Northern Ballet
WHERE
Leeds
What it’s like
Story ballets like Robin Hood and Clara & The Nutcracker, plus workshops and classes for kids who fancy a go themselves.
The main draw here is the story ballets aimed at children, Robin Hood and Clara & The Nutcracker among them. They're proper full productions rather than a watered-down matinee, so a child who's never sat through dance before gets the real thing, live orchestra and all from what they list.
Beyond watching, there's a chance to get involved. Northern Ballet runs workshops and masterclasses with professional dancers, and dance classes for children and young people who want to learn rather than just spectate. The masterclasses use something called the Ichino Technique, the same method the company's own dancers train with daily, which is a nice detail if you've got a kid who's serious about ballet rather than just curious.
If a busy theatre with bright lights and a hushed audience sounds like a stretch for your child, it's worth knowing they put on Relaxed Performances and Audio Described shows too. The Relaxed ones are open to anyone and built to take the anxiety out of a theatre visit, which is a thoughtful touch not every venue bothers with.
There's a café on site for the interval or before you go in. Getting there is easy without a car: Leeds City Station is a fifteen-minute walk, the bus station is two minutes away, and there's a Loop stop right at Junction 12. If you are driving, there are only two accessible bays on site, so most people will end up at the NCP on Leeds Markets nearby.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Two accessible parking bays on site
- Getting there by bus or train
- Leeds City Station 15-minute walk
- Relaxed and Audio Described performances run alongside the standard shows
- Masterclasses use the Ichino Technique, the same one the company dancers train with
- On-site parking is limited to two accessible bays, so plan on the nearby NCP if you're driving
- There's a café on site for before the show or in the interval
Plan your visit
What ballets do they put on for children?
They stage story ballets aimed at kids, including Robin Hood and Clara & The Nutcracker.
Can my child do more than just watch?
Yes, there are workshops and masterclasses with professional dancers, plus dance classes for children and young people.
Is it suitable if my child finds theatres overwhelming?
They run Relaxed Performances designed to ease anxiety around a theatre visit, and these are open to anyone. Audio Described performances are also available.
Is there parking?
Only two accessible bays on site, so most people use the NCP Leeds Markets car park next to the bus station.
How do we get there by public transport?
Leeds City Station is about a fifteen-minute walk, the central bus station is two minutes away, and the Loop stops at Junction 12.
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