Henri Oguike Dance Company

Published Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 14:15 by Orlando Reade

On the opening night of their spring tour, the Henri Oguike Dance Company unveils two new pieces in their unceasing dedication to innovative contemporary dance.

The first of the four pieces is Little Red, choreographed alongside two concertos by Vivaldi. The first appearance is that of Fukiko Tasase, who moves with a versatility which defies description, followed by five other female dancers all exuding vain femininity in this sumptuous performance.

Next comes two world premieres: Touching All and All Around. The first is a piece full of tension between harsh masculine light and soft shade accompanied by the alienating sound of a Hispanic lute. The dance feels staccato, and echoes its elusive narrative with the agonised movement of an abandoned lover. All Around uses traditional Mexican music to conjure an atmosphere of primitive sexuality. An intimate feel conjured by flowing fabric and pastel colours is juxtaposed with the threatening tambourine beat and introduces a tumbling logic to the movement.

The last piece is the well-rehearsed Green in Blue, which was accompanied onstage by a jazz band led by composer Iain Ballamy. This is the least experimental of the lot, and the music feels stylised to the point of old-fashioned. The last few twists of the dance are well dramatised by flourishes from the consistently successful lighting design. The two new pieces demonstrate a desire to progress from the stylish and aesthetically pleasing to something more challenging and primal, which will undoubtedly bring more plaudits for this excellent choreographer.