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A dancer in a beige leotard stands on one foot en point, her other foot raised making a triangle against her knee
Northern Ballet

Three Short Ballets

Our sell-out series Three Short Ballets is back for 2024.

Made up of bite-size ballets, you'll be able to dip your toes into dance from three different creators on one night. From stories re-told to ballet classics.

One dancer in a wheelchair leans back and holds the arms of two more dancers immediately behind him
Three couple, one in lilac, one in yellow, one in green, strike identical poses where one partner stands straight holding the other as she hold one arm above her and both legs behind.
Dancer wearing a light dress leaps gracefully high above the stage, the set of a ramshackle building behind her
Dressed in red, a dancer leaps high against an orange sunset
Sat on the floor, two dancers hold each other, one is knelt and looks hopeful, the other seems to barely support himself and has a fearful expression

Victory Dance

Choreography Kristen McNally

  • Opening the programme is a new ballet by dancer and choreographer Kristen McNally
  • McNally is a Principal Character Artist of The Royal Ballet, where she has danced many roles and also choreographs
  • The new ballet will see McNally work with two Northern Ballet dancers and Joe Powell-Main, a disabled dancer who uses wheels and crutches
  • This will be an unmissable collaboration of innovation, inclusivity and excellence

Four Last Songs

Choreography Rudi van Dantzig

  • Created in 1977 by Dutch ballet pioneer Rudi van Dantzig, Four Last Songs is a breathtaking expression of love, loss, and the beauty of the human experience.
  • He was was known for his musical and moving style so expect impressive lifts, turns and jumps, performed to perfection.
  • The music is by Richard Strauss’ and combines classical music and a single soprano voice – it has been described as a ‘touchingly beautiful’
  • This will be the first time Four Last Songs has been performed in the UK in over 10 years, so you can be one of the first to see it here.

Fools

Choreography Mthuthuzeli November

  • A captivating twist on Romeo and Juliet from the Olivier Award-winning Mthuthuzeli November.
  • Inspired by R.L. Peteni's South African novel Hill of Fools, this ballet tells a tale of bitter rivalry between two villages.
  • November creates powerful and emotive works that fuse ballet with other dance styles.
  • He previously wowed audiences with Wailers in our 2022 Three Short Ballets program.

Parental guidance recommended

Running time including interval: 95 minutes approximately

What to expect from Three Short Ballets

A Night of Variety: From re-imagined classics to groundbreaking premières, Three Short Ballets promises a mix of works that caters to every dance enthusiast, even those new to ballet.

Top-tier Choreographers: This eclectic programme is the perfect opportunity to experience the work of some of the most talented choreographers of our time.

When it's gone it's gone: Each Three Short Ballets programme has a limited run in Leeds so don't miss out and see them while you can!

Header image featuring dancer Sarah Chun, taken by Guy Farrow.