Dance at the Peacock Theatre

Posted on November 8, 2013

The new season of dance at the Peacock Theatre includes shows from hip hop to Havana, taking in TV dance show talent along the way.

Now seen by more than two million people worldwide, The Merchants of Bollywood returns from January 28 to February 15. The musical charts the history of the world’s biggest film industry, with choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant.

Hip hop show Blaze (pictured) returns from February 18 to March 8. Directed by Anthony Van Laast, with set designs by Es Devlin, the show features music by Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Kanye West and more.

From March 11 to 30, Pilobolus Dance Theatre present the UK premiere of Shadowland, which mixes dance, shadow illusions and circus to tell the story of a young girl’s coming of age.

English National Ballet continues its “My first…” series with My First Ballet: Coppélia. The dancers of English National Ballet School perform George Williamson’s production, adapting the classic for younger audiences. London Children’s Ballet dance a ballet adaptation of the Emma Thompson film Nanny McPhee from April 24 to 27.

Havana Rakatan, one of Sadler’s Wells’ most successful productions, is back by popular demand for its sixth season, running from May 6 to 24. Created by choreographer Nilda Guerra, it features salsa, mambo, son, cha cha cha and other Cuban styles, with live music from Cuban son band Turquino.

FLASH MOB^TM, directed by Gary Lloyd, was created in 2012 to show off the dancers who have emerged from reality television. The 2014 line-up includes the marvellous Tommy Franzén, who appeared on So You Think You Can Dance, Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer and Alleviate and Brosena from Got To Dance. It’s at the Peacock Theatre from May 27 to June 8.

Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance perform Rock The Ballet from June 10 to 28. The show mixes ballet technique and rock music.

Illusionist theatre company Mummenschanz give a summer holiday run at the Peacock from July 19 to 27.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 11 from www.sadlerswells.com or 0844 412 4322.

Picture: Blaze. Photograph: Roy Beusker

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.