Echoes of Tomorrow

We’re excited to announce National Youth Ballet’s 2026 summer season, with performances at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London.

Join us for an inspiring evening of dance performed by the talented young dancers of National Youth Ballet. Echoes of Tomorrow brings together brand-new choreography, much-loved repertoire and exciting new voices in dance, created by some of the UK and Ireland’s leading choreographers.

Inspired by sustainability and the natural world, Echoes of Tomorrow celebrates fresh ideas while honouring National Youth Ballet’s artistic legacy.

What’s in the programme?

This mixed bill includes four world premieres developed through National Youth Ballet’s 2025 Research and Development programme and showcases some of the most exciting choreographers working today:
Timber and Steel
Choreography by Louise Bennett (Artistic Director of LVBS, former Artistic Director of NYB and internationally renowned choreographer, teacher and rehearsal director).

PLEXUS
Choreography by Monique Jonas (Founder and Artistic Director of Jona Dance, choreographer for Ballet Black and The Royal Ballet School, and former Principal dancer with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures)

Within Time
Choreography by Lachlan Monaghan (Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet and internationally renowned choreographer).

Driven by the Tide
Choreography by Róisín Whelan (Internationally recognised for creating work across dance, theatre, opera and television).

The show also revisits four audience favourites from the National Youth Ballet repertoire:
Concertino (1996) – Jonathan Payn
Swing Time (2016) – Ruth Armstrong
The Red Balloon (2018) – Emily Jane Boyle, re-staged by Ciara Clayton
Utopia (2019) – Charlie Brittain, re-staged by Kaine Ward

Lastly, it includes performances developed through our Beyond Ballet® programme which nurtures new talent in dance. Enjoy our collection of original short works by emerging choreographers Eli Bryan, Honor Dixon, Anna Smith, Grace Thompson and Jess Yeo.

Tickets can be bought on the Sadler’s Wells Theatre website