The best: Ballet and dance performances coming to Manchester

Dubbed ‘the biggest Bollywood stage show to take place across the globe’, THE BOLLYWOOD BIG ONE unites Bollywood royalty, Salman Khan, with an ensemble of new generation superstars including Madhuri Dixit, Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff.

If ‘boy-band meets Shakespearean drama’ isn’t enough to trigger your intrigue, then we’re not sure what will. Featuring eight dancers in slick suits battling against the pressures to conform, the show is loosely inspired by depictions of madness in Hamlet and Macbeth, combining them with traditional Korean songs and a live rock band.

The Queen of Tango, Oti Mabuse, brings Viva Carnival to The Bridgewater Hall this June. The only Strictly Come Dancing pro to win the glitter ball twice in a row, Oti will be joined by another Strictly icon, Flavia, for an eclectic 90 minutes of dance that promises to take audiences on a journey around the world.

On Tue 15 Jul, Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK storm onto the Lowry stage on a gleaming Lambretta moped with their wildly inventive mod ballet, Quadrophenia.

Inspired by The Who’s iconic titular album, the blistering production reimagines the 1979 cult classic feature film with a cast of decorated dancers, as Jimmy’s story is brought to life in a whirlwind dance adaptation packed with the sharp suits, reworked soul and social empowerment that defined a generation.

Set to Rachel Fuller’s breathtaking orchestral interpretation of Pete Townshend’s towering record, choreographer Paul Roberts and director Rob Ashford unite the best of Britain’s theatre, film and dance talent to bring a raw, emotionally charged new dimension to one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the seminal Bollywood flick, Sholay, this dazzling music and dance show transports you back to the heart of Bollywood’s golden era. Yeh Dosti will feature mesmerising dance performances choreographed to the film’s legendary soundtrack, bringing to life the energy, drama, and romance that made Sholay a timeless classic.

Matthew Bourne’s award-winning The Midnight Bell comes to Salford for the first time in July 2025.

Inspired by English literary titan Patrick Hamilton, Bourne’s period masterpiece unfolds on the streets of 1930s London, where a diverse cohort of workers, vagabonds and local denizens pour out of boarding houses to bask in their dreams and exorcise their regrets inside the titular Soho tavern.

Marking its 30-year anniversary, Riverdance 30: The Generation embarks on a special tour later this year, breathing new life in the much-loved original show with brand-new innovative choreography, costumes, state-of-the-art lighting, projection and motion graphics.

The bewitching and beloved fairytale of Sleeping Beauty comes to the Place Theatre by way of the phenomenal Enligh National Balle this autumn.

Brimming with beautiful choreography and sumptuous sets and costumes (by legendary designers Peter Farmer and Nicholas Georgiadis), audiences will be whisked away to an enchanted land of magical characters and good versus evil.

This lavish spectacle is heightened by one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest ballet scores, played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic.

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.

For the first time ever, Manchester International Festival will partner with The Royal Ballet, to present a stage version of Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man. Created by Jonathan Watkins with an original score from composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman and original songs from singer-songwriter John Grant, who will also perform live, the World Premiere will see former Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson perform the central role.

Internationally acclaimed artist, choreographer and musician Blackhaine will take over industrial space Diecast for the World Premiere of And Now I Know What Love Is. Performed by a company of dancers and taking inspiration from the rich, urban landscapes of North West England where he grew up –  liminal, seemingly-desolate spaces – this immersive performance blends choreography and sound, inviting audiences to question our sense of belonging and love in a world of despair.

A World Premiere by Rushil Ranjan (the Orchestral Qawwali Project) featuring the Manchester Camerata and a very special guest is another major highlight from this year’s MIF25 lineup.

Rushil Ranjan is a self-taught, critically-acclaimed, award-winning composer, arranger and producer, known for his work in bridging classical art forms from around the world. For MIF25, he brings Orchestral Qawwali Project to The Hall at Aviva — established in 2020 by Ranjan and his partner Abi Sampa, the project has soared to prominence with its unique blend of Sufi poetry, Indian Classical dance and orchestral arrangements.