Rambert Dance Company is the best contemporary dance company in Britain. They can be relied on for innovative, stimulating dance programmes which display the extraordinary suppleness of the talented troupe.
Their current tour 'Comedy of Change' comprises seven pieces, three of which were performed at the Festival theatre.
The first, Hush, was choreographed by Christoper Bruce. One of Britain's leading choreographers, he has been involved in Rambert since the 50's when he started ballet classes at the age of thirteen to strengthen his legs as a result of polio. He went on to become a professional dancer, and then developed a reputation as a talented choreographer (he was one of the last major choreographers to have been taught by Dame Marie Rambert).
Hush comprises a series of collages and "is a celebration of life - from youth to old age" performed by seven dancers. Set to a range of music, including Bach's Ave Maria, Rimsky Korsakov's 'Flight of the Bumblebee, and Country and Western, it exudes effervescence and innocent charm.
The Comedy of Change was inspired by artistic director Mark Baldwin's interest in Darwin's theory of evolution. Baldwin choreographed this piece in collaboration with the production designer Kader Attia who has produced a stunning set.
The curtain rises, and on the silent stage we see a selection of what appears to be large, white-feathered eggs, the images of which are mirrored on the black floor. Gradually, and individually, figures emerge from the eggs, as if from birth, and start an exploratory venture into the world. Clad snugly in black and white - the back is black and the front is white - when they start to move as a group the juxtaposition of colour is incredibly effective.
Composer Julian Anderson's musical accompaniment here sounds like drum brushes. We see a group of dancers huddling at the back of the stage and then …hey presto… it is they who were making the sound having produced a gold crouched paper figure. The dancing continues as this buddha like figure observes and then, at the end of the piece - poof - the figure is crushed.
Baldwin's choreography is a celebration of life, contrasting vibrance with tranquillity, and his interpretation of emergence into the world, using dance as the medium, is riveting.
The final piece on the programme was quite different. Devised by Israeli choreographer Itzik Galili in the Brazilian town of Sau Paulo, it is an exposition of the vitality ingrained in South American culture. With the Percossa four drummers at the back, all drumming South American rhythms in unison, the Rambert troupe took to the stage.
Their multi-coloured, skimpy costumes immediately transported us to that country where energy is of the essence and machismo reigns supreme. The dancers leapt with incredible suppleness about the stage cajoling and posturing, their bright costumes enhanced by fluctuating coloured lights. A fabulous, sense-saturating performance.
Show Times
Thursday 18th February, Festival Theatre, 7.30pm
Friday 19th February, Festival Theatre, 7.30pm
Then various touring venues