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’s 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:

• Timber and Steel – Louise Bennett
• PLEXUS – Monique Jonas
• Within Time – Lachlan Monaghan
• Driven by the Tide – Róisín Whelan

The show 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. 

Featuring leading choreographic talent

Echoes of Tomorrow showcases work by some of the most exciting choreographers working today, including:

• Róisín Whelan, internationally recognised for creating work across dance, theatre, opera and television.
• 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.
• Lachlan Monaghan, Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet and internationally renowned choreographer.
• Louise Bennett Artistic Director of LVBS, former Artistic Director of NYB and internationally renowned Choreographer, Teacher and Rehearsal Director.