Looking for a full ballet to watch tonight, or a contemporary work you have never seen? Start with the production, not just the title: the company, choreographer and recording can change the experience completely. This guide brings together official providers and dance archives, with different ways to watch.
LookBallet is free to explore. Viewing takes place on the provider’s website. A LookBallet account or payment is not required to follow these links. Provider subscriptions and rentals are separate. Catalogue inclusion does not confirm availability in every country.
Start with a specific production
These official programme pages identify a particular staging or recording. Check access in your country before paying.
- Giselle (2016) — The Royal Ballet — medici.tv. Marianela Núñez and Vadim Muntagirov lead this Royal Ballet recording of the Romantic classic.
- Swan Lake (2016) — Paris Opera Ballet — medici.tv. Nureyev’s interpretation with Amandine Albisson, Mathieu Ganio and François Alu.
- The Nutcracker (2018) — The Royal Ballet — medici.tv. Peter Wright’s production with Marianela Núñez, Vadim Muntagirov, Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Marcelino Sambé.
- The Sleeping Beauty (2017) — The Royal Ballet — medici.tv. Marianela Núñez and Vadim Muntagirov in Petipa’s classical fairy tale.
- Nutcracker — English National Ballet, Watkin and Smith — medici.tv. Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith’s interpretation sets Clara’s journey in Edwardian London.
- Giselle — Ballet de l’Opéra National de Bordeaux — medici.tv. The Romantic ballet seen through Matali Crasset’s distinctive geometric stage world.
- A Swan Lake — Semperoper Ballett, Johan Inger — MyOpera. Johan Inger reinterprets Swan Lake through questions of control, freedom and human relationships. Listed for Spain and Latin America.
- Ballet BC — Silent Tides, Heart Drive and PASSING — MyOpera. Three contemporary works by Medhi Walerski, Imre and Marne van Opstal, and Johan Inger.
- Midnight Souls — Carolyn Carlson, Avignon — ARTE Concert. Hugo Marchand and Caroline Osmont in Carolyn Carlson’s choreography at the Palais des Papes.
- The Nutcracker — Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier — ARTE Concert. Neumeier turns Marie’s journey into an initiation into the world of ballet. Country restrictions apply; playback was not confirmed.
Choose your starting point
- Ballet collections and individual rentals
- Contemporary dance and experimental performance
- Free programmes and dance archives
- What to check before paying
Ballet collections and individual rentals
English National Ballet — Ballet on Demand
A useful starting point when you want one performance rather than an ongoing subscription. The official catalogue includes full-length productions alongside short dance films and documentaries. Individual titles are offered as three-day rentals; bundles have their own terms.
Explore English National Ballet’s catalogue →
Royal Ballet and Opera Stream
Explore full-length productions by The Royal Ballet alongside opera and additional content. Before subscribing, search the official catalogue for the exact ballet and recording you want.
Explore Royal Ballet and Opera Stream →
Marquee TV
A performing arts service with a dedicated ballet collection. It is a starting point for exploring recordings beyond a single company; check the title page and current plan details before subscribing.
Explore ballet on Marquee TV →
medici.tv
A ballet catalogue within a wider classical music and performing arts service. Browse its ballet section to compare recordings, companies and interpretations rather than assuming that a familiar title means a familiar production.
Paris Opera Play
The Paris Opera’s own streaming service provides a route into its ballet repertoire. Its classical ballet collection is a useful starting point; consult each programme for access conditions.
MyOpera by Teatro Real
The Teatro Real’s streaming service includes a dedicated dance catalogue alongside opera and concerts. It covers ballet and contemporary choreography, making it useful for viewers who want to explore both.
Contemporary dance and experimental performance
On the Boards TV
A specialist source for full-length contemporary performance films, including dance and experimental work. Its published options include individual rentals, purchases and annual subscriptions, with selected films available free. A rental gives 48 hours of streaming access under the provider’s stated terms.
Explore dance on On the Boards TV →
Contemporary work also appears across the services above. Distinguish a filmed stage performance from a dance film created for the camera: both can be rewarding, but they offer different viewing experiences.
Free programmes and dance archives
ARTE Concert
ARTE’s performing arts selection includes ballet and contemporary dance. Programmes have individual viewing windows, and territorial access can vary. Check the expiry date on the programme itself before planning a viewing.
Explore performing arts on ARTE →
Numeridanse
A free dance video archive operated by Maison de la Danse, with filmed performances, documentaries, interviews and dance films across many styles. Check duration and format: an archive entry is not necessarily a complete stage production.
OperaVision
A free streaming platform focused on opera that also includes selected dance and ballet programmes. Its changing schedule means a ballet may not be available at the time you visit.
Check OperaVision’s current performances →
Also explore Stage24
The Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s Stage24 offers recordings, live streams and other video content. Check the individual programme’s format, access conditions and availability; not every video is a complete ballet.
Looking for Giselle?
Begin with our Giselle guide to understand the story and the differences between interpretations. Then compare the official pages for Paris Opera Ballet’s classical staging and Akram Khan’s contemporary reinterpretation for English National Ballet. These are different productions, not interchangeable copies of the same performance.
What to check before paying
- The exact production: company, choreographer, cast and recording year.
- The format: complete performance, extract, documentary or short film.
- Access in your country: a public catalogue page does not guarantee playback where you live.
- The payment terms: rental period, subscription renewal and whether the title is included.
- Your device: check television, casting and browser support with the provider.
These are links to official provider websites, not a promise that every title is currently playable in every territory. Provider pages and catalogue descriptions were reviewed on 16 October 2026; playback in individual countries has not been tested. Confirm current details with the provider before purchasing.
