This is a week with several must-see performances, especially ENB's Beyond Ballets Russes programme - Faun(e) and Rite of Spring are absolutely amazing. As is Royal Ballet's Edward Watson, who stars as Romeo in the final performance of Romeo & Juliet on Saturday. And The Most Incredible Thing is finally back - while not the best dance show you'll see, it's definitely the best dance spectacle on at present - enjoy!


Highlights


English National Ballet's Beyond Ballets Russes Programme 1: 27 March
London Coliseum
Tickets & details: www.eno.org/see-whats-on/productions/production-page.php?&itemid=1788

English National Ballet are presenting two programmes featuring a mixture of works premiered by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, reworkings of Ballet Russes's pieces, and works inspired by them. The first programme features a brand new interpretation of Firebird, with costumes by David Bamber, David Dawson's breathtaking Faun(e), and a very different interpretation of Kenneth MacMillan's Rite of Spring. There are various ticket offers around: do what you can to see this programme!

The second programme runs from 28 March to 1 April, and includes Balanchine's Apollo, Serge Lifar's Suite en Blanc, and a reworking of Nijinsky's Jeux.


Pet Shop Boys & Javier De Frutos - The Most Incredible Thing: to 7 April
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Pet-Shop-Boys-and-Javier-De-Frutos-The-Most-Incredible-Thing

This is the return of last year's successful production, which managed to pack out Sadler's Wells on a nightly basis with bemused Pet Shop Boys fans. It's more of a dazzling spectacle than a dazzling dance show, although we're very excited to hear that Aaron Sillis, Ivan Putrov and Yuyu Rau are returning, while Diarmaid O'Meara (dancedialogue.wordpress.com) (recently seen in Ballet Ireland, and in two of our past festivals) will be joining the cast for the first time.

Javier De Frutos's choreography is very tame and family-friendly (in an interview, he explained that he'd been instructed to make "family-friendly" choreography. His response was: "what family?"); the middle section is by far the best, although Clemmie Sveaas dancing to an old Pet Shop Boys song will stay with you for a long time!


Royal Ballet's Romeo & Juliet: 31 March
Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=17623

The Royal Ballet's production of the doomed lovers of Verona finally comes to an end, having witnessed the demise of a number of star partnerships over the past few months. The final performance, with Edward Watson and Leanne Benjamin in the leading roles, features many of Royal Ballet's best-loved male dancers - as though we needed many other reasons to attend! Expect beautiful duets, great storytelling, and some unforgettable death scenes.


Also On

New Dance Commissions: 29 - 31 March
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=18821

Continuing ROH2's ongoing support of emerging talented choreographers, this programme celebrates the completion of Freddie Opoku-Addaie's, Laïla Diallo's and Sarah Dowling's two years on ROH2’s Choreographic Associate Scheme with new works commissioned by ROH2. Laïla Diallo, a former dancer with Wayne McGregor's Random Dance, will explore the themes of migration and transience accompanied by live music. Sarah Dowling, whose work has spanned cinema and theatre, has given her work a science-fiction edge, while Freddie Opoku-Addaie, recent Place Prize Finalist, delves into his memories of being surrounded by the daily routine of craft artists. Regardless of the subject matters, it'll be interesting to see the work of these three choreographers and how they've grown as a result of the scheme.


Cloud Dance Festival Corner

Platform AD: 29 & 30 March (performance on 28 March has been cancelled)
St Paul's Church, Covent Garden
Tickets: www.seetickets.com/Tour/A-D-DANCE-COMPANY-PRESENTS-PLATFORM-A-D
Details: nme.seetickets.com/Event/A-D-DANCE-COMPANY-PRESENTS-PLATFORM-A-D-/St-Paul-s-Church-Covent-Garden/621092

You'd be forgiven for not knowing that this platform is back, so little publicity has it sought. AD Dance Company presents Memento, which was premiered on 16 March, while all-male company Udifydance, with a new lineup and a new outlook, present 'And When We Move....', about how we're all affected by social media. CODA Dance presents 'You remind me of someone I once knew', a moving portrayal of perspectives of grief after a mother’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Other performances are by Replica Dance Company and Gary Clarke in collaboration with all-male youth dance company Edge FWD.