Sir Fred and Mr. B by Birmingham Royal Ballet at The Lowry 3rd – 4th July

Birmingham Royal Ballet concludes its seasonal double bill at The Lowry this July with classic pieces by two of ballet's most influential choreographers.

In this second part of Birmingham Royal Ballet's appearance at The Lowry, the company gives audiences the opportunity to compare and contrast two dances by George Balanchine and Sir Frederick Ashton.

George Balanchine was a pioneering choreographer who is credited as the founder of modern ballet. Born in Russia at the turn of the century, he introduced ballet to America and founded the New York City Ballet, which remains one of America's foremost dance companies. Birmingham Royal Ballet will perform Mozartiana, a piece first created by Balanchine in the 1930s and revisited as his last major work before his death in the 1980s. Dominated by a lead ballerina and her partner, this affecting work meditates on mortality to Tchaikovsky's treatment of four pieces by Mozart.

This work is set against The Two Pigeons by Sir Frederick Ashton, founder of the Royal Ballet. This highly narrative dance is a humorous love story that tells the tale of a young man who is bored by life and his faithful girlfriend. After being tempted away by a troupe of exotic gypsies, his eventual reunion with his lover gives rise to a joyful finale.

 Birmingham Royal Ballet is a company who can sell out theatres by their name alone. Established first as the Royal Ballet and then as Birmingham Royal Ballet following a move to the city in 1990, they are synonymous with high quality ballet, inventive choreography and technical prowess. Demand for tickets will be high – get them while you can.