Dance:Music at the RNCM

Music sets the emotional stage for dance, while the rhythm of dance informs the very basis of music.

Across cultures and genres, this symbiotic partnership shines, whether it’s the ethereal grace of ballet, the fire of Flamenco, or the cerebral pull of electronic music. The RNCM’s ongoing initiative, Dance:Music, gets to the heart of this connection, with a treasure trove of concerts reflecting the primal energy that dance and movement can unlock together.

Among our highlights from the next few months are two collaborative shows with dancers from Company Chameleon, an internationally renowned dance company based in Openshaw. Forming part of the RNCM Strings Festival on 12 January, Vivaldi to Sinatra will feature pieces by everyone from Caroline Shaw to Astor Piazzolla, performed by RNCM students and vividly brought to life through expressive choreography.

Company Chameleon will close the same festival with the RNCM String Orchestra, who’ll perform Stravinsky’s alternately gritty and graceful Concerto in D and Britten’s ghostly Lachrymae. All before Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite will see the kindred spirits of ballet and opera reignited in a dramatic and fiery finale.

A week later, mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron and pianist Julius Drake unveil a brand new interpretation of Schubert’s iconic Winterreise complemented by kabuki interludes, a form of traditional Japanese drama and dance. Spring Snow will weave the tales of Yasuna, a distinguished Kabuki play from 1818, and Schubert’s timeless Winterreise from 1827, into a rich tapestry of emotion. Under the direction of Sonoko Kamimura, you’ll see the elegant movements of traditional Japanese dance-theatre against the ethereal backdrop of shamisen music, as two solitary paths cross and inspire one another in breathtaking harmony.

Spring sees the RNCM Symphony Orchestra performing music from Prokofiev’s ballet, Romeo and Juliet, in which the iconic Montagues and Capulets, with its bold orchestral swagger, contrasts sharply with the delicate playfulness of Juliet as a Young Girl. The same concert features Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ Piano Concerto, performed by the RNCM’s Concerto Competition winner, Siya Dai, along with a brand new work by student composer Patrick Gorry.

Finally, an exciting off-site concert in one of Manchester’s most stunning spaces: Victoria Baths. Guided by Clod Ensemble’s innovative choreography, the 28 singers of the RNCM Chamber Choir will move through the intricate architecture of the Baths and explore how music and movement can reshape our connection to a historic site. Expect choral music like you’ve never heard it – or seen it – before.

While these are our highlights, there are many more Dance:Music concerts being delivered by the RNCM in 2025, each demonstrating how music and movement can create something greater than the sum of their parts. Head to the College’s website via the button below to see the full programme of events.