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.

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

Tickets

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Dates

29 September - 2 October 2026

Location

Linbury Theatre

Approximate timings

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Guidance

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Programme

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

Precision and explosion

The production

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.

Alongside these revivals, Northern Ballet will present the London premiere of a brand new work by acclaimed New York City Ballet principal dancer and choreographer Tiler Peck.

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. 

The additional works featured in the gala evening include Frederick Ashton’s Méditation from Thaïs, David Nixon CBE’s Heavenly Space pas de deux from The Great Gatsby and Massimo Moricone’s Balcony pas de deux from Romeo & Juliet.

Antoni Cañellas Artigues and Harris Beattie in Fools, Northern Ballet ©Emily Nuttall
Sarah Chun in Fools, Northern Ballet ©Emily Nuttall
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).

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