Do you know every step of Swan Lake by heart? Is there anything more relaxing than watching The Nutcracker? In Madrid, a ballet performance is like a concert at the Movistar Arena: there’s always one scheduled. But there are specific places in the capital where it’s easier to find classical dance dates than others, and here are some of the essentials:
Teatro Real
Talking about the Teatro Real means talking (among many other things) about opera. But it is also one of the venues most often chosen by international ballet companies such as the Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet for their performances in Madrid, as well as other national companies such as the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND). It does not have shows scheduled throughout the year, but when it does, it does so in style, with live orchestral music and spectacular staging.
You probably already knew about its workshops, film screenings, and concerts, but did you know that the Círculo de Bellas Artes program also includes ballet performances? Highlights include Ballet of Lights, based on classic stories and danced in costumes covered with lights, and Candlelight Ballet, in which works such as Swan Lake are danced by candlelight. A central location where you can experience ballet in a different way.
Teatros del Canal
With a (very) varied program each season, Teatros del Canal is one of the temples of contemporary dance and neoclassical ballet in the capital. Impeccably performed modern choreographies have also featured international companies such as the Danish Dance Theatre and the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, among others, on its stages.
Teatro de la Zarzuela
If you’re looking for something different from the legendary Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty, the Teatro de la Zarzuela offers options more focused on Spanish dance, especially from the Spanish National Ballet. In addition to the National Dance Company, which also uses this theater as one of its regular venues.
Matadero Dance Center
Going to the Centro Danza Matadero to see ballet is taking this genre one step further. Don’t expect to find the typical production with tights and tutus, but rather new contemporary programs performed with the same refined technique as classical ballet. Its stage has hosted both national dancers from the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) and international dancers from companies such as Malandain Ballet Biarritz. The best ballet, with a twist.