From global sensations to showcases of next-generation talent, Manchester’s upcoming dance and ballet calendar offers a series of enchanting, astonishingly diverse performances guaranteed to captivate newcomers and connoisseurs alike.
Here are the best ballet and dance shows to book now in Manchester.
Waltzing its way to the AO Arena, Strictly Come Dancing live brings a stellar lineup of professionals and celebrities to Manchester, alongside judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood, with the fabulous Janette Manrara returning to host.
The Mergaliyev Classical Ballet returns with a company of international dancers brought together by Artistic Directors Yassaui and Sophie Mergaliyev for a one-night-only performance of The Nutcracker at the Opera House in February. A live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s splendid score adds the finishing touch to what is sure to be another magical evening.
Described as ‘90 minutes of ritualised ecstasy’ by The Irish Times, this visionary piece playfully and provocatively takes you on an otherworldly journey steeped in the landscape and culture of West Kerry in Ireland, guided by 12 fearless dancers and a collaborative soundtrack from virtuoso Irish traditional concertina player Cormac Begley and European classical contemporary collective s t a r g a z e, performed live on stage.
Obscura is a captivating double-bill by Manchester’s own Company Chameleon. Dancing between light and darkness, the bold show seeks to engage audiences in storytelling surrounding issues that are often simplified or dehumanised in the media and public debate. Described as both delicate and explosive in equal measure, Obscura’s first act, Umbra, spotlights exclusion and the search for understanding and to be understood, while the second act, Refuse, follows five performers on a perilous journey in search of refuge, inspired by Géricault’s iconic painting, The Raft of the Medusa.
Acclaimed contemporary circus company Ockham’s Razor returns to Lowry with a brand-new aerial spectacle this February. Collaborator is a deeply intimate duet performed by Ockham Razor’s two artistic directors, Alex and Charlotte, and a poignant, acrobatic and heartfelt exploration of creation and compromise. It will also be the final ever opportunity to see the renowned pair perform as a duo.
In May, Theatre-Rites and award-winning South African Choreographer Gregory Maqoma will present the World Premiere of Return to the Forest, an immersive, playful and thought-provoking new dance and puppetry show for families, co-produced by Factory International and co-commissioned by Sadler’s Wells East.
Blurring the boundaries between classical music and other artforms, Manchester Collective join forces with dance-theatre company Thick & Tight to present a searing live performance that draws on queer culture, flittering between ballet and cabaret, the absurd and the disarmingly moving.
Manchester-based multimedia artist CHAINES completes the impressive lineup, whose work synthesises cutting-edge technology with their classical training to create surreal, glitchy textures.
BRB’s Director Carlos Acosta revives a 19th-century masterpiece, bringing a much-needed slice of Spanish sunshine to the famous Salford theatre. A show that’s perfect for the whole family, Don Quixote is packed with delightful music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and is a must-see for fans of Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty.
International principal dancers will lead an exciting cast of local young dancers selected for this dramatic production of Swan Lake. English Youth Ballet (EYB)’s critically acclaimed adaptation weaves a tale of love, rivalry, greed and murder. Now in its 28th year, EYB is one of the UK’s largest ballet companies and previously won The Stage Award for special achievement in regional theatre.
Masters of storytelling, Northern Ballet bring to the stage the extraordinary story of Anne Lister — better known as Gentleman Jack. A powerful Yorkshire woman, it was only after her death that her secret diaries revealed an exceptional life that defied the expectations of 19th-century society. Inspiring biographies, novels, a hit TV series and now a ballet, Anne’s story leaps from page to stage in this thrilling new production choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and performed to new live music by Peter Salem.
Strictly Come Dancing finalist Nikita Kuzmin brings new dance spectacular Supernova to The Bridgewater Hall this summer.
Supernova has been created in collaboration with world-renowned choreographer and BAFTA award recipient Jason Gilkison and presented by international dance sensation Burn the Floor.
From Thu 25 Jun – Sat 27 Jun, Aviva Studios welcomes the World Premiere of The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O’Connor. Created by Tony award-winning choreographer and director Sonya Tayeh, the dance work is set to the music of Sinéad O’Connor and isa mediation on voice, protest and the courage to live a life that defies the normperformed by a company of 10 women.
The worldwide phenomenon that redefined Irish dance is set to return to the United Kingdom in 2026 to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. Lord of the Dance, Michael Flatley’s visionary show, is one of the most recognised dance stage productions in history, and the 30th Anniversary Tour will feature brand-new choreography, stunning costumes, state-of-the-art special effects, and cutting-edge lighting
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Wed 21 Jan 2026
Internationally acclaimed dance-circus innovators Motionhouse return to Lowry with Hidden, a spellbinding production that merges gravity-defying choreography and pulsating cinematic soundscape for a show that explores how light can emerge from darkness in moments of crisis and division.