Support Us Login

Kids

London dance December 2023

By Teresa Guerreiro on 4/12/2023

A profusion of Nutcrackers predominates, of course, but there are entertaining alternatives in the dance offer for December in London

Mark Samaras in the McOnie Company's Nutcracker. Photo Mark Senior:

McOnie Company, Nutcracker review ★★★★★

This original, life-enhancing and thoroughly enjoyable version of The Nutcracker has stolen a march on everybody else and has been playing to audiences young and not-so-young at the delightful new pop-up space at the back of the Royal Festival Hall. Short and sweet with a glorious jazzy score.

WHEN

Until Saturday 6 January, Shows at various times. Consult website. Dur.: 60 mins no interval

WHERE

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Gary Avis and artists of The Royal Ballet in The Nutcracker, The Royal Ballet © 2018 ROH. Photo: Alastair Muir

The Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker 2023, ROH

The Royal Ballet dance the impeccable Peter Wright production of The Nutcracker. It's sumptuous, full of wonder and magic, and with the company in fantastic form, glorious dancing across the board is guaranteed. And, of course, there is Tchaikovsky's peerless score played live by the Royal Opera House Orchestra.

WHEN

Wednesday 6 December – Saturday 13 January. Eves at 7:30pm or 7pm. Plenty of mats (consult website). Dur.: 2 hours 20 mins inc one interval

WHERE

Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD

English National Ballet in Nutcracker © Laurent Liotardo

English National Ballet, Nutcracker (2023), London Coliseum

Hot on the heels of the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet brings its own Nutcracker to the Coliseum for its annual winter residency there. It's an idiosyncratic version of the Christmas ballet, but glorious dancing by a company at the peak of its form guarantees enjoyment.

WHEN

Thursday 14 December – Sunday 7 January. 7:30pm, mats at 2:30pm (consult website). Dur.: 2 hours inc one interval

WHERE

London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES

Birmingham Repertory Theatre's The Snowman 2023, Peacock Theatre

Birmingham Repertory Theatre's dance version of Raymond Briggs's world-famous Christmas book, The Snowman, has been enchanting audiences for 26 years and is an indispensable part of the season at the Peacock Theatre.

WHEN

Until Sunday 31 December. 11am, 2:30pm, 7pm – consult website. Dur.: 1 hour 50 mins inc one interval

WHERE

Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT

Edward Scissorhands. Devised, Directed ad Choreographed by Matthew Bourne. Photo: Johan Persson

Edward Scissorhands, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Sadler's Wells

For a few years now Sadler's Wells's offer for the festive season has eschewed the Christmas theme, and so it is this year with the return to its stage of Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands, his dance adaptation of the epoch-making Tim Burton film. It has plenty to tug at the heartstrings, alongside humour and spirited dancing.

WHEN

Tuesday 5 December – Saturday 20 January, 7:30pm Thu & Sat mats at 2:30pm. Sun at 2pm only. No performance 25 December & 1 January. Dur.: 1 hour 55 mins inc one interval

WHERE

Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN

SDT Pirates! Kai Tomioka. Photo: Genevieve Reeves

Scottish Dance Theatre, Pirates! The Place

A swashbuckling adventure through the medium of dance theatre, Scottish Dance Theatre's Pirates! comes to The Place to entertain children and adults alike this Christmas season.

WHEN

Saturday 16 December – Sunday 24 December. Various am & pm starts (consult website). Dur.: 1 hour 55 mins inc one interval

WHERE

The Place, 17 Duke's Road, London WC1H 9PY

London dance December 2023

A profusion of Nutcrackers predominates, of course, but there are entertaining alternatives in the dance offer for December in London

McOnie Company, Nutcracker review ★★★★★

The Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker 2023, ROH

English National Ballet, Nutcracker (2023), London Coliseum

Birmingham Repertory Theatre's The Snowman 2023, Peacock Theatre

Edward Scissorhands, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Sadler's Wells

Scottish Dance Theatre, Pirates! The Place

Dance

Theatre

Kids

Christmas

English National Ballet, Giselle Review ★★★★★

The Royal Ballet, Manon Review ★★★★★

Alina Cojocaru, La Strada Review