Birmingham Royal Ballet has announced plans for the 2013–14 season, including the UK premiere of David Bintley’s The Prince of the Pagodas (pictured), rare Frederick Ashton revivals and works by Bintley, John Cranko, George Balanchine and Kenneth MacMillan. Performances at Birmingham Hippodrome and some tour dates have been confirmed, with more performances to be announced.

After 21 years with The Royal Ballet, Leanne Benjamin will retire in July 2013, at the end of the current season. Her last performance will be on July 10, in A Gala Evening with The Royal Ballet at the Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo as part of the company’s summer tour. Her final UK performance will be in Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling, at the Royal Opera House on June 15. She will dance Mary Vetsera – the role in which she made her debut with the company.

The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2012 were held at The Place on Monday, January 28. Hosted by Gary Avis of The Royal Ballet and KennethTharp of The Place, the awards celebrated a broad spread of dance performances in Britain, from hip hop – with a spectacular double win for ZooNation – to narrative ballet. Tharp and Avis opened with a touch of showbiz, dancing on with a flourish. This year’s awards were dedicated to the memory of critics John Percival, Charles Hedges and Freda Pitt.

The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2012 were held at The Place on Monday, January 28. Hosted by Gary Avis of The Royal Ballet and KennethTharp of The Place, the awards celebrated a broad spread of dance performances in Britain, from hip hop to narrative ballet. Tharp and Avis opened with a touch of showbiz, dancing on with a flourish. This year’s awards were dedicated to the memory of critics John Percival, Charles Hedges and Freda Pitt.

Nominations for the 13th National Dance Awards were announced today, at a reception held at The Place. The awards are for dance performances given between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012, and are chosen by the dance section of the Critics’ Circle.

Nominations for the 13th National Dance Awards were announced today, at a reception held at The Place. The awards are for dance performances given between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012, and are chosen by the dance section of the Critics’ Circle.

The London Coliseum has announced its dance performances for spring and summer 2013. The programme includes visits from overseas companies the Mikhailovsky Ballet and Boston Ballet, plus seasons by Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet.

Birmingham Royal Ballet has announced its performances at the Birmingham Hippodrome for the 2012–13 season. They include the UK premiere of David Bintley’s Aladdin and Lyric Pieces by award-winning American choreographer Jessica Lang.

The twelfth Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards took place today at The Place, in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre. Members of the dance section of the Critics’ Circle vote for the awards, on performances given in the UK between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011.

The twelfth Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards took place today at The Place, in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre. Members of the dance section of the Critics’ Circle vote for the awards, on performances given in the UK between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011.