London City Ballet is a celebrated touring dance company that started with small performances in 1978, grew to become the resident ballet company at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, and had Diana, Princess of Wales as its patron. The company closed in 1996 but it was revived in 2023 under the artistic direction of Christopher Marney.
This was the first time we’d seen London City Ballet and we loved it! The 95 minute show was a ballet spectacular like we’ve never seen before.
The company is currently on a world tour performing a mixed bill of performances that are headlined in the second act by Firebird.
In Bath, the show opens with Mephisto Waltz, a high-energy and colourful ballet set to Franz Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No. 1.
Soon, a piece co-commissioned with the Royal Ballet & Opera, is a beautiful performance that focuses on a couple on a dark stage who appear to be told some bad news. They then dance together as they deal with the news, with four other dancers comforting and supporting them. It’s an ambiguous title but we are led to believe the couple are facing grief and the death of a loved one.
Quiet City is another beautiful performance with three male dancers that also explores loss and mourning. It was created in memory of American dancer and intimate Joseph Duell, who died in an apparent suicide in 1986.
In the second act, the showcase performance of the night is Firebird, a ballet adaptation of Igor Stravinsky’s famous score. It was originally created by renowned American choreographer Glen Tetley for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1981. Tetley died in 2007 but 2026 would have been his centenary year.
The London City Ballet describes Firebird as the story of “a young woman breaking free from the constraints of a controlling family – a pioneer flying the nest, embracing her differences and liberating her peers”.
It’s a stunning show with outstanding dancing as the woman meets the firebird who helps her secure her freedom and empowerment. It’s visually beautiful too with the ballet’s original designer, Olivier award winning John Macfarlane, revisiting his original designs.
This is a brilliant night of ballet, perfect for those experiencing the artform for the first time or experienced viewers who want to see something different that’s far removed from a traditional night of ballet.
We are delighted to have discovered London City Ballet and look forward to seeing much more.
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Firebird is at Theatre Royal Bath until 26 September.
Top image by ASH
