Christian Spuck’s ballet, Winterreise, is a creative reimagining of Schubert’s beloved song cycle. 

Set to the poems of Wilhelm Müller, the Winter Journey cycle tells the chilling story of lost love. For his piece, Spuck chose to use the ultra-expressive 1933 orchestration by Hans Zender for tenor and small orchestra. 

Set inside a pale grey box, Ballett Zürich dancers meander through a sparse wood while tenor Mauro Peter sings just out of sight. The piece portrays a journey into the innermost self, exploring timeless themes of love, longing, alienation, and abandonment. It’s no wonder this piece won the 2019 Prix Benois de la Danse. 

Christian Spuck’s award-winning ballet transforms and reimagines Schubert’s Winterreise song cycle.

Winterreise: Ballet by Christian Spuck

Choreographer Angelin Preljocaj explores the power of myths in this captivating piece for Ballet Preljocaj and the Opera National de Bordeaux.

In Mythologies, Angelin Preljocaj explores contemporary rituals, along with the founding myths that shape our collective imagination. Preljocaj uses ideals and beliefs to reveal what is lying within the folds of our existence, creating a dynamic dialogue between ancient and modern mythologies. 

Set to an original score created by Thomas Bangalter, formerly of Daft Punk, this piece springs to life with dynamic energy and thought-provoking themes. 


Choreographer Angelin Preljocaj explores the power of myths in this captivating piece for Ballet Preljocaj and the Opera National de Bordeaux.

Mythologies

In a new production for the Royal Swedish Ballet, Eskapist is an entrancing, enthralling testament to the power of dance. 

Choreographed by Alexander Ekman with music from Mikael Karlsson, Eskapist revels in pushing the limits of what can be done on a stage, and the boundless potential of dance. Moving, funny, uplifting and other-worldly, this stunning production is not to be missed.

With Eskapist, Alexander Ekman choreographs a bold new work for the Swedish Royal Ballet.

Eskapist

Escape to the glamour and grace of Paris, 1960, with Starstruck – Gene Kelly’s love letter to ballet. 
Having originally trained in classical ballet, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux was hugely influential and acclaimed at the time as ‘a breath of fresh air’, but rarely performed since. It has now been given a new set of wings by Scottish Ballet’s CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, in collaboration with Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Tony Award-winning designer Lez Brotherston, and film director Oscar Sansom.
This immersive feature film will combine live performance capture of Scottish Ballet’s five-star stage production with cinematic sequences inspired by the golden age of Hollywood.
Set to Gershwin’s effortlessly cool Concerto in F, with extracts from Chopin; Starstruck is exactly the evening of entertainment you’ve been longing for.

Gene Kelly’s Starstruck was an ode to Paris. Now, filmed live with the Scottish Ballet, rediscover Hollywood’s Golden Age through dance and Gershwin.

Starstruck

Beethoven’s 6th symphony, also known as the Pastoral Symphony, is an emotional ode to nature. In this dance piece, choreographer Thierry Malandain transforms Beethoven’s musical ideas into evocative,tranquil, and fluid dance.

Commissioned by the Bonn Opera for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birthday, Malandain’s La Pastorale is set to Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, The Ruins of Athens, and his Op. 112 cantata Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt (“Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage). Three pieces which create a distinctly neoclassical narrative. Malandain includes references to George Balanchine’s Apollo with dancers dressed in white. Despite its tranquility there is alo an element of fun woven throughout the piece (keep your eye out for a visit from some giant snails!) If you’re looking for an elegant and exciting dance performance then this is it.

Malandain's choreography navigates the emotions and themes so acutely expressed by Beethoven in his "Pastoral" Symphony and two lesser-known works.

La Pastorale

Step into the gripping world of 'Creature', a contemporary dance film by renowned choreographer Akram Khan (Giselle) in collaboration with the English National Ballet. Inspired by 'Frankenstein' and 'Woyzeck', it's a raw tale of an outsider's struggle for belonging.

The profound, and at times disturbing, story of ''Creature'' unfolds within the icy walls of an abandoned Arctic research station. Unknowingly drafted into a military experiment, Creature (Jeffrey Cirio) undergoes rigorous testing by a zealous doctor who pushes Creature to the limits of his mental and physical ability. Amid his cruel reality, Creature finds solace and love in the kind and compassionate cleaner, Marie (Erina Takahashi). When the relentless Major's fixation with Marie shatters the fragile balance, Creature is plunged into a heart-wrenching struggle for escape and survival. 

This vividly cinematic film merges Akram Khan's evocative choreography and Asif Kapadia's visionary direction to create an emotionally charged film. ''Creature'' explores yearning, power, and the resilience of human connections. Experience this intense and compelling narrative brought to life by the English National Ballet.

Step into the gripping world of 'Creature', a contemporary dance film by renowned choreographer Akram Khan (Giselle) in collaboration with the English National Ballet. 

Creature

The Australian Ballet presents La Sylphide, in a production by Erik Bruhn after August Bournonville’s nineteenth-century original. A ballet in two acts, La Sylphide tells the tale of the Scottish dreamer James, who is fascinated by a woodland sprite and spurns his fiancée to follow her. Intent on capturing the ethereal beauty for his own, he accepts the help of the vengeful witch Madge, who leads him to his downfall.

The Australian Ballet presents La Sylphide, in a production by Erik Bruhn after August Bournonville’s nineteenth-century original.

La Sylphide

The 2016 production of Frederick Ashton’s final works, Rhapsody, features ballet stars Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae. 

Filmed at London’s Royal Opera House, Rhapsody has long been a favorite for ballet fans. First created in 1980 at the request of Mikhail Baryshnikov, the ballet is set to Sergey Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. 

The male Principal’s role is characterized by exceptionally fluent leaps, turns and lightness of movement, inspired by Baryshnikov himself. It is twinned with the strength and grace of the ballerina, a role created for the pure, fleet-footed style of former Royal Ballet Principal Lesley Collier. The first performance of Rhapsody was given in honor of The Queen Mother’s 80th birthday in 1980.

Experience the 2016 production of Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody, filmed at the Royal Opera House and starring Natalia Osipova.

Rhapsody

A sparkling tale of magic and mischief, Coppélia has everything a good story ballet should: a touch of enchantment, a dash of romance and masses of sumptuous costumes.
Swanilda and her merry boyfriend Franz live in a village with Dr Coppelius, a sinister magician and inventor who has created a beautiful doll that he sits on his balcony. One day Franz sees the doll, Coppélia, and becomes infatuated with her. Swanilda and her friends decide to explore Dr Coppelius’ house while he is out to see who the mysterious woman is, but he returns suddenly and Swanilda hides – pretending to be Coppélia. At the same time, the love struck Franz finds a ladder and climbs into Dr Coppelius’ house, so Coppelius, who plans to steal his life force to animate his doll, pours him a drink with a sleeping draught in it. When Franz passes out, Coppelius brings out Coppélia so Swanilda pretends to be a doll coming to life. Coppelius is delighted – until Swanilda manages to wake Franz and they escape from the house and are married, sealing their love with a tender pas de deux.
Sorcery and masquerade, romance and high jinks – this is the funniest, sunniest ballet you’ll see all year.

A sparkling tale of magic and mischief, Coppélia has everything a ballet should: a touch of enchantment, a dash of romance and sumptuous costumes.

Coppélia

A vast and ambitious project, Midsummer Night’s dream is danced by the Royal Swedish Ballet and set to a music by Mikael Karlsson. Swedish star pop singer Anna von Hausswolff sings through this great production, evidently one of a kind.

The Royal Swedish Ballet presents a contemporary Midsummer Night’s Dream, starring Swedish pop star Anna von Hausswolff.

Midsummer Night's Dream

A hundred years later, the Lilac Fairy shows Prince Désiré the sleeping Princess in a vision. He falls in love and sets out to find her. When he kisses her, the spell is broken and she awakes. She chooses him as her husband, and they celebrate their marriage with a lavish masked ball.

In Sleeping Beauty, the Prince kisses Princess Aurora, her spell is broken and she awakes and they celebrate their marriage with a masked ball.

Sleeping Beauty

The Royal Ballet’s In Her Hands is part of Marquee TV’s free Summer Shorts series, shining light on new and alternative productions, plus hidden gems. 

Starring Natalia Osipova, the production is set in Paris, 1892, and is inspired by the life and work of French sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin. 

Set to the haunting melody of Fauré’s Elegie in C Minor Op24, the production includes choreography by the Royal Ballet’s Valentina Zucchetti.

The Royal Ballet’s In Her Hands stars Natalia Osipova and reflects on the relationship between French sculptors, Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin.

In Her Hands

Because of Tchaikovsky’s imaginative music, “The Nutcracker” is one of the most popular works of the ballet repertoire, instantly bringing to mind scenes of a splendidly decorated Christmas room, dancing snowflakes and the waltz of the flowers. 

The plot of “The Nutcracker” is based on a novella by E.T.A. Hoffmann, one of the most famous writers of German Romanticism. While Hoffmann’s masterful fairy tale jumps eerily back and forth from a dream to reality, many of the ballet adaptations, like Peter Wright's and Marius Petipa's, have lost the darkness woven throughout this romantic fantasy.

In this production, choreographer Christian Spuck attempts to distance himself from traditional choreography and puts the literary origin at the heart of his ballet. Spuck emphasizes the fantastical nature of Hoffman's story and brings back the tale of princess Pirlipat, who turns into a nut monster. 

In Rufus Didwiszus’ stage setting, the workshop of the godfather Drosselmeier turns into an old revue theater, where the characters of the ballet come to life. Spucks’ choreography plays with the richness of characters in E.T.A. Hoffmann’s narrative cosmos, the absurdity and overwrought humor that inhabit them while at the same time looking down into the dark abyss of Romanticism.

Christian Spuck attempts to distance himself from the Dumas/Petipas version and puts the literary origin at the heart of his ballet.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

The story takes place in Naples where Pulcinella is a local rogue with an eye for the girls. Rosetta, Isabella and Prudenza are infatuated with him, much to the irritation of their boyfriends and Pulcinella's wife, Pimpinella. One night, the boyfriends lie in wait for Pulcinella and beat him soundly. To escape, Pulcinella falls down 'dead' and the men sneak guiltily away, leaving the 'corpse' to be discovered by their girlfriends. Meanwhile, Pimpinella, having caught Pulcinella flirting once too often, persuades her friends to disguise themselves as Pulcinella and pester the girls, to teach them a lesson. When the girls and their boyfriends see the fake Pulcinellas, they are convinced they are seeing ghosts. Pimpinella arrives, the fake Pulcinellas reveal themselves, and the real Pulcinella re-appears. The lovers ask forgiveness, and everyone celebrates.

The story takes place in Naples where Pulcinella is a local rogue with an eye for the girls.

Pulcinella

Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland burst onto the stage in 2011 in an explosion of color, stage magic and inventive, sophisticated choreography. Joby Talbot’s score combines contemporary soundworlds with sweeping melodies that gesture to ballet scores of the 19th century. Bob Crowley’s wildly imaginative, eye-popping designs draw on everything from puppetry to projections to make Wonderland wonderfully real. 

Alice encounters a cast of extraordinary and instantly recognizable characters, from the highly strung Queen of Hearts – who performs a hilarious send-up of The Sleeping Beauty’s famous Rose Adage – to a playing card corps de ballet, a sinuous caterpillar and a tap-dancing Mad Hatter. But the ballet does not avoid the darker undercurrents of Lewis Carroll’s story: a nightmarish kitchen, an eerily disembodied Cheshire Cat and the unhinged tea party are all here in vivid detail. The delicious result shows The Royal Ballet at its best, bringing together world-class dance with enchanting family entertainment.


Fall down the rabbit hole with the Royal Ballet's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Shakespeare’s great romance gets a magical reimagining through the power of dance with Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale. 

Released to widespread critical acclaim, the Royal Ballet’s 2014 production is a masterful, modern narrative ballet which includes powerful designs by Bob Crowley and music by Joby Talbot. 

Now widely considered a modern classic, the ballet follows the destruction of a marriage through consuming jealousy, the abandonment of a child and a seemingly hopeless love. Yet, through remorse and regret – and after a seemingly miraculous return to life – the ending is one of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Christopher Wheeldon’s critically-acclaimed production of The Winter’s Tale for the Royal Ballet.

The Winter's Tale

The Merry Widow ballet is an adaptation of Franz Lehár's romantic operetta The Merry Widow. Originally commissioned by The Australian Ballet and premiering in November 1975

The Merry Widow ballet is an adaptation of Franz Lehár's romantic operetta The Merry Widow.

Merry Widow

The romantic ballet by Coralli and Perrot returns in the revival of Yvette Chauviré

Giselle

With choreography by legendary French dancer and ballet master, Marius Petipa, Paquita is a wonderful display of triumphant leaps, intricate footwork and movement at its best. 

Originally choreographed for the Paris Opéra Ballet in 1846 by Joseph Mazilier, the story centers on a Spanish gypsy named Paquita, who saves the life of Lucien, a French aristocrat. When she discovers that she is herself of noble blood, they marry in a big celebration.

This performance acts as a sparkling showcase for the Australian Ballet.

The Australian Ballet presents Paquita, the exuberant ballet featuring choreography by legend Mairus Petipa.

Paquita

Recommendations

Wayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929, made for The Australian Ballet and featuring an electrifying score by Steve Reich, tests the limits of classical movement in a laboratory-white set.

Hailed by critics as a “total work of art”, this unmissable ballet stars promising young dancers like Adam Bull and Amber Scott.

Wayne McGregor choreographed and created Dyad 1929 for the Australian Ballet.

Dyad 1929

The Australian Ballet

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