MEDIATHEK

A piece without a "story line" and supposed to be only "dance, dance, dance", Soirée dansante is not for all that devoid of inspiration. However, it is the spectator's job to detect the references, be they to Egyptian hieroglyphs and statuary, Miró's work, children's toys, even the Hindu bhakti movement, in this aesthetically and choreographically eclectic piece. Structured in four main "periods", to wit, a highly oppressive quartet called "Anubis", a very gentle pas-de-deux called "Lapin" (rabbit), the disjointed trio of "Surprise" (reworked and multiplied), and a more mystical sequence for seven dancers, "Raga", Soirée dansante multiplies the effects of surprise, while the lack of sets increases the emphasis on the costumes and the choreography itself.(Thor)(RS)