DANCE: EVENT OF THE WEEK

Celebration of Choreography Wed

Royal Opera House

An evening of premieres provides the Royal Ballet with its first full programme in the re-opened theatre. Britain's finest contemporary choreographer, Siobhan Davies, in her Covent Garden debut, offers A Stranger's Taste, though company choreographer Ashley Page's new piece, Hidden Variables, should be more familiar. Between these comes a selection (varying nightly) of four or five short pieces. John Neumeier has created a duet for Darcey Bussell with Ivan Urban from his Hamburg Ballet specially for the occasion, and Royal Ballet casts will premiere works by William Forsythe and Nacho Duato, while guest dancers bring numbers by international choreographers, including Maurice Bejart, James Kudelka and Twyla Tharp .

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London WC2 (0171-304 4000) Wed, 16 Dec, 20 & 21 Jan, 7.30pm; 29 Jan, 7pm