 Dec at 12:00 &17:00 Dur.: 2 hours 35 mins inc two intervals

WHERE

Royal Opera House
Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Matthew Bourne: The Red Shoes review [STAR:4]

Matthew Bourne, The Red Shoes, Sadler's Wells

Sadler's Wells punts for a secular Christmas with the return of Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes. A quirky adaptation of the famous Powell/Pressburger film, Bourne's The Red Shoes was an instant hit on its 2016 premiere, and will provide a glorious alternative to a hyper-sweet Christmas time.

WHEN

03 Dec 2019 – 19 Jan 2020, 19:30 Sun 19:00 mats Sat 14:30, Sun 14:00 Dur.: 2 hours inc one interval

WHERE

Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN

The Little Match Girl 2019, Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler's Wells

The choreographer Arthur Pita added a heart-warming ending to the sad tale of The Little Match Girl in his skilful dance-theatre adaptation of the harrowing Hans Christian Andersen's tale. Pita's The Little Match Girl has become the staple of Christmas at the Lilian Baylis Theatre

WHEN

11 Dec 2019 – 29 Dec 2019, Performances at 11:00; 15:00; 17:00 and 19:00, check website for full schedule Dur.: 1 hour 5 mins no interval

WHERE

Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN

Protein, The Little Prince, image Chris Nash

Luca Silvestrini's Protein, The Little Prince, The Place

Brand new for all the family this Christmas is Luca Silvestrini's The Little Prince, after Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic tale. Performed by Silvestrini's company, Protein, The Little Prince is possibly the most charming production on offer this festive season and will run at The Place up until Christmas Eve.

WHEN

17 Dec 2019 – 24 Dec 2019, All evening performances 19:00. Starting times for daytime performances vary Dur.: 1 hour no interval

WHERE

The Place
17 Duke's Road, London, WC1H 9PY

Birmingham Repertory Theatre, The Snowman 2019, Peacock Theatre

Definitely a hardy perennial, Birmingham Repertory Theatre's charming production of Raymond Briggs' The Snowman returns to the Peacock Theatre for the 22nd consecutive season.

WHEN

21 Nov 2019 – 05 Jan 2020, 11:00 (Peak £); 14:30 (Premium £); 19:00 (Off Peak £) Dur.: 1 hour 50 mins inc one interva,

WHERE

Peacock Theatre
Portugal Street, London, WC2A 2HT

The Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker (c) ROH 2016 photo Tristram Kenton

The Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker in cinemas

The Royal Ballet joins Nutcracker season in spirit, by bringing a 2016 recording of its splendid production of the Christmas ballet par excellence to a cinema near you.

WHEN

11 Dec 2019 – 16 Jan 2020, Times vary according to cinemas Dur.: 2 hours 15 mins inc two intervals