The best dance and ballet shows in April 2024

Groundbreaking hip-hop company and Olivier Award winners Boy Blue brings a world premiere to the Barbican this spring. Exploring life and death, cycles of nature and the idea of constant movement, ‘Cycles’ is an abstract work that departs from Boy Blue’s other works that often centre Black trauma. Based on the spectacular success of Boy Blue's production ‘Free Your Mind’, ‘Cycles’ is sure to be a knock-out. 

Hofesh Shechter explores what it means to be English in this new work performed by Shechter II. Expect dancers dressed in school uniforms, ancient English music and choreography that packs a punch. 

Coming to the V&A as part of its ‘Performance Festival’, Clod Ensemble will put on a production of its brilliantly absurd and iconic performance ‘Red Ladies’ for the first time in over a decade. While not strictly dance, this playful piece of non-narrative performance is not to be passed up. Featuring a mob of identically dressed ladies in red headscarves, sunglasses and stilletos, they will take over the V&A for one day as it is transformed into their temporary HQ. Turn up to find out what will go down. 

Everyone knows the story, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful, thrilling and devastating. The world's most famous classical ballet, Swan Lake, returns to the Royal Opera House this spring. And you know you're going to have a great time: it's got stunning swans, ethereal ballerinas and a terrifying Rothbart, all set to that astonishing Tchaikovsky score. The Royal Ballet is keeping things trad, sticking with the iconic Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov choreography for this show, with additional choreo by Liam Scarlett and Sir Frederick Ashton.