Darcey Bussell News

At a gala lunch held today attended by hundreds of ballet lovers, David McAllister AM, the immediate past Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, was surprised when the event took a turn and became “David McAllister This Is Your Life”.  The lunch entitled “Celebrating David McAllister AM with a little help from his Friends” was a joyous occasion with many surprise guests.

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) has partnered with the V&A to co-curate a free to enter display to mark the iconic dance education organisation's centenary.

1910 saw George V ascend to the throne, the trial and execution of Dr Crippen, the publication of EM Forster's Howard's End and the birth of Alice Marks, later Alicia Markova, the country's first prima ballerina. It also witnessed the establishment of the Dancing Times, the first independent magazine devoted solely to dance.

Today, on the second anniversary of the death of dearly-loved choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne, The Lynne and Land Foundation announces grants to four arts organisations close to her heart.

Patrons, supporters, and members from around the world came together last month to celebrate the 90th anniversary of bbodance, formerly known as the British Ballet Organization (BBO).

The BBC is currently working on its Culture In Quarantine initiative, but the BBC's iPlayer and Sounds are already incredibly rich sources of drama, music, dance and comedy. Here are some of the highlights currently available.

ArtsEd, the UK's leading performing arts schools is celebrating 100 years of world-class training in the performing arts by launching in Dubai and across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Royal Opera House today announces its 2019/20 Cinema Season which will launch in October. 13 productions will be broadcast to 600 UK cinemas stretching the length of the UK from the Orkney Islands all the way to Jersey in the Channel Islands.   

This weekend, Scottish Ballet transformed the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh for the most glamorous night of the year, Scottish Ballet's 50th anniversary. Guests took over the theatre's stage for a dining experience like no other - giant gold pipes and twinkling lights hung from the rafters, bouquets were peppered with golden ferns, even the event finale was dusted with 'SB50' confetti falling from the 'sky'.

Audiences across the USA can catch The Royal Ballet's critically acclaimed Romeo and Juliet from The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London at their local movie theater from July 2 (varying dates across markets), which closes the magnificent 2018/19 cinema season.

For its 2019 season, National Youth Ballet will present WONDERLANDS, a mixed programme of new works choreographed by some of the country's rising talents, performed by a Company of young dancers aged 9-18 from across the UK.

Audiences across the USA can catch The Royal Ballet's critically acclaimed Romeo and Juliet from The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London at their local movie theater from July 2 (varying dates across markets), which closes the magnificent 2018/19 cinema season. 

Audiences in more than 500 UK cinemas can watch Romeo and Juliet, live from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, on Tuesday 11 June 2019, with an encore screening on Sunday 16 June 2019.

It is announced today that Mikah Smillie will step down as Artistic Director of National Youth Ballet this month after three years leading the Company. Mikah was appointed in 2016 following the passing of Founding Director Jill Tookey, and has programmed three highly successful seasons that have continued to build upon the legacy of empowering young people and emerging professional artists. Mikah has a longstanding association with National Youth Ballet spanning over 11 years, and under her artistic leadership the Company.

Scottish Ballet announces the five wishes that will come true in 2019, as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

With the TV series having only finished in December, Strictly Come Dancing 2018 is still very much fresh in people's minds. Last night saw the opening of the arena tour in Birmingham, starring seven much-loved celebrities from the show, alongside an ensemble of professional dancers.

US cinema audiences will be treated to The Royal Ballet's holiday favorite The Nutcracker with screenings on various dates around the country through December 30. To find a cinema near you, visit: http://rohtickets.com. The Nutcracker was filmed at the Royal Opera House in London's world-famous Covent Garden.

Strictly Come Dancing fans will be overjoyed to hear that the full line up of celebrities and their professional partners for next year's Strictly Come Dancing UK Arena Tour is announced today. Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev; Lauren Steadman and AJ Pritchard; Graeme Swann and Karen Clifton; Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice will all be joining previously announced Stacey Dooley and Aljaž Skorjanec; Dr Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara; Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell on the road in the New Year.

Strictly fans will be thrilled to learn that the first couples to appear on next year's Strictly Come Dancing UK Arena Tour have been announced as documentary maker Stacey Dooley and Aljaž Škorjanec, This Morning's Dr Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara, and YouTube sensation Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell.

Guest presenters will offer exclusive performance insights during the Royal Opera House Cinema Festival, which opens on Monday 3 December in the state-of-the-art Linbury Theatre. Famous faces include former Royal Ballet Principal Darcey Bussell (presenting Sylvia, 7 December, 7pm) and Music Director of The Royal Opera Antonio Pappano (presenting Otello, 21 December, 7pm, and The Flying Dutchman, 29 December, 7pm). The festival, which includes 11 free opera and ballet performances for children, runs until Sunday 6 January.