4 companies, 5 performances, 6 days

Join me in London for a fabulous opportunity to see all four major English ballet companies in less than a week! This ballet trip is shaping up nicely. Some details and price yet to be confirmed (should happen in the next three weeks). This is how it's looking at this point in the planning process:
Tuesday 4 October

Arrive London; check in to centrally located hotel near Royal Opera House

Wednesday 5 October

Afternoon: Guided tour of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Evening: Two-course welcome dinner and performance of Royal Ballet, Jewels (Balanchine)

Thursday 6 October

Daytrip by private coach. Transfer to Richmond Park and visit the White Lodge Museum at the beautiful historic palace that is home to the Royal Ballet Lower School in Richmond Park, then continue to the sumptuous residence of Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace. Late afternoon: transfer to Woking for a three-course dinner before the evening performance of Northern Ballet: Cleopatra, choreographed by their Canadian artistic director, David Nixon. Return by private coach from theatre directly to hotel.

Friday 7 October

Daytrip by private coach to Birmingham. Two-course lunch and afternoon performance of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Symphonic Variations (Ashton), Checkmate (de Valois), and the Gilbert & Sullivan-inspired Pineapple Poll (Cranko). Post-performance talk with a BRB dancer. Return by private coach from theatre directly to hotel.

­Saturday 8 October

Daytime at leisure. Evening: Royal Ballet, Limen (McGregor), Marguerite and Armand (Ashton), Requiem (MacMillan).

Sunday 9 October

Daytrip by private coach to Oxford. Walking tour of Oxford colleges and gardens. Three-course lunch before afternoon performance of English National Ballet, Strictly Gershwin (Deane). Return by private coach from theatre directly to hotel.

Monday 10 October

Check out of hotel and depart London