Belfast International Ballet Festival will begin in less than a week, 27th July – 1st August. The much-celebrated festival, now in its third year will see home-grown ballet stars return to Northern Ireland as well as showcasing some of the most promising young ballet dancers from across Northern Ireland. The festival will conclude with three performances at The MAC, Belfast.
The festival will bring together a strong programme of performances and professional talent, with dancers born on the island of Ireland returning to Belfast after travelling elsewhere for training and professional contracts. Their involvement will give young dancers the opportunity to share the stage with experienced professionals, learn from their career journeys and see the different routes a career in ballet can take. The programme will also include three public performances at The MAC, each offering audiences a different experience of ballet.
‘The Future of Ballet’ will showcase the next generation of dancers from High Points Youth Ballet on 31st July at 7pm. This performance will bring together young artists from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Türkiye and celebrate the dedication, friendship and joy of dance.
‘Ballet Heritage’ shows dance across the generations bringing together adult ballet companies, such as Second Chance Ballet and Alive Dance alongside young dancers from High Points Youth Ballet, Scotland’s S-MB Company and guest artists from Irish National Youth Ballet.
Finally, ‘Ballet Gala of Stars’ will bring together professional ballet talent from Northern Ireland and beyond. NI-born dancers including Luc Burns, Anna McCoy and Amy Crawford will take to the stage alongside international professionals, students from the Belfast International Ballet Festival ‘Summer Intensive’ Training Programme and visiting dancers from Türkiye. The Gala will celebrate artistic excellence, homegrown talent and the power of ballet to connect performers and audiences across generations and cultures.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Managing Director of High Points Youth Ballet, Rana O’Brien said: “We have been running the Festival since 2024. High Points Youth Ballet is a CIC and all directors work voluntarily. Despite extremely limited funding for ballet in Northern Ireland, we are proud of what has been achieved for our local young people and dance community.
“Protecting ballet through events like the Belfast International Ballet Festival matters because it is about more than performance. It is about technique, discipline, creativity, history, community and opportunity. Without support, we risk losing not only the art form itself – but the pathways that allow young people here to experience it, learn from it and be inspired by it. Whether someone is a lifelong ballet fan or has never been to a ballet before, we would love them to come along and experience it live. It is a powerful mix of music, movement, storytelling and emotion, and there really is something for everyone to take from it.”
Belfast International Ballet Festival will run from 27th July to 1st August with three performances taking place at The MAC on 31st July and 1st August.
Belfast International Ballet Festival is supported by Belfast City Council.
Tickets will be available from: https://themaclive.com/your-
For more information, follow High Points Youth Ballet and Belfast International Ballet Festival on social media.