Royal Ballet (Oct and Nov) Opening the season, Kenneth MacMillan’s searing three-act ballet Mayerling (music by Franz Liszt) focuses on the dissolute life and tortured psyche of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary; Johann Kobborg, Carlos Acosta and Edward Watson reprise this challenging role, in which Rupert Pennefather and Thiago Soares make debuts. Wayne McGregor’s latest ballet has its world premiere on a triple bill with Balanchine’s Agon and Glen Tetley’s Sphinx. ROH, WC2, in rep: Mayerling, Oct 8-Nov 10; triple bill, Nov 4-18

In the Spirit of Diaghilev (Oct 13-17) The centenary of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes is the inspirational springboard for this special programme, in which four leading contemporary choreographers — Wayne McGregor, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant and Javier De Frutos — create new works for their own dancers. Sadler’s Wells, EC1

Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company (Oct 21-24) Christopher Wheeldon’s adventurous troupe returns with two triple bills. His own contributions include a world premiere to Suites for Two Pianos, by Rachmaninov; Alexei Ratmansky, Tim Harbour, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon are the other featured choreographers. Sadler’s Wells, EC1

Mark Morris Dance Group (Oct 27-31) Morris returns to London, and tours, with seven works including the UK premieres of Empire Garden, to music by Charles Ives, and Visitation, to Beethoven. Other pleasures include Bedtime, to American western swing music, and the rousing Grand Duo (Lou Harrison). Sadler’s Wells, EC1

Carlos Acosta: Apollo and Other Works (Dec 1-5) The charismatic Cuban virtuoso heads the cast in a programme themed on the male muse in ballet, with Balanchine’s Apollo, Jerome Robbins’s A Suite of Dances and Afternoon of a Faun, and a new piece, Young Apollo, by Adam Hougland, set to Benjamin Britten’s music of that title. Sadler’s Wells, EC1

BEST OF THE REST

English National Ballet takes Mary Skeaping’s admirable production of Giselle to five cities (opening Manchester Palace, Sept 22-26). At Sadler’s Wells, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s Rosas company, from Belgium, give the UK premiere of Zeitung (Sept 8-12); and Dance Umbrella, London’s international festival of contemporary dance, is as eclectic as ever, with 22 events from big-name attractions such as the Michael Clark Company and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan (various venues, Oct 6-Nov 7).

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