Allegri Diversi, Dante Sonata, Elite Syncopations, Gala, Durham: AS part of an initiative to bring Birmingham Royal Ballet to new, smaller venues, the visit to Durham's Gala marked a first for the company usually associated with the Sunderland Empire.

The Empire is closed for refurbishment, so there was a ready-made audience keen to get its ballet fix, and all three shows were sold out.

The Gala's intimacy served the three very different pieces well. The audience was able to watch at close quarters and pick up on some of dancers' expressions, which otherwise would have been missed.

Dante Sonata, created by Sir Frederick Ashton in 1940 to express the futility of war, saw a dramatic shift in mood from the opening movement, the light and airy Allegri Diversi. Two groups of dancers represented goodness and evil, their flowing white costumes and straps of bondage set against a stark background. The sense of struggle and suffering was effectively conveyed through repetitive movements and crucifixion imagery.

The final movement provided welcome relief, with its gaudy costumes.

Having the orchestra sit on stage dressed as outrageously as the dancers was a nice touch, but the real show-stealers were the diminutive Kosuke Yamamoto and the statuesque Silvia Jimenez, who made a delightfully comic pair.

It was an entertaining and engaging show, highlighting the company's versatility.

Published: 26/04/2004