This is one of those weeks where you desperately want a clone so that you can see all the great shows that are on offer! And they're all great... !
English National Ballet at Tate Britain: 27 Feb - 4 March
Tate Britain
Tickets & details: www.ballet.org.uk/details.php?id=15
To celebrate the opening of the new Picasso exhibition, English National Ballet will be taking over the North Duveen gallery of Tate Britain through a series of exciting workshops, classes, rehearsal and performances. While most of the activities are during office hours, there are performances on Friday evening, and a host of workshops, classes and more over the weekend.
If you're on Twitter, you can follow the dancers' tweets on https://twitter.com/#!/BalletandPhotos/enb-tweeters
29 Feb - 6 March: Ballet Black
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=17971
Ballet Black are one of the leading modern ballet companies, and their latest programme follows on from their tenth anniversary tour of last year. Featuring new works by Jonathan Goddard (Rambert Dance Company), Christopher Hampson (soon-to-be Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet), Jonathan Watkins (Royal Ballet) and Martin Lawrance (Richard Alston Dance Company), this is an exciting showcase of a diverse range of choreographers. Christopher Hampson's work Storyville has been nicknamed "A Mississippi Manon"; you can read a brief feature on it by The Ballet Bag here. If you've never watched ballet before, this programme is a very good place to start!
Candoco Dance Company: 29 February
Laban Centre
Tickets & details: www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/upcoming-performances/laban-dance-events.2200.candoco-dance-company-a-double-bill-.aspx
The leading integrated dance company performs a new double bill, ranging from pure dance to dance theatre. In Translation by Emanuel Gat "shows the dancers’ refined musicality and delights with its detailed and exquisite movement" while the new work by Claire Cunningham shows you just how very much can be achieved with a pair of crutches! Claire Cunningham's work has been commissioned for Unlimited, a project by the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Richard Alston Dance Company: 29 February & 1 March
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Richard-Alston-Triple-Bill
This latest triple bill from Richard Alston Dance Company is a triple bill of favourites: a revival of his "iconic" Roughcut from 1990, which is often cited as audiences' favourite Alston work, and Martin Lawrance's Lie of the Land, which was one of our highlights of 2010 - watch out for Andres de Blust-Mommaerts's amazing performance! Completing the triple bill is Alston's latest work, A Ceremony of Carols, which will be accompanied by a choir and harp.
If you already love Alston or are curious about his work, make sure you don't miss this.
BalletBoyz: 3 & 4 March
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/BalletBoyz-The-Talent-2012
If contemporary dance had boy bands, then BalletBoyz would be at the top. Following the launch of "The Talent" in 2010, their repertoire has been refined, and this is another chance to see 2011's award-winning programme, featuring Russell Maliphant's Torsion, adapted from the original duet created for the original Boyz, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, Paul Roberts’ Alpha which is all sweetness and light, and the full-force impact of Jarek Cemerek's Void, brilliantly lit by Andrew Ellis. They're preparing a new programme of works, so this may be one of your last chances to see this programme.
And make sure you get one of their 'REAL MEN WEAR TIGHTS' tshirts or hoodies. And whether or not you see them, if you're on Twitter, follow them at @balletboyz!
Royal Ballet, Romeo & Juliet: 3 March
Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=17623
Returning after a mid-season break, the first outing of MacMillan's storyladen Romeo & Juliet offers audiences the chance to see Alina Cojocaru and Johann Kobborg in the lead roles; when Romeo & Juliet was performed at the O2, despite the star billing of Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta, it was Alina Cojocaru's Juliet which received all the rave reviews. With Johann Kobborg expected to retire soon, this may well be one of the last opportunities to see him as his fiancée's Romeo. If you can't get tickets for the 3rd, they perform again on 7 March. In the meantime, you'll be treated to lots of storytelling (but no mime!), wonderful dancers and some beautiful dance sequences - and of course, music which will stay with you long afterwards.