At Northern Ballet we believe ballet should be for all and that’s why we are constantly exploring new ways to bring the joy of dance to as many people as possible. Using technology and creativity to open up our work, we want to connect with communities in meaningful ways.
From immersive experiences to streaming, here’s how we’re taking ballet beyond the stage.
Clara & The Nutcracker – a new immersive experience
Clara & The Nutcracker reimagines the festive favourite David Nixon CBE’s The Nutcracker in a new and unique way. Presented in a full dome at the University of Oxford’s brand new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, this Christmas we’ll surround you with a 360-degree world of dance and storytelling.
Featuring our dancers on stage, in the studio, and behind the scenes and all captured by 4Pi Productions, we’re blending live performance with beautifully animated fantasy sequences, brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s iconic score recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra and delivered in rich surround sound.
Designed for everyone, from families to first-time audiences to lifelong ballet lovers, it’s a magical way to experience the timeless story. You’re not just watching Clara’s journey… you’re part of it.
Ballet at Home with Marquee TV
Looking to add a bit of culture to your next night in? No problem.
Available to stream on Marquee TV, you can enjoy Northern Ballet wherever you are. Missed Merlin on tour? You can catch up from your sofa with this family-friendly adventure.
Or, if you’re in the mood for something a little more tantalising, Dangerous Liaisons delivers drama, intrigue and deception in equal measure.
Bring the Stage to Your Living Room
For those who love a physical keepsake, both Victoria and 1984 are available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Victoria, choreographed by Cathy Marston (Jane Eyre), offers a moving portrait of Queen Victoria’s life through the eyes of her daughter, Princess Beatrice. Expect tragedy and passion with one of the most well-known love stories of the 19th century.
Snap forward into a dystopian future, 1984, created by Jonathan Watkins takes you into a chilling world of George Orwell’s masterpiece. One that might just change how you see ballet forever...
Creating Calm Through Dance
In partnership with Leeds Hospitals Charity, we’ve been exploring how virtual reality technology can support children in long-term hospital care. Working alongside Leeds Hospitals Charity, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Conservatoire, together we’ve created a short VR dance experience set in a peaceful forest aimed to be tested on patients to access how dance can make them feel when in an unfamiliar or anxious environment.
Choreographed by company dancer George Liang, the piece is designed to offer a moment of calm and escape. Through this research, we hope to learn more about how creative experiences can support children’s wellbeing during difficult times.
Ballet for Younger Audiences
Don’t forget to look out for our collection of ballets for children on BBC iPlayer. With seven titles available to stream now, your dancing little ones will be entertained all summer. From Three Little Pigs to Little Red Riding Hood there’s something for everyone.
Digital Dance – Dance Shorts and Insights
Watch more of Northern Ballet with incredible shorts from Every Little Thing is a Change to KIN and all the behind the scenes on our digital dance platform.
Catch exclusive performances from Saeka Shirai, Kevin Poeung and Ruben Reuter in Sketches and see what a day in the life is like for Heather Lehan on tour with The Nutcracker.
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into Northern Ballet’s studios.
However you choose to experience it - through streaming, virtual or immersive storytelling, ballet doesn’t have to stop at the stage. And we’re incredibly excited to keep finding new ways to share it with you.
Photos Emily Spencer, Tristram Kenton, Emma Kauldhar, Colleen Mair and Sophie Beth Jones.