Pictured: Elite ballet dancers perform at Heathrow to cheer up passengers as airport reveals this December may be its second-busiest on record

Repeat performances of the dance are planned at 2pm on December 12 and 22
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Heathrow is welcoming its second-busiest December on record with professional ballet performances.

Passengers at Terminal 5 on Tuesday were greeted by the sight of ballet dancers hailing from some of the UK’s most prestigious companies.

The dance, titled The Reunion, was created by choreographer Ruth Brill and contains exactly 239 moves, the number of destinations travellers can reach from Heathrow.

Heathrow said it ‘aims to convey the huge sense of emotion and joy that many travellers feel when they finally touch down and are reunited with friends and family for the festive season’.

Repeat performances will be taking place on December 12 and 22.

Professional ballet dancers performed at Heathrow Terminal 5 on Tuesday, as the airport faces its second-busiest December on record

The dance, titled The Reunion, was created by choreographer Ruth Brill and contains exactly 239 moves, the number of destinations travellers can reach from Heathrow

The West London airport said it expects 6.5million passengers to travel through its terminals this month, with New York, Dubai and Delhi among the most popular Christmas routes.

That would be a 10 per cent increase on the figure of 5.9million in December 2022 and behind only 2019 (6.7million) for Heathrow’s most passengers in the final month of a year.

Heathrow director of services Tonia Fielding said: ‘December at Heathrow is always a special time, with passengers jetting off to festivities with family and friends.

‘And on the other hand, so many people choose this month to return to the UK to celebrate a long-awaited reunion.

‘For all these passengers the Christmas journey starts at Heathrow, so we’re proud to give them a performance to remember by taking a much-loved Christmas tradition for many families – ballet – and using it to showcase these emotional reunions in a way that really does them justice.

Six dancers were chosen to perform the piece, including Sander Blommaert, former First Artist of The Royal Ballet, Shyvelle Dynot, who danced with the English National Ballet for 15 years, and Eloise Shepherd-Taylor, whose accolades include a dance role on Netflix’s Bridgerton

Heathrow said the dance ‘aims to convey the huge sense of emotion and joy that many travellers feel when they finally touch down and are reunited with friends and family for the festive season’

‘By working with the talented Ruth Brill, I think we’ve succeeded in conveying the magic of the Christmas period for every passenger – young or old, first-time flier or seasoned traveller.’

Ms Brill is a choreographer and artistic director at the London Children’s Ballet and has previously created pieces for the English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony.

The Reunion took six weeks of preparation, choreography and rehearsal.

Ms Brill said: ‘It has been an honour to be tasked with telling the story of festive reconnections through dance.

Ms Brill is a choreographer and artistic director at the London Children’s Ballet

Passengers travelling through and collecting loved ones from Heathrow this December will have a chance to catch repeat performances at 2pm on December 12 and 22

‘The message of loved ones being reunited at Christmas – and all the emotions that come along with it – is a strong one that moves many of us.’

Passengers travelling through and collecting loved ones from Heathrow this December will have a chance to catch repeat performances at 2pm on December 12 and 22.

In addition to the ballet performances, Heathrow is hosting local choir performances, visits from Father Christmas and festive arts and crafts activities.

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