Three Short Ballets

Ballet and dance

Northern Ballet returns to the Linbury Theatre with a programme of fiery revivals including Hans van Manen’s 5 Tangos and Mthuthuzeli November’s Fools, and a brand new work by New York City Ballet’s choreographer Tiler Peck.

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A ballet dancer stands on a rusted barrel holding onto a wooden lamp post. Another dancer stands on the floor looking up to them. Behind them, a corrugated iron shed holds up a washing line with different pieces of washing hang from it.

How to watch
Dates and cast
About
Programme
Access and resources

How to watch

Watch on stage

Ticket price

£6 - £63

Dates

29 September - 2 October 2026

Location

Linbury Theatre

Approximate timings

The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including two intervals. The opening gala performance on 29 September will include an additional 25-minute introduction.

Grandes Études:
25 minutes
Interval:
20 minutes
5 Tangos:
25 minutes
Interval :
20 minutes
Fools:
45 minutes

Expand all dates

Tuesday 29 September, 7:30 pm

Wednesday 30 September, 7:30 pm

Thursday 1 October, 2:00 pm

Show all dates until 2 October 2026

Guidance

Parental guidance recommended for Fools

Programme

Northern Ballet returns to the Linbury Theatre with a programme of fiery revivals and a world premiere.

Precision and explosion

The production

Northern Ballet will present the London premiere of Grandes Études, a brand new work by acclaimed New York City Ballet Principal dancer and choreographer Tiler Peck.

In Hans van Manen’s smouldering 5 Tangos, the late Dutch choreographer combines the poised precision of ballet with the fireworks of tango to a sizzling soundscape of Astor Piazzolla’s music.

Also featuring in this mixed programme is Mthuthuzeli November’s Fools. The Olivier Award-winning choreographer fuses ballet, contemporary and traditional dance in this captivativing reimagination of R.L. Peteni’s novel Hill of Fools. In this South African tale of star-crossed lovers, tensions rise and passions come to a boiling point.

Opening night

A gala performance

The opening performance of Three Short Ballets will be a gala evening dedicated to Mrs Aud Jebsen. This extended programme will feature Northern Ballet and Royal Ballet dancers, as the two companies come together to thank Mrs Jebsen for her unwavering support to the world of ballet.

Gallery

Several ballet dancers perform on stage in a dimly lit space with haze. (1 of 3) — Antoni Cañellas Artigues and Harris Beattie in Fools, Northern Ballet ©Emily Nuttall

A ballet dancer launches themselves into the air on a dimly lit stage. Behind them on the stage is a corrugated iron shed and a rusted barrel holding up a wooden lamp post. (2 of 3) — Sarah Chun in Fools, Northern Ballet ©Emily Nuttall

A ballet dancer launches themselves into the air on a dimly lit stage with haze. Several dancers sit on the floor watching. (3 of 3) — Antoni Cañellas Artigues in Fools, Northern Ballet ©Emily Nuttall

Accessibility and resources

For step free-access and wheelchair spaces in the Linbury Theatre, you will need to book seats on the right-hand side of the auditorium.

We have an assistive listening system available to use. Surtitles, captions and translations in English are displayed on screens above the stage and around the auditorium.

Join our Access Scheme for priority access to tickets and to inform us of your access requirements.

See our Accessibility page for more information or view a visitors guide (PDF, 12.0 MB).