Open House Festival

Backstage Event

Mulryan Centre for Dance

Sat 20 September 2025

10:00 - 17:00

Free

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Come behind the scenes at the ballet

As part of Open House Festival 2025, we’re inviting you to join us at our home in Canning Town, the Mulryan Centre for Dance, for a day of exclusive insights.

We have a range of activities you can get involved with to learn more about the company, the architecture of the building, and experience the power of dance.

Book a free tour to go behind the scenes, attend an Insights Session with ENB Artists, see professional dancers take class, experience extended reality dance performances, get up close to some beautiful ballet costumes created by our wardrobe department, take part in our open floor artist jam, explore our 75 years of history and much more at this free event!

Schedule

Throughout the day our doors will be open to all.

You will be able to enter the Mulryan Centre for Dance and experience our beautiful foyer, Wigoder Gallery, explore our 75 years of English National Ballet exhibition and enjoy our resident café, the Barre.

There is also a range of planned tours, professional classes and performances to watch. ‘Drop in’ events do not need to be booked, but you must arrive 10 minutes before the start of the event to ensure entry.

‘Guided Tours’ must be booked via the Open House website.

Please note: Booking for our tours will open on Wednesday 20 August. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date.

The Wigoder Gallery and Bickle Room will be accessible for the whole day to view the exhibition. No booking is required.

Drop in events

10:00 – 10:45 – Drop In: Watch professional company dancers take class
Get a glimpse into life as a professional dancer. Attend this free session to watch English National Ballet dancers take their morning class

11:00 – 11:30 – Drop In: Extended reality dance performance
Engage in a unique XR experience where dance, technology, and storytelling merge before the audience’s eyes. Featuring English National ballet Company dancers, a project in partnership with Alexander Whitley Dance Company.

11:45 – 12:30 – Drop in: Insight Talk with English National Ballet Artistic Director and Artists of the company (BSL Interpreted)
Get up close to the rehearsal process and hear from our Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin about what goes on behind-the-scenes at English National Ballet with this insightful talk.

12:30 – 13:00 – Drop in: Extended reality dance performance

13:15 – 14:00 – Drop in: Insight Talk with English National Ballet Artists

14:00 – 14:30 – Drop in: Extended reality dance performance

15:00 – 16:30 – Drop in: Artist Jam
Connect, take part in, or observe professional artists from the local community in an open dance jam with live music from Hype Society. All dance styles welcome!

Guided Tours

Building Tour: Architecture Focus
Book a free tour and go behind the scenes to learn more about English National Ballet’s RIBA award winning building with Howells Architects.
Tours start at 10am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 11:45am and last 1 hour 15 mins.

Building Tour: English National Ballet Focus
Book for a free tour to go behind the scenes and learn more about the running of a dance company with English National Ballet.
Tours start at 1pm (BSL interpreted tour) and 1.15pm, and last 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Booking will open on Wednesday 20 August.

Access

All activity is accessible to wheelchair users.

Some tours and rehearsals will feature BSL interpretation.

Accessibility information for the Mulryan Centre for Dance is available here.

If you would like to discuss your visit in advance or have any questions about accessibility please email engagement@ballet.org.uk and our team will be happy to help.

For more information about Open House Festival 2025 visit the Open House website here.