Beautiful bold ballet an Alhambra treat (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Beautiful bold ballet an Alhambra treat

12:02am Thursday 24th November 2011 in Reviews By Hannah Baker

Rambert Dance Company The Alhambra The Rambert Dance Company has long been known for its bold and creative performances – and in its 85th year the London-based contemporary dance troupe is certainly showing no signs of growing weary.

Marking the company’s first performance in Bradford in nearly two decades, the exceptionally well toned dancers (above) delighted a packed Alhambra Theatre with an energetic trio of dances from their new programme.

Artistic director Mark Baldwin’s ‘Seven for a secret, never to be told’, after which the tour is named, gave a rather idealised portrayal of childhood as the dancers, dressed in Scout uniforms and twee summer dresses, leap about the stage.

The company has again worked with Cambridge scientist Professor Nicola Clayton, an expert in child psychology, to help develop its work but the theme of the dance rendered its performers rather limited in some of their movements.

However, with its beautiful set and expert accompaniment from the Rambert orchestra, the performance went down a treat with the audience. As did the evening’s other two items, the graceful and romantic Roses and the vibrant, samba-inspired A Linha Curva by Itzik Galili.