The Stage

Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company

Published Thursday 22 October 2009 at 12:40 by Gavin Roebuck

Christopher Wheeldon has gathered an ensemble of 17 good dancers for this company.

A scene from Commedia, part of Morphoses at Sadlers Wells Photo: Tristram Kenton

The world premiere of Leaving Songs is by Tim Harbour, one of Australia’s emerging new choreographers, with costumes designed by Benjamin Briones. To rather filmic music by Ross Edwards, the dancers move their upper bodies with undulating torsos and carry around balloons or spheres perhaps as tears as the pleasing lightweight work is supposed to be about life and death and new beginnings.

Wheeldon’s Commedia has commedia dell’arte-style costumes and set by Isabel and Ruben Toledo. With eight dancers to Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, this is a light, joyful work with Columbines and Pierrots. Commedia is made more vital by Edward Watson and Leanne Benjamin, the couple loaned from the Royal Ballet, whose pas de deux and solos are the best part of the show.

Softly As I Leave You, choreographed by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, has a couple suffering the pangs of love. Alexei Ratmansky’s Bolero is set to the music of Maurice Ravel. With gloomy lighting, three couples dance with classical lines and a sharp edge to the well-known score conducted by Paul Murphy.

Although supposed to be inspired by the Ballets Russes, there is no great artwork or thrilling new music. Morphoses seems to exist to showcase short new ballets which are easier to create than long works and there is as yet no moment of choreographic greatness or outstanding new talent from the good dancers in this pleasant show.