Dance
While the West End rivals Broadway any day, London cannot compete with the sheer number of New York City dance companies.
But, what it does do with dance, it does well. The Barbican Theatre also hosts touring contemporary companies. For
listings of dance classes, see Practical Information .
- Peacock Theatre, Portugal St. (☎ 0894 412 4322; www.sadlerswells.com), in Holborn. Holborn. Program leans toward contemporary dance, ballet, popular dance-troupe shows,
and children- and family-geared productions. Some wheelchair-accessible seats (£9) can be booked 24hr. in advance. Box office
open M-F 10am-6:30pm, 10am-8:30pm on performance days. £10-35; cheaper rates M-Th and Sa matinee. Standbys (1hr. before show)
£15 and other discounts for students, seniors, under 16. Cheapest tickets at Box Office; fees for telephone and online booking.
AmEx/MC/V.
- The Place, 17 Duke’s Rd. (☎ 7121 1000; www.theplace.org.uk), in Bloomsbury. Euston or King’s Cross St. Pancras. A top venue for contemporary dance, attracting
companies from the UK and abroad. Wheelchair-accessible. Online booking. Performances £5-15, depending on seats and advance
booking; students £7. Day-of standbys (£15) available from 6pm. Box office and phone bookings open M-Sa noon-6pm, on performance
nights noon-8pm. MC/V.
- The Royal Opera House, Bow St. (☎ 7304 4000; www.roh.org.uk), in Covent Garden. Covent Garden. Containing both the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, the recently redesigned
Royal Opera House is a glamorous venue. The Royal Ballet is considered one of the world’s premier companies and performs top-notch
classical pieces—Swan Lake and The Nutcracker are perennial favorites—as well as contemporary works. Royal Opera productions
tend to be conservative but lavish, although recent contemporary works have been successful. Prices for the best seats (orchestra
stalls) top £75 for the ballet and £100 for the opera, but standing room and restricted-view seating in the upper balconies
run for as little as £5.67. Seats available from 10am on day of performance, limit 1 per person. For student standby tickets
(£10), register online at www.roh.org.uk/studentstandby. Box office open M-Sa 10am-8pm. AmEx/MC/V.
- Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Ave. (☎ 7863 8000; www.sadlerswells.com), in Clerkenwell. Angel. Exit left from the Tube, cross the road, and take the 2nd right on Rosebery
Ave. Recently rebuilt, historic Sadler’s Wells remains London’s premier dance theatre, carrying everything from classical
ballet to contemporary tap to the occasional opera. Matthew Bourne is the choreographer-in-residence, and recent performances
include his version of The Nutcracker as well as visits from dance troupes from Argentina and China. 2 smaller stages within
the complex also offer nightly performances. Sadler’s Wells Express (SWX) bus to Waterloo via Farringdon and Victoria leaves
8min. after the end of each evening show (£2). Wheelchair-accessible. Box office open M-Sa 9am-8:30pm. £10 50; students and
seniors £15; under-16 standbys £15 1hr. before curtain (cash only). AmEx/MC/V.
Overview