Ind-E-Focus

Find out the names that you should be looking out for in the dance world according to Mark Monahan of the Daily Telegraph;

Birmingham Royal Ballet - After the Royal Ballet’s splendid treatment of Ashton’s Sylvia this year, it’ll be interesting to see BRB return to David Bintley’s newer version Sylvia (in rep Feb 25-April 18).

But much higher up this critic’s wish-list is their (rubbishly named) “Pomp and Circumstances” triple bill, which yokes together Balanchine’s luminous Serenade, Ashton’s enslessly charming Enigma Variations (to Elgar’s famous suite), and David Bintley’s effervescent Still Life at the Penguin Café (in rep March 4-April 15). Both bills start at the Birmingham Hippodrome (0844 338 500), then touring to Sunderland, Plymouth, Salford’s Lowry, and the London Coliseum.

Hofesh Shechter - You want to see the furture of dance? British-Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s your man. His blistering diptych In Your Rooms and Uprising is now a year or two old, but the two pieces are being given a promising makeover by being perormed this winter in the Roundhouse as The Choreopgrapher’s Cut. The ambitious concept is that this will be London’s first contemporary-dance “gig”, with 16 dancers, 20 musicians, and extended live music and even a jamming session before and after the dancing. Frankly, it all sounds too cool for words. Sadler’s Wells at the Roundhouse, London NW1 (0844 482 8008), Feb 27, 28.

Royal Ballet - A new one-act production of Kenneth MacMillan’s Isadora is being paired with Jerome Robbins’s bittersweet ensemble piece Dances at a Gathering. It will be fascinating to see how MacMillan’s 1981 two-acter fares in its new form, and – whatever the case – a fresh airing of Dances is not to be missed. The Royal belatedly revived in 2008 after a 30-odd-year absence, and in fine style too, but they gave only a tantalising handful of performances. How heartening, then, to see it now firmly entrenched in the rep: in the Royal’s hands, it’s quite simply as lovely as ballet gets. Royal Opera House, London WC2 (020 7304 4000), March 11-21.

Russell Maliphant - Russell Maliphant is a choreographer who can make his dancers appear to be made of pure mercury, and he’s a busy fellow this year. He continues his often mesmerising experiments with light and movement in Eonnata, an enticing teaming-up with theatre visionary Robert Lepage and former collaborator Sylvie Guillem in which he tells the louche tale of the Chevalier d’Eon (Feb 26-March 8). Then, there’s Destino, which sees him join forces with the gifted Hofesh Shechter (see below) and two young Ethiopian dancers (March 12, 13), and his retrospective two:four:ten, starring the wonderful Edur and Oaks (April 7-11). All at Sadler’s Wells, London EC1 (0844 871 0090).

Rambert Dance Company - I’ve often been hard on Rambert this year (great performers, awful programming). And yet, their 2008 New Choreography showcase – besides being vital to aspiring dance-makers – was fascinating, and in See Me they yielded a modern gem. There’s little more exciting than seeing real new talent break through, and who knows – it may happen again next year. Queen Elizabeth Hall
(0871 663 2500), Feb 2; The Place, London WC1 (020 7121 1100), June 9, 10. (The Daily Telegraph - Dance Highlights By Mark Monahan, 01 Jan 2009)