Four visionary creators. Decades of innovation. A breadth of emotions. 

George Balanchine revolutionised ballet, combining speed, precision and a new dynamism to create the neo-classical style. In 1947 in New York, he premiered Theme & Variations, set to music by Tchaikovsky. Since then, this showstopper for 13 couples has lost none of its wow factor. Think gorgeous tutus, fiendish steps and a dazzling finale.

That same year, in the same city, Martha Graham created Errand into the Maze. The visceral, rarely performed duet, based on the raw drama of Greek mythology, encapsulates her unique point of view. Graham changed dance forever, becoming one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

Drawing inspiration from both these visionaries, William Forsythe has been pushing ballet to its limits for decades – and continues to do so. His choreography always surprises, as in his signature piece, Herman Schmerman (Quintet). Originally choreographed in 1992 for New York City Ballet (the Company founded by Balanchine himself), the work allows the dancers to let rip, to delirious effect.

Fast forward to today, David Dawson continues to evolve the language of ballet creating works that are extremely physical and emotional. Four Last Songs, from 2023, epitomises this. Underneath a glimpse of the heavens above, 12 dancers unite in Dawson’s poetic style to Strauss’s poignant song cycle, ushering in a feeling of serenity and the sublime.

The music for three of the works – by Tchaikovsky, Menotti and R. Strauss – will be performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, with Madeleine Pierard singing Strauss’s masterwork.

Header image description: Two performers, half out of shot, reach across the image. The woman stands behind, the man in front. Their arms entangled. He is topless and she is wearing a tight corset in skin colour. Their bodies are glistening in sweat as they look towards their hands.

Header image © Altin Kaftira