2026 Programme

Solitaire

First premiered in 1956 by Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, Solitaire is an abstract ballet that combines the contrasting scenes of loneliness and friendship, woven together by Malcolm Arnold’s intricate score Eight English Dancers (Opp. 27 and 33). The work, subtitled A kind of game for one, follows a solitary female, The Girl, as she dances from scene to scene. A playground of relationships is presented on stage, and we see her search for companionship played out in a dreamscape. The line between reality and her imagination becomes ever blurred as she finds herself in solitude time and time again. Solitaire is a one-act divertissement, a whimsical montage that features the beloved quirkiness of MacMillan’s expressive style. Known for delving into emotion and challenging the classical themes of ballet, Solitaire is an early example of MacMillan’s non-narrative work.

Ballet Central 2026 presents two new commissions from choreographers Monique Jonas (Jona Dance) and Cameron McMillan.

Monique will be creating a newly commissioned piece for Ballet Central 2026. The work will explore the idea of ‘reflection’, and how this can manifest both in space and in time. Monique’s piece will be accompanied by a new musical composition by Central’s Tabor Music Director, Philip Feeney.

Cameron was inspired by the insistent looping 15-minute crescendo of Maurice Ravel’s enduring masterpiece, Boléro. This new work propels the famous 1928 ballet score into a contemporary context by capturing the dynamic energy of youth and celebrating individuality within the power of collective movement.