Once upon a time, ballet used to equal starched tutus, tight buns (on the women’s heads) and incomprehensible narrative miming. These days, as Robin Thicke would say, there are a lot of blurred lines.

Four companies with ‘ballet’ in their title play Scotland this autumn, each of them giving their work a contemporary edge. First up is Scottish Ballet’s diverse double-bill at Glasgow Theatre Royal (Thu 26-Sat 28 Sep). Christopher Hampson’s Rite of Spring will get you thinking, Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations will leave you smiling.

Making its Scottish debut, Ballet Black works to provide professional opportunities for black and Asian dancers. Their quadruple bill at Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh (Thu 10 Oct) also mixes up the classical and contemporary worlds.

Perhaps the most exciting visitation this autumn, is New York’s Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, playing Edinburgh Festival Theatre (Fri 11 & Sat 12 Oct). Works by Jiří Kylián, Jo Strømgren and Crystal Pite will prove what a European influence this US company has.

Making a welcome return, the BalletBoyz are at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow (Thu 7 Nov), with works by Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett. Over in the contemporary camp, Traverse Dance Festival (Tue 5-Sat 9 Nov) features Joss Arnott Dance and David Hughes Dance among others. And the wonderful National Dance Company of Wales brings a top class triple-bill to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal (Tue 12 Nov).’