Frederick Ashton News

Following a 44-year tenure as founder and Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet, Diana Byer will step down following NYTB’s spring performances, May 4-8, 2022.

Now McKellen is to return to Hamlet in a world première at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performing with the Edinburgh Festival Ballet Company. It is sure to be one of the hottest tickets in the Fringe line up.

Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov will perform the roles of Kitri and Basilio for two nights only at the Birmingham Hippodrome next week (22 & 23 February).

Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that The National Ballet of Canada Volunteer Committee has been awarded a June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism.

Royal Ballet Principal dancer Federico Bonelli has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of Northern Ballet commencing 1 May 2022.

Program 4 – Love & Betrayal sees the return of two powerful British ballets, with the choreography of Dame Ninette de Valois and Sir Frederick Ashton coming together for the first Program of the new year. De Valois’ The Rake’s Progress, a dramatic cautionary tale of betrayal and excess, showcases the downfall of a wealthy merchant’s heir through de Valois’ extraordinary choreography and theatricality.

Journey with The Royal Ballet to an enchanted world of princesses, fairy godmothers and magical spells in this landmark production of Petipa’s classic ballet, to Tchaikovsky's glorious music.

Today, the Royal Opera House has announced that, in addition to both The Dante Project and Giselle, a further five productions will be released on select dates from New Year's Eve, offering audiences across the globe a rich range of ballet and opera this New Year.  

he Joyce Theater Foundation announced today the full lineup of U.S. and international talent that will grace The Joyce’s storied stage for its Spring/Summer 2022 season. Nearly two dozen companies and dance creators will bring their unparalleled creativity and astounding artistic innovation to the iconic, intimate home for dance in New York City.

The Royal Opera House will continue its first full Season since 2019 with a selection of world class productions throughout 2022, showcasing the very best of opera and ballet.  In anticipation of the new year, here are a selection of upcoming world premieres and classic revivals from The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet.

Sarah Lane, former principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre, and Simon Wexler, former principal dancer of Texas Ballet Theater, will appear as guest artists in the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker on December 11 and 12, 2021 at the Riverview Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Raymond Rodriguez has announced Christopher Marney as the new Head of Studio Company and Trainees at the Academy. Marney begins his new role on November 3, 2021, just eight weeks after the Joffrey Academy of Dance opened its new “Joffrey for All” studio space and training facilities at 1920 South Wabash Avenue.

Celebrated Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Edward Watson makes his final performance with the Company on Saturday 30th October in Wayne McGregor's critically acclaimed new work The Dante Project.

Isadora Now is a one-act ballets program by Viviana Durante Company (Great Britain), presented by DanceInversion International Festival of Contemporary Dance.

Throughout the month of October The Royal Opera House will present live-streamed performances featuring artists from both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, alongside a range of archival content and dedicated social media takeovers from our global community of Black creatives and performers. 

Today, the Royal Opera House will mark 30 years of its flagship learning outreach programme Chance to Dance by broadcasting a special film on 19 October as part of #WorldBalletDay.

On Friday, the Royal Opera House opened its doors to students, holding the first Schools' Matinee of the new Season, and hosting a special prizegiving ceremony to celebrate winners of the 10th annual Design Challenge. Both initiatives form part of a wider strategy to engage, inspire and educate a new generation.  

Celebrating 40 years of association with The Royal Ballet, world renowned ballerina Alessandra Ferri returns to the Linbury Theatre this October for L'Heure Exquise: Maurice Béjart's interpretation of Samuel Beckett's play Oh les beaux jours (Happy Days).  

Ballet Arizona will present its momentous 2021-2022 season, celebrating a revival from the pandemic and overcoming the pause in arts programs across the nation. The season will mark the 36th year for Arizona's official ballet company as well as the first full lineup after the pandemic.

The Board of Directors of The National Ballet of Canada today announced that following a two-year international search, Hope Muir has been appointed Artistic Director of the company effective January 1, 2022.