Cancelled: Rudolf Noureev – chorégraphies

Birmingham Royal Ballet soloist Sofia Liñares talks about the joys and fears of dancing multiple roles and performances of Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker.

Sir Matthew Bourne talks about his passion for storytelling in dance, and his own personal journey with his radical gender-flipped Swan Lake.

A message of fondness to all Nutcracker lovers: the music still works its magic, even after hundreds of performances. 

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake is on tour until April, bringing classic opulence to multiple venues across the country.

Have you ever wondered what goes on backstage during The Nutcracker? 

The Sleeping Beauty is perhaps the Ugly Duckling of Tchaikovsky’s three ballets. It was the second in the trilogy, completed in 1889, but has neither the dramatic thrust of Swan Lake nor the calorific sugar-coated charm of The Nutcracker in terms of popular appeal. 

Ask anyone who claims to know nothing about ballet to actually name one, the chances are it will be one of Tchaikovsky's, with Swan Lake high on the list.

Along with chestnuts, turkey and Carols from King's, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without The Nutcracker. It has become a staple part of the festive season.