With Christmas now just a matter of weeks away, why not treat yourself to some spectacular dance extravaganzas over the holiday period?

This December there are several ballet performances being held in Nice and Monaco, with something for both the traditionalists and lovers of contemporary dance amongst you. One of the highlights will be the performance of ‘Noël Russe‘ (Russian Christmas) on Sunday the 23rd December at 4pm at the Palais Nikaïa in Nice by the Moroshka Ballet Company from St. Petersburg. They will present a Russian Christmas show complete with Russian music, dance, traditional costumes and much more!

The company was created in 2010 by a group of ex-dancers from the St. Petersburg ‘Highlights company, and since then they have been touring Europe every December with their Russian Christmas show, which features 11 singers, 10 musicians and 16 dancers. There is plenty on offer for the audience with popular Russian Christmas songs, Slavic dances and even a Christmas tipple of Russian vodka! Tickets cost between 37€ and 48€. Further information is available on the Nikaïa website.

A Russian Christmas throughout France!

If you prefer ballet with a more European twist, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Opéra de Nice both have performances in December which should appeal. Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo are presenting three ballets in a programme with a distinctly Nordic feel – two original choreographies and « Vers un Pays Sage » by Jean-Christophe Maillot. Performances will be held on Friday 21st December and Saturday 22nd December at 8:30pm at the Grimaldi Forum in the Principality.

The two original pieces are choreographed by the Norwegian Ina Christel Johannessen and the Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman. Tickets cost between 19€ and 28€ and more information is available on the Grimaldi Forum website.

Opéra de Nice - osez opéra!

This year the Opéra de Nice has revived it’s very successful programme “Soirées de décembre” for the Christmas period, and from the 23rd to the 31st December (do note that there will be NO performance on the 24th December) you can enjoy a programme composed of three different ballets. 

The Opera Ballet will present “Raymonda”, a Franco-Italian ballet set to the music of Alexandre Glazounov, “The Envelope”, a modern ballet created for the Dance Theater Workshop of New York in 1984 and “Suite en Blanc”, a neoclassical piece created by the Russian choreographer Serge Lifar for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1943.  Tickets for the programme range in price from 8€ to 40€.

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And finally for those who love classical ballet and who are looking for an extra special show this December, the Acropolis in Nice is presenting both “The Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake” on the 4th and 5th December. Performed by the world-class Théâtre Municipal Académique de l’Opéra et Ballet de Kiev, both performances start at 8pm and tickets cost between 40€ and 57€. Be sure to book early to make sure your little sugarplums and cygnets don’t miss out on these very special Christmas classics.

Contact Details
Palais Nikaïa
163, route de Grenoble
06200 Nice

Grimaldi Forum
10, av. Princesse Grace
MC 98000 Monaco

Tel: +377 99 99 20 00

Opéra de Nice Côte d’Azur
4, rue Saint-François de Paule
06300 Nice

Nice Acropolis
Traverse Barla
06300 Nice

Telephone: 04 92 00 20 80

Lead image courtesy Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo / © A. Sterling

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