The best dance and ballet shows in July 2025

Could this be the coolest dance production to arrive in London for quite some time? We think so. The acclaimed choreographer Sharon Eyal will transform Sadler’s Wells East into a thrumming nightclub this July with ROSE. Audiences will be invited to take part on the dance floor, immersing themselves in the dance like no other show. Making this a proper club experience, the movement will be soundtracked by a live DJ set from the legendary Call Super. Costumes are designed by Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri. It’s going to be dark, sweaty and hedonistic. 

Where is it? Sadler’s Wells East

In 2024 we had the Black Sabbath Ballet. This year, The Who is stepping into the world of pointe shoes, pirouettes and very tight leggings. We know it doesn’t sound very rock and roll, but trust us, this isn’t your typical ballet. 

With the blessing of Pete Townshend, Sadler’s Wells has reworked the cult 1979 film Quadrophenia into a brand-new dance production. Set to an orchestral arrangement of the record, the show will be by directed by theatre director Rob Ashford and choreographed by Paul Roberts, who is well known for his collaborations with pop artists, from the Spice Girls to Prince. Rising star dancer Paris Fitzpatrick will play Jimmy. There will be Harrington jackets, bad hair cuts, and plenty of attitude.

Where is it? Sadler’s Wells Theatre

Have you heard of the Milly Rock? It’s a viral dance created by the rapper 2 Milly that later became the subject of a lawsuit, when 2 Milly sued the videogame Fortnite for using his move. Now acclaimed choreographer Jeremy Nedd has taken this court case as inspiration for his new work from rock to rock, where five dancers will examine the Milly Rock and the nature of viral dances. 

Where is it? Southbank Centre

It’s been staged literally thousands of times, but we still can’t get enough of this timeless ballet that tells the bitter tale of deception, heartbreak and redemption. Giselle has everything you want from a ballet: a fair maiden, a handsome nobleman, forbidden love, and some genuinely scary ghosts. The National Ballet of Japan brings its acclaimed version of the production to the Royal Opera House this summer, where it will be seen for the first time outside of Tokyo. 

Where is it? Royal Opera House

British-Polish choreographer Alex Baczyński-Jenkins explore queer desire, collectivity and ‘relationality’ – the theory of how people and things relate to each other. The whole performance is based around the simple box step – a movement that’s common in social dances, as dancers will repeat this move while be affected by live-mixed sound and light. This is a three-hour-long durational piece, and the audience is welcome to come and go as they please. 

Where is it? Southbank Centre