December eNewsletter

The countdown to Christmas has started. The dancers are home from a long national tour and rehearsals for Beauty & the Beast are in full swing. It has its world première at Leeds Grand Theatre on Saturday 17 December and runs until 31 December. We met up with Duncan Hayler to get an insight into his exciting set designs.

Join our Family Day on 22 December. The day includes a dance workshop and lunch at Northern Ballet before the 2pm matinee at Leeds Grand Theatre. Dressing up at this performance is encouraged and there are prizes for the best costume.

Grown-ups can get an exclusive rate on a fairytale spa day for two courtesy of Titanic Spa, the UK's first eco spa located on the edge of the Pennines in West Yorkshire. We also have a premium ticket package in association with Argentinean Steak House Gaucho.

For 2012 we have created a truly special calendar featuring breathtaking photographs of our dancers by Jason Tozer. Pre-order your copy now for £10 or £15 for a special version signed by featured dancers plus £1 P&P. All proceeds from the calendar will go towards Sponsor a Dancer.

Planet Dance has just opened a fantastic new shop at Northern Ballet, stocking all major dancewear brands and a range of Northern Ballet merchandise. Shop in person or online.

On 1 February Northern Ballet and Opera North will present an exclusive insight into their critically acclaimed productions of Madame Butterfly. Butterfly (from the) Wings will explore the contrast between the opera and the ballet from David Nixon OBE and Opera North's Music Director, Richard Farnes before a performance of short excerpts from their individual adaptations. Tickets are £20 (£15 for Friends and Patrons) and include a pre-performance drinks reception.

This month at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre Northern Ballet Sinfonia's Brass Quintet will treat you to an intimate recital with some festive tunes to get you in the mood on Thursday 8. And on Sunday 11 and Sunday 18 Flex Dance Inc's Christmas Spectacular will showcase their students' latest work.

2011 has been a extraordinary year for Northern Ballet – two brand new productions in Cleopatra and Beauty & the Beast, three awards for our new building and international recognition for our wonderful dancers. And the New Year is full of promise too.

Everyone at Northern Ballet would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!

It's been a busy year for Premier Dancer Martha Leebolt but we managed to catch up with her for this month's 60-second interview ahead of her debut as Beauty next week.

Santa lives far, far away in the North Pole – so far, that only a few people ever get to go there. Luckily, the Eureka! Elves have discovered a magical route that will help excited children find their way to Santa's winter wonderland in only a few steps. Open weekends from 3 December, then daily from 19 to the 23 December. Entry to the grotto is £3 per child, with every child receiving a gift worth £3.

The sumptuous new issue of Dance Gazette, the magazine of the Royal Academy of Dance, is a celebration of fantasy in ballet. It asks why fantasy is central to classic ballet stories and how artists put it on stage. This issue includes interviews with star choreographers Alexei Ratmansky Akram Khan and Arlene Phillips, and enchanting original artwork. Get your copy at selected branches of WHSmith or online. You can also save 20% if you subscribe today.