April 2024
5th April, Pyramid Arts Centre
Tits & Teeth by Thick & Tight
Mixing ballet and contemporary dance with drag, satire, mime and lip-syncing, Tits & Teeth is a variety show like no other. General tickets: £6. Book here.
6th April, Unity Theatre Liverpool
Taste of Cairo
The UK’s premier belly dance agency, Taste of Cairo, brings you a stunning and unique professional production which showcases the diverse and vibrant range of dance that the Middle East and beyond has to offer. General tickets: from £10. Book here.
7th April, Blackpool Grand Theatre
Let Me Entertain You: Giovanni Pernice
Giovanni Pernice is back in 2024 for his brand new live tour – Let Me Entertain You. The Strictly Come Dancing champion and BAFTA winner is the epitome of live entertainment. General tickets: £40.50. Book here.
7th April, Storyhouse Chester
Motionhouse: Starchitects
Starchitects by Motionhouse is a joyful cosmic adventure for the whole family. Full of fun and thrilling surprises, Starchitects has an easy-to-follow and humorous storyline, making it perfect for a fun and entertaining treat for the whole family. General tickets: £16. Book here.
11th April, Storyhouse Chester
An Evening with Anton Du Beke and Friends
Strictly Come Dancing legend and judge, Anton Du Beke, takes to the stage with his show in 2024. With his live band, a guest singer and his dancers, expect a great evening of song, dance and laughter. Tickets: from £38.50. Book here.
11th April, Brewery Arts Centre
Stage on Screen - Macmillan Celebrated – The Royal Ballet
Encore Broadcast. Danses Concertantes, commissioned by Ninette de Valois in 1955, was MacMillan’s first major work. An early sign of the incredible artistic output that would follow, the work’s critical success spurred MacMillan to abandon performing in favour of choreography. General tickets: from £16.50. Book here.
12th April, Tarvin Community Centre
Club Origami
Dance, fashion and live music meet the magic of origami to sweep us up on a spirited and inspiring adventure in a land made purely of paper and play. General tickets: £8.00. Book here.
13th April, Theatre Porto
Club Origami
Dance, fashion, and live music meet the magic of origami to sweep us up on a spirited and inspiring adventure in a land made purely of paper and play. General tickets: £10.00. Book here.
13th and 14th April, The Forum Barrow
Men & Girls Dance – Fevered Sleep
Men & Girls Dance brings together two very different groups of performers: adult men who dance professionally and girls from Barrow in Furness who dance for fun. At times playful, at times thought provoking, Men & Girls Dance celebrates the rights of adults and children to be together, to play together and to dance together. Tickets: from £8. Book here.
14th April, Vicar’s Cross Community Centre
Club Origami
Dance, fashion, and live music meet the magic of origami to sweep us up on a spirited and inspiring adventure in a land made purely of paper and play. General tickets: £8.00. Book here.
16th April, The Lowry
Mehek by Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas
Mehek is an enchanting exploration of the human heart, its desires, courage, and resilience, masterfully brought to life by the artistry of Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas. This captivating performance gives a voice to an unspoken and overlooked love story. General tickets: from £16.50. Book here.
18th - 20th April, The Lowry
Death Trap by Rambert Dance
A meta dance comedy, full of the turbulence of life and death. Darkly funny and packed with originality. Rambert and Ben Duke are masters of dance theatre where the dance is exceptional and the theatre delivers irresistible stories. Tickets: from £20.50. Book here.
19th April, Unity Theatre Liverpool
Freeing The Body With The Pole by Rowena Gander
The solo performer, who is known for rejecting traditional and stylistic aesthetic, continues to free her body from an acquired movement language that combines movement forms in contemporary dance, erotic dance, pole dance and jazz dance. Tickets: from £10. Book here.
20th April, The Vale
Juba Jam 2024
Open intensive mass drumming and dance sessions with Manchester drum and dance collective Juba do Leão, blasting out rootsy rhythms and stunning choreographies straight from the streets of Recife, North East Brazil. Tickets: from £8. Book here.
24th April, Brewery Arts Centre
Stage on Screen - Swan Lake – The Royal Ballet
Live Broadcast. Out hunting, Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans. One among them transforms into the beautiful human Odette and he is immediately enamoured. But Odette is bound by a spell which keeps her captive as a swan during the day. Can Siegfried free her? Tickets: from £16.50. Book here.
24th April, Lancaster Arts
Susan Kempster: Common Ground
Common Ground is a unique evening of performance from dance artist and choreographer, Susan Kempster, featuring three pieces exploring ageing. General tickets: from £13. Book here.
26th April – 10th May in various venues across Liverpool
Leap Dance Festival
Leap Dance Festival is back and ready to bring the ultimate celebration of dance to Liverpool. With a diverse range of styles and events, from circus and burlesque to breakdance and voguing, you’re guaranteed to have a great time watching artists from across Liverpool City Region showcasing their work. Ticketed and free events. See more here.
27th April 2024, Northwich Town Centre
Now Northwich Festival produced by Cheshire Dance
The ultimate festival of wonder, Now Northwich is back with an eclectic and majestic explosion of international dance and street arts. From The Plaza on Witton Street right through the town centre and across Barons Quay, performers will stop you in your tracks with awe inspiring spectacles for every member of the family. FREE – 12pm till late. See more here.
29th April, The Bluecoat Liverpool
Live Performances from Ka Baird, Rosie Terry Toogood & Dialect, and Ancient Plastix
Join us this April for an evening of special live music and dance performances from Ka Baird, Rosie Terry Toogood & Dialect and Ancient Plastix. General tickets: from £17.50. Book here.
30th April, St Pauls Hall, Huddersfield
Disunited Jukebox by Company Carpi
Disunited Jukebox is a brand new opera about the bewildering state of the modern world and our hopes & fears for the future, by composer Gary Lloyd & choreographer Bettina Carpi. Highly celebrated writers Mary Talbot, Neil Gaiman, Audrey Schebat, John Higgs & many others have created the specially written libretto for the opera, alongside new writing talent and community input, and even a NASA astronaut. General tickets: from £10. Book here.
Thick and Tight: Tits & Teeth
May 2024
1st May, Brewery Arts Centre
Stage on Screen - Carmen – The Royal Opera
Live Broadcast. Damiano Michieletto’s sizzling new production evokes all the passion and heat of Bizet’s score, which features Carmen’s sultry Habanera and the rousing Toreador song. Antonello Manacorda conducts an exciting international cast, with Aigul Akhmetshina performing the title role. Tickets: from £16.50. Book here.
1st May, The Dukes Lancaster
Emergence Dance Triple Bill - Noa Zuk | Miguel Altunaga | Joss Arnott
Emergence, the touring postgraduate dance company of Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford, present three adrenaline-fuelled dance works for this year’s programme performed by a new company of extraordinary dancers. Tickets: from £11. Book here.
2nd May, Capstone Theatre
Liverpool Dance Prize - part of Leap Dance Festival
The Liverpool Dance Prize will feature new dance works by emerging artists from across the North West. An evening of performances that test ideas, take risks and showcase fresh talent. Artists involved will receive a bursary of £500 to create their work and a panel of independent experts will select one artist to receive a £1000 development fund to further their work. The Liverpool Dance Prize is made possible through funding from Dance Consortia North West and support from Liverpool Hope University. Tickets here.
4th May, Liverpool Central Library & Hope Street Arts Bar
Celebrating Master Juba: 200 Years On – Sole Rebel
The bicentennial birth of tap dancer William Henry Lane. Join us for a day celebrating the bicentennial birth of William Henry Lane (also known onstage as ‘Master Juba’) - the ‘inimitable’ and ‘renowned’ African American dancer who received fame across both sides of the Atlantic! This day event will explore Lane’s significant histories in the UK and his legacies in Liverpool today. More info here.
10th May, Waterside Arts
Happy Father’s Day by Dani Harris-Walters
heart-stirring coming of age journey that focuses on a vital relationship from an unexpected point of view. With the use of Hip Hop Dance, this engaging solo work navigates through a realm of anecdotal sketches with a fusion of movement, rap, animation and text. Book here.
14th - 15th May, The Lowry
Strictly – The Professionals
This exhilarating show will showcase the exceptional talent of 12 beloved professional dancers from TV favourite Strictly Come Dancing, supported by incredible singers and a live band, all performed within the wonderful world of glamour and sparkle. Tickets: from £44.50. Book here.
18th May, The Vale
Juba Jam 2024
Open intensive mass drumming and dance sessions with Manchester drum and dance collective Juba do Leão, blasting out rootsy rhythms and stunning choreographies straight from the streets of Recife, North East Brazil. General tickets: from £8. Book here.
22nd May, The Lowry
Karrasekare by Igor x Moreno
Karrasekare revisits the past to enter the future. It uses traditional rhythms – the same ones that have accompanied our dances for centuries – to create free, fluid and queer identities. It unroots these pagan rituals from their original context – the streets, the squares – to re-imagine them inside a black box. Tickets: from £14.50. Book here.
22nd May, Brewery Arts Centre
Stage On Screen - The Winter’s Tale – The Royal Ballet
Live Broadcast. King Leontes of Sicilia is crippled with an all-consuming jealousy when his friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia, stays with him and his wife Hermione. What follows is a tale where a marriage is destroyed, a child is abandoned, and all hope is seemingly lost for two lovers. Tickets: from £16.50. Book here.
23rd May, Waterside Arts
Emergence Dance Triple Bill - Noa Zuk | Miguel Altunaga | Joss Arnott
Emergence, the touring postgraduate dance company of Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford, present three adrenaline-fuelled dance works for this year’s programme performed by a new company of extraordinary dancers.
General tickets: From £11. Book here.
25th May, Capstone Theatre Liverpool
Sole Rebel CIC Celebrate International Tap Dance Day
Sole Rebel bring tap dancers from across the North West to celebrate together International Tap Dance Day - the birthday of 'Bill Bojangles Robinson'. All ages and abilities from beginners to professional tap dancers join together showcasing some of the most talented tap artists from our region. Live music from Sole Rebel's in-house jazz band and finale Shim Sham, where everyone is welcome to jump on stage and dance! More info here.
25th May, The Lowry
Platform Manchester – Ten Year Anniversary
Following on from last years’ epic sold out show, Platform Manchester celebrates their ten year anniversary with a high energy performance showcasing the most talented and exciting hip-hop and commercial dance artists from the city of Manchester. Tickets: from £13. Book here.
30th May, Storyhouse Chester
ROH Live: Message in a Bottle
The iconic songs of Sting. The electrifying choreography of Kate Prince. This is a tale of hope. The peaceful village of Bebko is alive with joyous celebrations. Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive. Tickets: £21. Book here.
30th May, Storyhouse Chester
Stage On Screen - Message in a Bottle – Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK
Live Broadcast. The peaceful village of Bebko is alive with joyous celebrations. Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive. Tickets: £16.50. Book here.
Message in a Bottle – Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK
June 2024
1st June, Burrs Country Park, Bury
Tea Club by Ruth Jones
A strolling piece of dance theatre, celebrating Britain’s passion for tea and all things vintage. Trixie and Tilly are two eccentric tea ladies, who serve their fine leaf drink from their special musical trolley. Dancing to their favourite Gramophone records, they swirl and stir along their way. Part of Sunnywood Summer Festival – free.
3rd – 4th June, The Lowry
A Festival of Korean Dance: Cheok
Mysterious and virtuosic solos and groups connect and communicate in a rich and sensuous landscape of light, video, sound, and movement, creating new connections between humans: not building on logical precision, but rediscovering traditional Asian values. Six exquisite dancers create delicate scenes where memories of ancient systems offer a key to the future. Tickets: from £16. Book here.
9th June, Manchester Histories Festival, Oxford Rd from 10am to join in/parade 12.15pm
Many Hands by Ruth Jones
A unique and vibrant parade experience, bringing people together to explore the shared communicative power and expressive potential of hands. Join in or come along to see the parade. FREE.
9th June, Manchester Histories Festival, University of Manchester/ Oxford Rd - from 2.15pm
Tea Club by Ruth Jones
A strolling piece of dance theatre, celebrating Britain’s passion for tea and all things vintage. Trixie and Tilly are two eccentric tea ladies, who serve their fine leaf drink from their special musical trolley. Dancing to their favourite Gramophone records, they swirl and stir along their way. Part of Manchester Histories Festival – free.
18th June, Neston Library
Birdie by Mind The Gap
A fun and poignant adventure for families that blends choreography and original music to tell a powerful and accessible story about climate change. Tickets: £8.00 + booking fee. Book here.
19th June, St Mary's Creative Space, Chester
Birdie by Mind The Gap
A fun and poignant adventure for families that blends choreography and original music to tell a powerful and accessible story about climate change. General tickets: £8.00 + booking fee. Book here.
21st June, Storyhouse Chester
KVN Dance Company: Coppelia
See Coppelia as you’ve never seen her before! Fusing classical ballet with contemporary dance and hip-hop, Coppelia features the full classical Delibes score imaginatively remixed by Rickard Berg and nominated for the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Creative Contribution. Tickets: from £27. Book here.
Cheok
July 2024
6th July, Waterside Arts
ONYX Academy of Dance: Rhythm Nation
Onyx Academy of Dance is presenting a full performing art show which covers dance, drama and singing called “Rhythm Nation” 2024. Onyx Academy of Dance has recently celebrated 15 years and we are looking forward to everyone performing on Waterside’s lovely stage. Tickets: from £10. Book here.
13th July - Shakespeare North Playhouse, The Sir Ken Dodd Performance GardenSole Rebel's TAP-aoke TourSole Rebel present TAP-aoke combining the joy of tap dancing with live music by their in-house jazz band. Skilled tap dancers jam it out with the musicians and make music together, creating infectious rhythms and a playful and joyous atmosphere. With a variety of traditional rhythm tap repertoire and contemporary choreography, unison group work alongside solos and duets. Pre-show the dancers will be offering a taster tap dance workshop for all ages and abilities to come and move those percussive feet. More info here.
19th – 27thJuly, Various locations throughout Warrington Town Centre
Warrington Arts Festival
Warrington Arts Festival returns this summer with a diverse programme of outdoor arts activity and venue based performances for the whole family across Warrington Town Centre. Full programme to be announced in May. More information here soon.
18th – 20th July, The Lowry
Brave Space
“Brave Space” is an impulsive congregation in the tiniest of tents. Starting as a puddle of fabric on the floor, it grows to encompass a world of wondrous circus. Intimate and low tech, we invite the audience to sit nose-to-nose with an all-female cast to build the world we want to live in.Tickets: from £12. Book here.
21st July, Blackpool Grand Theatre
Time to Dance
It’s Time to Dance! Join us as the Rarity School of Dance celebrates its 11th award-winning year. Time to Dance is the perfect celebration, showcasing talented students from ages 4-18. General tickets: £22.70. Book here.
21st July, The Lowry
Anton and Giovanni - Together
After the hugely successful Him and Me Tour, the nation’s favourite double act Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are back with their brand new live tour – TOGETHER! Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton and Giovanni will bring you more fun, more dance, more song, and even more entertainment. Tickets: £40.50. Book here.
25th July, Parr Hall, Warrington
Disunited Jukebox by Company Carpi
Disunited Jukebox is a brand new opera about the bewildering state of the modern world and our hopes & fears for the future, created by composer Gary Lloyd & choreographer Bettina Carpi. Highly celebrated writers Mary Talbot, Neil Gaiman, Audrey Schebat, John Higgs & many others have created the specially written libretto for the opera, alongside new writing talent and community input, and even a NASA astronaut. Tickets: TBC. Info coming soon here.
Disunited Jukebox - by Company Carpi