Royal Ballet Flanders and More to Perform at IDFB, April 25

International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012 brings five major works to Birmingham Hippodrome's main stage beginning April 25, 2012, including Royal Ballet Flanders' ARTIFACT, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant's PUSH, Breakin Convention, and Circolombia's URBAN.  Tickets are available at the Box Office on 0844 338 5000 or choose your own seat online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com (5% booking fee applies, calls cost from 5p per min).

On April 25, 2012, IDFB 2012 will open its biggest festival to date with Royal Ballet Flanders' production of William Forsythe's Artifact. Created 25 years ago, Forsythe's renowned work is considered globally as a milestone in the history of dance. The ballet, broken into four parts, brings together elements of pure dance, sign language, and spoken word.  Winners of the Lawrence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Achievement in Dance', Royal Ballet Flanders will open the festival for with two performances on Wednesday & Thursday April 25-26, 2012, 7.30pm.

The festival then welcomes Danza Contemporanea de Cuba to the Hippodrome stage; a high energy combination of Afro Caribbean and Spanish fusions in one performance. Featuring a brand new work, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba performs Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 May 2012, 7.30pm.

Legendary ballerina, Sylvie Guillem comes to Birmingham Hippodrome for the very first time with Russell Maliphant's PUSH; a mixed programme featuring four pieces of dance varying from Maliphant's signature solo, Shift to the dynamic duet, Push performed by both Guillem and Maliphant. Sylvie Gulliem plays just two performances in Birmingham on Friday 11 & Saturday 12 May, 7.30pm as her only UK dates dancing Push, a demonstration of the prestige and pulling power of International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012.

Breakin' Convention returns to Birmingham with its signature fusion between professional and amateur break dancing crews in one evening of performance. The show begins before the main stage performance as the foyers host an explosion of activity from 5.30pm as b-boys, MC's and graffiti artists host a multitude of events and activities in and around the theatre. Breakin' Convention comes to Birmingham Hippodrome Monday 14 & Tuesday 15 May 2012, 7.30pm – foyer events from 5.30pm.

Concluding the main stage season, Circolombia's URBAN performs a unique blend of circus, South American hip-hop and reggaeton dance. The show features graduates of Colombian National circus school, Circo Para Todos, who demonstrate a range of skills amidst a backdrop of the Colombian city, Cali. Circolombia plays Birmingham Hippodrome Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 May 2012, 8pm.

• Royal Ballet Flanders, Artifact - Wed 25 & Thu 26 Apr 2012, 7.30pm. Tickets: £15 - £32.50.

• Danza Contemporanea de Cuba – Tue 8 & Wed 9 May 2012, 7.30pm. Tickets: £12.50 - £27.

• Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant: PUSH – Fri 11 & Sat 12 May 2012, 7.30pm. Tickets: £18.50 - £38.50.

• Breakin Convention – Mon 14 & Tue 15 May 2012, 7.30pm (foyer events from 5.30pm). Tickets: £9.50 in advance, £15 on the door.

• Circolombia: URBAN – Wed 16 – Fri 18 May 2012, 8pm. Tickets: £10 - £20.

To book call the Box Office on 0844 338 5000 or choose your own seat online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com (5% booking fee applies, calls cost from 5p per min).

International Festival Birmingham 2012 takes place at venues across the city from 23 April – 19 May 2012, for a full listing of productions and venues visit www.idfb.co.uk.

Photo Credit:  Neil Pugh