Rambert Dance Company

Published Wednesday 21 May 2008 at 11:40 by Lyndsey Winship

Rambert has seen a lot of comings and going over the last year or so, with well established dancers moving on to new territory and new faces springing up across the company.

Fresh blood is no bad thing and there are some talented performers now getting their chance to shine, like newish recruit Malgorzata Dzierzon, whose quiet strength and serious presence is impressive. But by the looks of things the company haven’t completely gelled as an ensemble yet, especially in terms of slick unison dancing.

When it comes to the art of chaos however, they’ve nailed it. Two of tonight’s works have exhilarating sections of frenetic, freewheeling movement, where dancers’ trajectories expertly crisscross at alarming speed. In Doug Varone’s Scribblings, a huge lamp swings pendulum-like from the ceiling and it’s as if someone has tipped the stage on its side as the dancers tumble across the shiny floor, each propelled by the momentum of a mini tornado. John Adams’ Chamber Symphony accompanies, played by the London Musici, and it’s a brilliant concoction of scurrying cartoon strings, squawking wind and insistent percussion. When it’s going full pelt it’s fantastic.

Same goes for Andre Gingras’ Anatomica #3, driven by junk percussion sounds from composer Joseph Hyde. But when it comes down a gear it’s a bit hit and miss - in turn gripping, thoughtful and humorous, but not quite enough of any one of those things.

Finally, choreographer Siobhan Davies reveals wit, simplicity and lightness of touch in a revival of Carnival of the Animals. The piece was originally made for Second Stride in 1982 and it’s a pleasure to see it given new life by this mix of experienced and eager dancers.