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So Are We: León and Lightfoot

1120 June 2026

So Are We: León and Lightfoot

1120 June 2026

So Are We: León and Lightfoot

1120 June 2026
Main Stage
Ballet and dance

Two works of deep feeling and yearning by the acclaimed contemporary choreographic duo.

Two people wearing all black clothing sit on the floor of a wooden paneled room – one wears a long leather jacket. The top half of the room is light coloured panel and the bottom half is dark coloured paneling. The image is black and white and is from a press shoot for Sol León and Paul Lightfoot’s production So are We at The Royal Ballet.  

The Royal Ballet presents two Company premieres by Spanish/British choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot. This stirring mixed programme marks the first time a British company performs the work of the acclaimed contemporary choreographic duo. 

Running time
More information available soon
Guidance
More information available soon
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Exceptional philanthropic support from 

Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust 

Generous philanthropic support from 

Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman OBE, Dame Tina Taylor DBE and Royal Ballet and Opera Patrons 

The 2025/26 Royal Ballet Season is generously supported by

Aud Jebsen 

Background

The works of Sol León and Paul Lightfoot have a uniquely characteristic movement language that is fluid yet angular, soft and weightless yet simmering with tension. Their choreography has been performed all over the world, most notably by Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), where León and Lightfoot were house choreographers from 2002-20. They have created over 50 works for the Dutch contemporary company.  

Shoot the Moon, celebrating its 20th anniversary, explores relationships and the solitude that lies within them. The work is scored by Philip Glass's shifting tonal melodies within his Tirol Concerto. 

STANDBY, originally choreographed as a film by Lightfoot during the pandemic in homage to the balletic art form, will now be recreated by the duo as a world premiere for the Company. Drawing on a dancer's daily study of ballet class, Leon and Lightfoot reimagine it with their uniquely fluid choreographic passion, sometimes integrating whispers of another reality. A freshly composed score by Ilya Demutsky will accompany the ensemble on the bare stage of the Royal Opera House.

Cast and Creatives

Cast
The cast of this production may vary depending on performance date. Go to cast and dates to see these.
See cast and dates

Shoot the moon

Creatives
Choreography

Sol León and Paul Lightfoot

Lighting Designer

Tom Bevoort

Standby

Creatives
Choreography

Sol León and Paul Lightfoot

Lighting Designers

Sol León and Paul Lightfoot

Access

There is lift access and step-free routes to over 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre. There are 10 steps or fewer to some seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony, Amphitheatre and the Donald Gordon Grand Tier. All seats in the Orchestra stalls are accessed by 9 steps or more. A handheld bell is rung by Front of House staff to signal guests to take their seats before a performance. The bell is loud and can be startling. The bell is rung approximately ten minutes before the show starts and at each interval.  

We have an assistive listening system available to use.

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