Matthew Bourne's now-classic all-male 'Swan Lake' returns for a Christmas season in a new revival with dancers of the next generation. It's a clever conceit, turning the traditional flock of swan maidens into wild and muscular swan men, and it also fleshes out the role of the Prince, turning what can be a shallow character into a troubled young royal. Bourne's quirky humour is in evidence, but unlike some of his more recent shows, it's balanced by a real depth of emotion and lots of dancing.
It’s nearly Christmas which means that London’s dance companies are putting their twinkliest toes forward and staging a beautiful array of yuletide shows.
I’m India Lawrence, the voice of all things dance at Time Out. As well as reviewing all of London’s biggest dance shows – including works from Matthew Bourne, Wayne McGregor, Akram Khan, the Royal Ballet, and more – I’ve got years of dance training under my belt (yes, I was one of those annoying ballet girls). So, you’re in safe hands when it comes to getting dance recs from me.
Even if you’re not a ballet fiend, or a contemporary dance fanatic like me, Christmas just seems like the right time to watch some unbelievably talented movers leap, pirouette and glide around a stage. After all, you don’t have to be a dance expert to enjoy the sparkly costumes, magical sets and amazing live orchestras that many of these shows come with.
So, with the help of Time Out’s theatre editor Andrzej Lukowski, we’ve put together our list of the best Christmas ballets and dance shows in London this Christmas. Read on to book tickets to a London dance show that'll inspire you to leap off the sofa and into the yuletide spirit.
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See Christmas pantomimes in London.
