DANCE

The New Year kicks up its heels and parties, with various ballet companies changing costume for yet more holiday season frolics. English National Ballet go Ruritanian in the justly adored Ronald Hynd production of Coppelia at the Festival Hall from 6 January.

Meanwhile the Royal Ballet, no doubt advised by their accountants, have gone for a safe run of Swan Lakes and Sleeping Beauties for January before they wheel in the heavy artillery in March when Igor Zelensky descends from on high to partner home-grown honey Darcey Bussell in La Bayadere and Romeo and Juliet. Covent Garden's mixed bills in February feature a company premiere of Twyla Tharp's Push Come to Shove, famously created on the unique skills of Mikhail Baryshnikov. His role is danced by Tetsuya Kumakawa. Kumakawa is a talented dancer but invidious comparisons are inevitable if you follow in the footsteps of a god. On the same bill is Kenneth MacMillan's gang-rape-on-a-building-site The Judas Tree with a sensational score by Brian Elias.

Adventures in Motion Pictures' record-breaking run at the Piccadilly Theatre ends this month. The troupe are taking Matthew Bourne's acclaimed Swan Lake to America and are also reviving his Highland Fling (right), a rethink of Bournonville's La Sylphide, at London's Place Theatre. Then, in the autumn, Bourne's Cinderella will open at the Piccadilly.

The Kirov Ballet returns in July. In addition to their Don Quixote they also bring the more familiar Swan Lake, Giselle and the curious Fountain of Bakhshisarai. A programme of one-act works from the Ballet Russe repertoire is also promised. As always with the Kirov, casting is everything so resist booking too early.