On Dance
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Your support makes all the difference.If it moves, they parody it. Adventures in Motion Pictures has always had fun subverting familiar stereotypes, and past targets have included the French (in The Infernal Galop), the English (in Town and Country and last Sunday's TV Betjeman tribute Late Flowering Lust) and the butch (in the famous Y-fronted Spitfire). It was only a matter of time before the Scots got what was coming to them in the new work Highland Fling. AMP's other hobby is updating and enlivening the familiar tales of classical ballet. Their saucy rethink of The Nutcracker was a huge popular success and a Swan Lake is planned for next year.
Matthew Bourne's latest work for his company has also hitched a ride on the classical repertoire: Highland Fling is inspired by La Sylphide, Taglioni's romantic tale of a handsome young Scot and his doomed love for a fairy. Bourne isn't the first dancemaker to be tempted by tartan; George Balanchine, David Bintley and Michael Clark all had a fling with Scottish dancing. But Bourne has taken La Sylphide out of the forest and placed it instead in the horrors of high-rise Glasgow in a grotty flat with tartan wallpaper. Bourne is occasionally criticised for a lack of pure choreographic invention but although he may sometimes spread his talent a little thin, he is saved by his sense of humour and his intelligence which can transform a good idea into a great evening.
Highland Fling is at the Lilian Baylis Theatre (behind Sadler's Wells) 8pm to 28 May, Rosebery Ave, EC1 (071-278 8916) pounds 8, pounds 12.
The first five Independent readers to ring the box office will receive a free pair of tickets for the performances on Monday 16 May or Tuesday 17 May (offer subject to availability).
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