Dance Venues in London

 
 
 
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Barbican Centre

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Barbican Centre
Peacock Theatre
Southbank Centre
Royal Opera House
London Coliseum
 

 

Whether you're big on ballet, wild on waltz or fanatical about foxtrot, London's vast array of dance venues offer a rich programme of events.

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Sadler's Wells

Also home to the Lilian Baylis Theatre, this favourite offers the best in national and international dance.

Rosebery Avenue, Islington, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 4TN

Tube: Angel Station

 
 

Occupying a site with a long tradition of entertaining Londoners, Sadler's Wells exists to bring the best of national and international dance, ballet, opera and music theatre to the capital. Now a strikingly modern building with flexible performance and auditorium spaces, the original Sadler's Wells opened in 1683. Six Sadler's Wells' later and sleek steel and glass have replaced the crumbling brick edifice of previous centuries. Originally a music hall, the venue now boasts a resoundingly contemporary but extremely accessible programme - with an emphasis on dance and movement - supported by innovative visual arts exhibitions in its public spaces. Sadler's really came into its own when Lilian Baylis took charge in the 1920s. Since then many of the world's best dancers have performed on this Islington stage. In 1995, Matthew Bourne premiered his magnificent 'Swan Lake' here which went on to become the West End's longest running ballet. Sadler's Wells continues to have close associations with the centrally located Peacock Theatre, its home during periods of renovation, while the Lilian Baylis Theatre - now a highly regarded venue in itself - is located within the Sadler's Well Islington complex. It's really worth checking out what's on here if you're down for the weekend. Ranging from the cutting-edge to the mainstream, some truly landmark productions have taken place here over the years ('Edward Scissorhands') - which make this an attractive proposition for entertainment in the capital.

 
 
 

Peacock Theatre

Part of the Sadler's Wells sphere, the Peacock's innovative dance programme boasts West End appeal.

Portugal Street, Holborn, London, WC2A 2HT

Tube: Holborn Station , Covent Garden Station, Temple Station

 
 

This theatre is a major force on the national and international dance scene, with an innovative programme from Sadler's Wells that is keeping London's finger on the pulse. The Peacock Theatre became the company's base from 1996 to 1998 when a new theatre was being built on its Islington site and, since that time, has been a shining star in the Sadler's Wells sphere. From the avant-garde to the mainstream, the repertoire is always diverse and dynamic with electrifying dance and movement shows, stunning operas and musical productions. Families have also flocked here at Christmas time since 1998 to see the stage transformed into a magical winter wonderland in The Snowman. The building itself has managed to shed its retro 60s image to become a cool venue perfectly suited to hosting the creme de la creme of the dance world.

 
 
 

Royal Opera House

A beacon of modern theatre design, the imposing ROH stages a steady flow of high-quality performances.

Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station

 
 

This impressive building in the heart of Covent Garden has been playing host to major stars of the classical music world since 1858. The third theatre to be located on this site, today's Royal Opera House is the result of a reconstruction in the 1990s (although the main auditorium is part of the original building). It is a beacon of modern theatre design and the place to go for high quality performances in sumptuous surroundings. As one of London's most esteemed, iconic and beautiful performance venues, it's worth a visit even if you're not a ballet or opera fan. Before 1999 the theatre only opened its doors to ticket holders just before performances but today you can explore parts of the building for free during the day - the Paul Hamlyn Hall with its dramatic glass atrium is especially worth a peek. For smaller scale productions such as chamber opera and experimental dance shows there's the 400-seat Linbury Studio Theatre and the Clore Studio Upstairs holds an audience of 180 for more intimate events and performances.

 
 
 

London Coliseum - English National Opera (ENO)

One of the capital's grandest theatres, the Coliseum's splendour is matched by the ENO's impressive programme.

St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4ES

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Leicester Square Station, Covent Garden Station, Embankment Underground Station

 
 

London Coliseum is a magnificent historic building and an excellent venue in which to enjoy the soaring sounds and high drama of some truly thrilling operas. This impressive theatre, which started its life as a venue for variety shows, is now - conversely - indistinguishable from its artistically first-class company in residence, the English National Opera. Back in 1904, impresario Oswald Stoll and architect Frank Matcham set out to build the largest and finest theatre in London and the Coliseum was indeed a striking addition to the city's entertainment scene, complete with electric lighting and a revolving stage. Having undergone an extensive restoration programme in 2000, specifically to accommodate the ENO, it remains one of the grandest theatres in the capital today. The splendour of the building is only matched by the quality of the performances that take place there. All ENO productions are sung in English as the voices of some of the world's most talented performers fill the auditorium night after night. The pre-eminence of the company also attracts a host of distinguished directors, designers and visiting troupes to stage dance, opera and circus under its famous proscenium arch, the largest in London.

 
 
 

The Place

London's specialist venue for contemporary dance unites training, creation and performance.

17 Duke's Road, Bloomsbury, London, WC1H 9PY

Tube: Euston Station , Euston Square Station

 
 

London's specialist venue for contemporary dance, The Place plays a role in every aspect of this fast-growing art form. The London Contemporary Dance School offers degrees validated by the University of Kent, as well as classes to everyone from 5-year-old beginners to adult amateurs to some of the world's top professionals in evening classes that are open to the public. One of the country's top companies, Richard Alston Dance Company, is based at The Place. It also boasts a comfortable, versatile 300-seat theatre with a year-round programme of contemporary dance, the Robin Howard Dance Theatre.

 
 
 
 

Southbank Centre

The largest single-run arts centre in the world offers a range of dance events throughout the year.

Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XX

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 
 

The Southbank Centre is a classic example of brutal 60s concrete architecture. Everyone has an opinion (usually negative) on its distinctive design - famous detractors include Prince Charles, who once described it as looking like a "nuclear power station". Yet, if the The West End is the centre of popular culture in London, it is the Southbank Centre that is the centre of true excellence in the arts. Comprising the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery, the complex consistently produces classical and world music events and fine art exhibitions of high renown. Over 150,000 hours of music have been performed at the Royal Festival Hall - the largest venue in the Southbank Centre - since its completion in 1951. Welcoming over three million visitors a year, the Royal Festival Hall is primarily a classical music venue. It benefits from the residency of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonia and four associate ensembles. The programme also includes events from opera to the London Jazz Festival. The Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room host regular recitals, dance performances and choral concerts. Free lunchtime concerts held in the foyer offer a more relaxed musical experience. The Hayward Gallery has been the originator or host of influential exhibitions since 1968. The colossal Poetry Library houses the Arts Council modern collection, while the BFI Southbank (previously the National Film Theatre) shows 2,000 films (art house and classics) a year alongside many film festivals and director-led seasons. A happy architectural accident has also made this complex the best spot for skateboarding and BMXing in the capital, meaning it is loved by London's counter-culture as much as by its highbrow elite. In the last ten years, the building of Tate Modern and the London Eye adjacent to the centre has been the final step in making the South Bank of the Thames into the beating heart of a thousand years of British culture.

 
 
 

Barbican Centre

Located in the heart of the City, this multi-faceted performing arts centre hosts diverse dance productions.

Silk Street, City, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 
 

Described by the Queen as 'one of the wonders of the modern world' , the Barbican Centre has also been voted 'London's ugliest building'. Ugly or not, this multi-faceted performance and arts venue is truly wondrous. Open 363 days a year, it offers the most diverse program of any London venue. As well as being home to the London Symphony Orchestra, the centre's giant Barbican Hall attracts a host of international classical, jazz, rock, and world music stars. Two theatres offer a year-round program of some of the finest in international performing arts, while three cinemas mix mainstream films with specialist seasons. The Barbican Art Gallery, several smaller exhibition spaces, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, live music in the foyer, and a host of talks, signings, and events for children are also on offer. The building itself is a labyrinth and finding your route from the station or car park is an adventure in itself. Staircases twist around each other, directing lost patrons into mysteriously empty mezzanines, where odd snatches of music are the only guide back to the main lobby. The joy of coming across exhibitions, live music, or talks from a major arts celebrity in some odd corner of the building is a unique feature of this remarkable concentration of artistic talent.

 
 
 
 
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