The wait is over – get ready for the ultimate showdown of dance and circus acts taking centre stage at this year's Edinburgh Festival! The line-up is a real knockout, with European premieres, international sensations, and fresh talent bursting onto the scene. Among the hottest tickets in town is San Francisco Ballet's 'Mere Mortals', a game-changing production that reimagines Pandora's box through the lens of artificial intelligence – think cutting-edge choreography by Aszure Barton, live music from British electronica master Floating Points, and an orchestra that will leave you breathless. Catch it at Edinburgh Playhouse from 28th to 30th August.
Renowned Belgian-Moroccan master Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui brings his deeply personal dance theatre piece 'Ihsane' to the Festival Theatre from 18th to 20th August, a thought-provoking exploration of destruction, rebirth, grief, and hope that will leave you spellbound. The live music by Tunisian viola d'amore virtuoso Jasser Haj Youssef adds an extra layer of emotional depth to this unforgettable experience. Meanwhile, Himherandit, the Danish company that stole our hearts at the Fringe last year, returns with 'Good Enough?', a poignant physical theatre piece sharing stories of queer joy and vulnerability that will resonate long after the curtain falls.
The programme is not just about showcasing established stars – emerging talent gets centre stage too! Taiwanese choreographer Lai Yun-Chi makes her Edinburgh debut with Mailantia's 'Under Mask', an innovative production drawing inspiration from her family's leatherworking heritage, complete with intricate steampunk-style masks that will leave you mesmerised. Don't miss it at Assembly @ Dance Base from 6th to 30th August. Ballet enthusiasts can look forward to the nationwide tour of 'Ballet Nights', a cabaret-style extravaganza featuring classical pas de deux, contemporary dance, and live music that will get your heart racing – catch it at the Music Hall at Assembly Rooms from 24th to 30th August.
Circus arts take centre stage with The Palestinian Circus bringing their highly acclaimed show 'Step and a Half' to Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, fresh from Glastonbury. This electrifying production blends traditional folk dance with contemporary circus acrobatics that will leave you gasping for breath. For a lighter touch, 'Flamenc Oh!!', a co-production with London's Sadler's Wells, offers a hilarious comedy flamenco show that lovingly pokes fun at the genre's clichés – featuring top-notch performers and knowing humour that will have you laughing out loud.
Last but not least, Belgian artist Piet Van Dycke's 'Exit' is a mind-bending circus innovation where performers navigate a complex maze of revolving platforms at Zoo Southside from 18th to 30th August. The programme concludes with the Edinburgh debut of Marisa F Ballaro's 'Twelve: Going the Distance', featuring five women in a boxing ring exploring rivalry and exhaustion through raw physicality and American modern dance that will leave you on the edge of your seat at Summerhall from 6th to 16th August.