Ballet Icons Gala 2023, London Coliseum
February 19, 7pm
Ballet Icons Gala 2023, Dubai Opera
March 4, 8pm

The annual Ballet Icons Gala, which sees dedicated audiences experience the most classical and contemporary choreography, will take place on February 19 at the London Coliseum. One of the ballet world’s major highlights, the gala programme will feature a dazzling array of the best-known classical excerpts as well as new works and world and UK premières.

On stage will be world stars – principals of the Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, English National Ballet, Vienna State Ballet, Bavarian State Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, New City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet.

They include Timofej Andrijashenko, La Scala; Aitor Arrieta, English National Ballet; Sergio Bernal, National Ballet of Spain; Audric Bezard, Paris Opera Ballet; AntĂłnio Casalinho, Bavarian State Opera; and Jeffrey Cirio, Boston Ballet, to name just a few.

The gala, which will be accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra, will be followed by an exclusive dinner held at the Corinthia Hotel. There will be a short welcoming reception followed by a three-course dinner served in the ballroom. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the star artists, as well as members of the Royal Family, celebrities, political and business leaders.

The Ballet Icons Gala 2023 will also be returning to Dubai Opera following its success last year with a stellar international cast celebrating the art of ballet. It will take place on Saturday March 4 and will be co-presented by the Ballet Icons and Dubai Opera.

The star-studded event has previously been attended by actors Ralph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons, super model Natalia Vodianova, singers Bryan Ferry and Boy George, designers Vivienne Westwood, Elizabeth Emanuel, Stephen Webster and Ozwald Boateng as well as members of the Royal Families and international politicians, including the late Margaret Thatcher.

The show will be performed by international ballet stars and multi-awarded principals from the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Vienna State Ballet, Bavarian State Ballet, New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Ballets de Monte-Carlo and others.

It will feature highlights from the classical ballet repertoire such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Les Corsaires, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, Romeo & Juliette, alongside contemporary masterpieces by leading choreographers such as Roland Petit, Jerome Robbins, Alexey Ratmansky, Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor, John Neumeier, Jean-Christophe Maillot and Mauro Bigonzetti.

Among the performers will be: Maia Makhateli and Victor Caixeta, Dutch National Ballet; Iana Salenko and Walter Martin, Berlin State Ballet; Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko, La Scala; Yasmin Naghdi and Matthew Ball, Royal Ballet; Lucia Lacarra, Bavarian State Opera; Matthew Golding, Dutch National Ballet; Sergio Bernal, National Ballet of Spain; Evelina Godunova, Berlin State Ballet; Julian MacKay, Bavarian State Ballet; Polina Semionova and David Motta Soares, Berlin State Ballet; and Guiseppe Picone, Teatro di Carlo.

Olga Balakleets (pictured), founder, Ballet Icons Gala, said: “It is an honour to present these great masters of ballet performing on the stage under the aegis of the Ballet Icons Gala. The project at the legendary London Coliseum and the prestigious Dubai Opera will be showcasing the ballet at its best!”

For tickets to the Ballet Icons Gala 2023, London Coliseum, visit londoncoliseum.org/whats-on/ballet-icons-gala-2023. For enquiries about VIP tickets to include a post-performance dinner in the presence of the participating artists and other distinguished guests, please contact Ballet Icons Gala at admin@balleticons.com or book online here. 

Tickets for Ballet Icons Gala 2023, Dubai Opera can be purchased via the box office at Dubai Opera on 04 440 8888 and at dubaiopera.com. Enquires about VIP packages to include best seats at the gala and attendance at the gala dinner in the presence of the performing stars and celebrities should be sent to: admin@balleticons.com. Booking of VIP packages can be made here.