Dancers from the world-renowned Paris Opera Ballet come to Dubai this month to perform a grand gala event for three nights only.

The group, which comes from what is to be considered one of the world’s finest ballet companies, has an extensive repertoire ranging from major classical ballets to modern creations by award-winning contemporary choreographers.

The mixed programme in Dubai will feature classical variations and pas de deux, as well as neo-classical and modern choreography. This will be the dancers’ first visit to the Madinat Theatre and a rare chance to see some of ballet’s ‘greatest hits’.

Madinat Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, Jan 9 8pm (black tie gala); Jan 10, 8pm; Jan 11, 2pm and 7pm, Dhs250-450. Tel: (04) 3666546. Taxi: Madinat Jumeirah. madinattheatre.com 

NutcrackerA unique take on the world-famous Nutcracker ballet is coming to Dubai, at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates.

The special show, which takes place twice on January 31, will see 150 students from the longest-established Performing Arts and Dance School in Dubai relive the classic Tchaikovsky story.

The Ballet Centre’s Teachers, who are qualified from the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, have choreographed the performances, which hopes to bring the art of ballet to an audience perhaps put off in the past.

Set during a Victorian-era Christmas Eve, the Nutcracker centres around the story of brother and sister Clara and Fritz who are gifted presents by their Godfather. It takes audiences on a journey through battles between toy soldiers and a mouse army, as well as lands sweets and snow forests, Arabian dancers, Chinese dancers, Spanish dancers, Reedpipes and dancing flowers.

The show is one of many scheduled by the Ballet Centre, which has been running in Dubai for almost 30 years, in 2014. Four full-time teachers and two part-time teachers conduct the classes which also included hip-hop, Irish dance, jazz dance, piano, rhythmic gymnastics, BODA drama and taekwondo. Adults are also catered for.

Tickets for the shows are priced at Dhs125. For more information please call (04) 344 9776 or visit balletcentredubai.com

*The image used at the top of this article is a stock image