Of course, I dreamed of dancing like those elegant, graceful ballerinas. For many years I took ballet classes and was quite serious in my ambition to be a ballerina. But alas, I grew up and reality set in. It was a beautiful dream, but not for me.

Ever since, though, I have taken every opportunity to watch a ballet. Once of the most memorable for me was The Sleeping Beauty performed beneath the stars at the open-air theatre at the Acropolis in Athens. It was simply magical.

Each Christmas the Royal Ballet put on a production at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, and I love to attend. This year they are dancing The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky. This is a symbolic ballet for the company, for it was the first they performed in the Opera House when it was reopened after the Second World War. Then, the sublimely talented Margot Fonteyn danced the role of Princess Aurora.

This year’s show looks wonderful: Marius Petipa’s original 19th-century choreography interwoven with modern pieces devised by Frederick Ashton, Anthony Dowell and Christopher Wheeldon, and stunning set and costume designs by Oliver Messel from the 1946 production. Here is the trailer:

It looks wonderful, don’t you think? Sadly, this year I am unable to make it to Covent Garden for the production, as my family and I are spending the Christmas period in Ireland. But thanks to the Live Cinema Season, I will be able to watch the ballet at my local cinema.

The Live Cinema Season is played in cinemas around the world. If you are interested in watching The Sleeping Beauty, you can find out whether your local cinema is linking up to the Royal Opera House here: http://www.roh.org.uk/showings/the-sleeping-beauty-live-2020.

You can also watch a 2016 recording of The Nutcracker through the Live Cinema Season – and the BBC will be showing a documentary on Christmas Day entitled Dancing the Nutcracker: Inside the Royal Ballet (midday, BBC Two, available later on the iPlayer). Later in December, on the 29th, another documentary will explore the history of the Royal Ballet (BBC Four, 7 p.m.).

I will leave you with my favourite quote on dancing, which I think perfectly encapsulates just why ballet is so captivating and beautiful and powerful. It is by the modern dance choreographer Martha Graham:

Dance is the hidden language of the soul.