A Matthew Bourne dance production is best summed up by the lady to my side: “Bourne is for people who think they don’t like ballet!” And whether they came for The Red Shoes, the glorious sets and costumes or Bernard Herrmann’s music, it was clear that there was an air of silent admiration in Bradford’s Alhambra last night, as New Adventures returned in style following their Covid cancell…

Familiar to many thanks to the television series of the same name starring Suranne Jones, the story of Ann Lister has once again been brought to life by Northern Ballet. Set in the 1830s, the plot follows the unconventional life and loves of Anne Lister, who, being a prolific writer, maintained diaries which run to approximately five million words, a proportion of which were written in code.

Undoubtedly best know through the television drama series created by Sally Wainwright, Gentleman Jack is the story of a powerful Yorkshire businesswoman from the 1830s. The 19th century was not a time known for its liberal-minded, easy-going attitudes to women in general and certainly not women who preferred other women as their life partners.

For many, The Nutcracker is as much a part of Christmas tradition as mulled wine, mince pies and decorating the tree. Being lucky enough to grow up with an annual family trip to the ballet, for me, the Christmas season doesn’t really begin until we take our seats in the auditorium.

There is no doubt that Anton du Beke has found fame (and probably relative fortune) on the small screen, in the Saturday night family feel good glitterfest that is Strictly Come Dancing, although he had enjoyed a very successful and well-earned reputation prior to that on the dance circuit.

London City Ballet has returned to York Theatre Royal with a brand-new showcase called Momentum. With great technical skill and plenty of emotional depth, the company shows no signs of the extraordinary thirty-year hiatus since it famously graced the stage in Sadler's Wells.

Opera North has collaborated with Phoenix Dance on four previous opera productions. Each of these has been a delight, but this performance of Handel's Susanna has been my favourite. There's something perfectly operatic about adding another art form into an already dazzling display of orchestral music, singing, acting, costume design, set design, sound, lighting...

Katie Geddes, Founder of The Dance Studio Leeds, who champions the benefits of dance for mental health and wellbeing, is celebrating after reaching the finals of the Woman Who Solopreneur Awards 2025. Katie Geddes has been supporting the local dance community for the last 16 years, sharing her passion for dance and the positive impact it has for both body and mind.

Northern Ballet’s Merlin is an ambitious, tightly packed production that sweeps its audience through magic, myth, conflict and love. At its heart is a coming-of-age story, told with both cinematic scope and deeply human emotion. Kevin Poeung is excellent as Merlin, capturing the shifting emotions of adolescence with nuance.

Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy Award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerising choreography and breathtaking performances have left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation. To celebrate this incredible 30th-year milestone, Riverdance will embark on a special anniversary tour in 2025, bringing its magic to audiences around the world. The show will visit 30 UK venues—one for each year of its history—from August to December 2025. We caught up with principal dancers Anna-Mai Fitzpatrick and Fergus Fitzpatrick to learn more.

John Godber’s celebration of Northern Soul, which played to full houses when it toured to the Stephen Joseph Theatre last year, returns next month for a limited run. Do I Love You? can be seen at the Scarborough theatre on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May. With a banging soundtrack, it’s a comedy following the fortunes of a trio of young people – Sally, Nat and Kyle.

You have just tonight (Saturday) to see what I can honestly say is one of the best dance productions I have had the pleasure to witness in more than a decade. Few things stick out in your mind when you see something like six shows a month, but the magnificent Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company will stay with me for a long time to come, as will its equally amazing ‘Dragons’.

Taking on any classic novel for interpretation into a narrative ballet strikes me as a bold move. With well-loved texts comes an audience with strong opinions on characters and themes making them potentially hyper-critical of another person’s vision of the story.

In the second of our three short interviews we hear from Joseph Taylor as Mr Rochester on how he is preparing for the performances of Jane Eyre and what he most enjoys about performing in Northern Ballet’s home city of Leeds.

In the first of three short interviews we hear from Northern Ballet dancers who speak on how they go about their preparation leading up to the performances and what they most enjoy about performing in Northern Ballet’s home city of Leeds.

Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) has announced that artist Corinne Bailey Rae has been appointed as its newest Patron. Corinne Bailey Rae’s appointment brings a fresh, cross-disciplinary perspective to the leading dance training institution, which has long been a beacon of creativity and artistic excellence.

On Sunday, 12th January, at the Grand Opera House, York, we all lost ourselves in the enchanting fairytale written by E.T.A. Hoffman, of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, a delightful post-Christmas treat for all the family presented by Mergaliyev Classical Ballet. Since its debut in Russia in 1892, the ballet has continued to captivate audiences.

With Northern Ballet’s Three Short Ballets series, the audience is treated to an evening of dance that incorporates a broad range of styles. Arriving late to the theatre, I had no time to read the programme before the first half, meaning that I had no idea what to expect. I usually prefer to be a bit better-informed before a performance, but going in completely clueless has its benefits.

It's time for Resurgence. Such an appropriate name for the new tour of the former resident dance company of Sadler’s Wells, London City Ballet, after a 30 year 'rest'. Famously patronised by Diana, Princess of Wales, the original company closed its doors in 1996.

Chris Marney, originally from Essex, now lives in London with broad experience of working internationally as a dancer and as Artistic Director. As a dancer Chris worked internationally in leading principal roles for many companies including Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Balletboyz, Gothenburg Ballet Sweden, Ballet Biarritz France and Bern Ballet Switzerland.

Karen Hauer is Strictly Come Dancing's longest-standing professional, having spent 12 series on the iconic show. She has partnered with celebrities including Westlife's Nicky Byrne, The ‘Hairy Biker’ Dave Myers, Mark Wright, Jeremy Vine, Chris Ramsey, and Jamie Laing.

Choreographed by David Nixon CBE, Northern Ballet's Beauty and the Beast is a delightful re-imagining of the classic fairy tale story in a world suffused with vibrant colours and populated with fairies, goblins and sprites. A world where magic hides around every corner.

Verve is the Northern School of Contemporary Dance's post-graduate touring dance company. The company's dancers are all current NSCD MA students on the verge of their careers as professional artists, and their talent is formidable, as you'd expect from one of the country's leading dance schools.