Royal Ballet announces return to Covent Garden stage

The Royal Ballet will return to the Royal Opera House’s stage next month for a celebratory performance of highlights for its dance repertory.

On October 9, the full company will be back on stage for the first time since lockdown began. It will be reunited with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House for a live-streamed show.

Francesca Hayward, Sarah Lamb, Vadim Muntagirov, Marianela Núñez, Marcelino Sambé, Edward Watson and Natalia Osipova will be among the Royal Ballet principals taking to the stage for the one-off performance, curated by Royal Ballet director Kevin O’Hare.

The company said the show would be "an important pilot" on the road back to full public performances at the ROH, with the socially distanced audience comprising students and health workers.

It follows what the Opera House has described as one of the most challenging periods in its history.

O’Hare added: "We are so excited about the full company returning to their home stage. The dancers have sorely missed performing and connecting with their audiences these past few months and I have been deeply impressed by the grace and tenacity they have shown during these challenging circumstances.

"I hope this performance will be a chance for everyone to be reminded of all that makes the Royal Ballet and the amazing teams at the Royal Opera House so special."

Excerpts from traditional and contemporary classics by Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon and Hofesh Shechter will feature in the show, called The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage.

Work by Cathy Marston, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, George Balanchine, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov will also be on the line-up.

Public tickets for the live stream will be priced at £16 per household, and it will be available to watch for 30 days after the performance on demand.

Proceeds will go towards the ROH’s ongoing fundraising efforts.