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The Rambert Dance Company are back in Norwich this
October with the promise of an exciting and dynamic mixed bill under
new Artistic Director Mark Baldwin.
"There was more fear in me in taking the job
than I expected," said Baldwin of his new post.
"I shouldn't have been so frightened of it.
I was lucky in that I was a dancer in the Rambert for 10 years and
that gives me an insight into the company already.
"It gave me a very clear idea about the kind
of thing I wanted to commission for the company. I
think our currency is new work. I've got a confidence about that
and a belief in that."
The Company's 22 dancers are drawn from all over
the world. Trained in both classical and contemporary techniques
they create an internationally renowned ensemble of extraordinary
technical strength and dramatic flair.
"I have a confidence in the way the dancers
grow and mature as artists because they're having new works made
for them," said Baldwin.
"It was my number one priority for the company.
To preserve our heritage, but have the confidence to make new work."
The Norwich programme opens with Hans Van Manaen's
Visions Fugitives. Performed to Prokofiev's score, it comprises
15 miniatures, each lasting between 20 seconds and two minutes.
This evocative score was the inspiration for the
Dutch choreographer to create dances that range from the sinister
to the playful.
PreSentient, by the celebrated British choreographer
Wayne McGregor, is a thrilling work inspired by Steve Reich's kinetic
score, Triple Quartet.
The choreography pushes 12 dancers to their physical
limits, as they perform complex, razor-sharp movement at a frenzied
but precise pace.
In January 2003, PreSentient won McGregor the Time
Out Award for Outstanding Choreography.
Dancers performing Elsa Canasta |
The evening ends on a high with Elsa Canasta the
latest work to be created for Rambert by Javier De Frutos.
It is performed to music and songs by Cole Porter,
including a recently re-discovered ballet score that Porter wrote
for the Swedish Ballet in 1923.
Joining the dancers on stage will be a female jazz
singer who will perform three of Porter's songs, So in Love, Down
in the Depths and Ridin' High. It is the ambiguity of Porter's lyrics
that has provided De Frutos with the trigger for his choreography.
Baldwin's vision is to create works that are physically
powerful, emotionally engaging and above all entertaining for audiences.
"You have to be careful with the programmes,"
acknowledge Baldwin. "You're always thinking of balance and
mix so you know when they come they'll see amazing and brilliant
dancing.
"I think our audience comes because they know
they'll see new work, see incredible dancing and hear amazing music."
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