English National Ballet announces Mayflower Southampton as latest hub partner for Dance for Parkinson’s

From January 2027, Mayflower Southampton will become English National Ballet’s latest hub partner for its flagship Dance for Parkinson’s programme, bringing weekly dance classes for people living with Parkinson’s to the city.

Ahead of the weekly programme, English National Ballet ran a series of community workshops across the city in collaboration with Parkinson’s UK. Five taster sessions will also take place at Mayflower Studios from 4 November – 2 December.

This new partnership deepens a relationship between English National Ballet, Mayflower Southampton and the city of Southampton, that spans more than five decades. The Company first performed at the Mayflower in 1972 and has returned regularly ever since. In 2024, the relationship reached a new milestone with the world premiere of English National Ballet’s new Nutcracker choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin and Olivier Award-Winner Arielle Smith.

Mayflower Southampton becomes English National Ballet’s sixth hub partner for Dance for Parkinson’s, alongside Royal Albert Hall in London, DanceEast in Ipswich, Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool, Oxford City Council and MuMo Creative in Oxford, and affiliated hub partner National Dance Company Wales in Cardiff. In 2021 the Company launched a national offer delivering weekly online classes. This runs alongside weekly classes and the Dance for Parkinson’s Performance Company at the Mulryan Centre for Dance, English National Ballet’s home in Canning Town.

English National Ballet has been supporting people living with Parkinson’s for over 16 years. Since launching in 2010, Dance for Parkinson’s has become an industry leading creative health initiative and now reaches over 5,000 people through more than 250 classes each year. The evidence-based programme gives participants the opportunity to experience the mental, physical and social benefits of dance, alongside the chance to connect with others and explore English National Ballet’s productions in more depth.

Classes are led by English National Ballet Associate Dance Artists accompanied by live musicians and inspired by the Company’s productions. For the inaugural term in Southampton, the weekly classes will explore the themes, music and choreography of Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet, which tours to the city from 3 - 5 December 2026.

The Southampton hub is a valuable extension to the Company’s touring relationship with Mayflower Theatre and the city, creating opportunities for people to not only see English National Ballet on stage, but to experience the Company’s work for themselves.

Fleur Derbyshire-Fox, Engagement Director at English National Ballet said: “It has been an honour to witness the growth of our Dance for Parkinson’s programme over the last 16 years. These classes bring so much joy, connection and creativity to people’s lives, as well as supporting their health and wellbeing. We’re thrilled to build on our longstanding relationship with Mayflower Theatre and deepen our connection with people across the city. I’m excited that even more people from across Southampton will have the chance to experience the joy of dancing with English National Ballet.”

Michael Ockwell, Chief Executive of Mayflower said: “We are delighted to be partnering with English National Ballet, as an associate company of Mayflower, on this wonderful project. Our commitment to bringing great dance to our region is supported by the amazing productions that Aaron and his team create and it is a natural extension of our collaboration to extend the work further into our community. Dance has a power to move audiences and participants like no other artform, and I am eager to see the benefits that Dance for Parkinson’s will bring to people in our region.”

The January term starts on Wednesday 13 January and will be held at Mayflower Studios.

Taster sessions will be held on Wednesday 4 November – Wednesday 2 December Dance for Parkinson’s in Southampton - English National Ballet

English National Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet by Rudolf Nuereyev comes to Mayflower Theatre from Thursday 3 – Saturday 5 December 2026. For more information see https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/romeo-juliet/