Ballet Nights arrives in Darlington for the first time - the next stop on a UK tour now seen in London, Manchester, Brighton, Richmond, Leicester, Leeds and Glasgow, and at the Edinburgh Fringe. One night only as always, celebrating a night of dance that exists once, and is remembered long after.

Stars ofThe Royal Ballet take centre stage in Darlington, led by World Ballet Star Steven McRae, one of British ballet's most celebrated names, and joined by a landmark moment for the platform: a solo created exclusively for Ballet Nights and performed by rising Royal Ballet star Caspar Lench - a rare chance to see the company's next generation up close. Two voices of The Royal Ballet & Opera, one night, in Darlington for the first time.

Alongside them, the UK touring debut of Cape Town City Ballet, the first South African company to join a Ballet Nights stage, and B.DANCE, Taiwan's celebrated voice in dance innovation - marking a landmark moment for the platform's mission to bring international voices to UK audiences beyond London.

Contemporary dance is brought sharply into focus with James Wilton Dance, the powerhouse company and social media sensation known for its raw physicality and genre-defying choreography. New creation is platformed through a new Ballet Nights commission by Liam Woodvine & Taylor Hughes, supported by The Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, alongside exciting new voices Django Bates-Blower & Chrysanthi Nicolaou. Ballet Central represents the new futures shaping the artform's next generation.

Live music remains at the heart of the evening, with Quartet Concrete, young classical and contemporary music stars, bringing their sound to the Darlington stage.
Ballet Nights welcomes Jamie Body as Host & Compère for the evening.

Six cities, six stops, and one Fringe run into this first UK tour, Ballet Nights brings its tradition to Darlington, and invites audiences to join a celebration of the artists like no other.