The start of February is dominated by British Dance Edition, which is great news if you're a dance promoter or producer and have signed up as a delegate, as you'll be treated to performances from many of this country's leading companies. For the rest of us, only three of the performances are open to the public, but there's still plenty to enjoy. At the end of the month, we have the award-winning Ballet Black, presenting a new programme filled with works by exciting choreographers.
British Dance Edition
2 February: Wayne McGregor | Random Dance: Far, Candoco Dance Company: Set & Reset/Reset, Hofesh Shechter Dance Company: The Art of Not Looking Back
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Wayne-McGregor-Random-Dance-Candoco-Dance-Company-Hofesh-Shechter-Company
This triple bill opens with Wayne McGregor's 2010 work for his company, followed by a performance by Candoco Dance Company of Trisha Brown's 1983 work Set & Reset and its 2011 restaging, Reset. Candoco Dance Company is one of this country's leading integrated dance companies, and recently celebrated its 20th birthday to critical acclaim. The Art of Not Looking Back is a work created by Hofesh Shechter for his company's female dancers.
4 February: Richard Alston Dance Company / National Dance Company Wales
Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre
Tickets & details: ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/dance-performance/tickets/richard-alston-dance-company-and-national-dance-company-wales-62943
This double bill features erstwhile favourites Richard Alston Dance Company presenting Alston's latest work, Unfinished Business, alongside a rare London appearance by National Dance Company of Wales performing By Singing Light by Stephen Petronio using Dylan Thomas's poetry. The performance will be accompanied by the BBC National Chorus of Wales.
5 February: Russell Maliphant, The Rodin Project
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Russell-Maliphant-Company
Following the award-winning Afterlight, The Rodin Project is Russell Maliphant's latest work, inspired by the creations of French sculptor Auguste Rodin; dancers include Tommy Franzén. More information will probably be available after The Rodin Project's premiere in Paris on 31 January.
Sadler's Wells
29 February - 1 March: Richard Alston Dance Company
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Richard-Alston-Triple-Bill
Two much-loved pieces feature on this triple-bill: Richard Alston's Roughcut, first performed in 1990 and only recently revived, and Martin Lawrance's Lie Of The Land, featuring a breathtaking performance by Andres de Blust-Mommaerts. Completing the triple bill is Alston's latest work, A Ceremony of Carols, accompanied by live choral and harp music.
Royal Opera House
1 - 9 Feb: Song of the Earth / The Dream
Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=17626
Extra focus has been placed on Frederick Ashton's The Dream, a one-act rendering of A Midsummer Night's Dream, in the wake of the abrupt departure of Sergei Polunin, scheduled to perform as Oberon in three of the six performances. No replacement has been scheduled as yet, but rumours suggest that Steven McRae, recent recipient of the Critics' Circle Best Male Dancer Award, will be taking over this role.
Song of the Earth is one of Kenneth MacMillan's best-loved one-act ballets, and is a poignant meditation on Death and two lovers, set to Mahler's song-cycle and drawing on the source Chinese poems for artistic inspiration.
29 Feb - 6 March: Ballet Black
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=17971
Ballet Black are a leading award-winning modern ballet company, and their latest programme follows on from their tenth anniversary tour of last year. Featuring new works by Jonathan Goddard (Rambert Dance Company), Christopher Hampson (soon-to-be Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet), Jonathan Watkins (Royal Ballet) and Martin Lawrance (Richard Alston Dance Company), this will be an exciting programme with plenty to savour and enjoy.
Worth Catching
until 17 February: Resolution!
The Place
Tickets & details: www.theplace.org.uk/634/whats-on/listings.html
Resolution, The Place's platform for new choreography (and new choreographers) continues till 17 February, and the final night always has a special feel about it. Although everyone has differing opinions about who to see, and ALL of the companies want YOU to see them, our picks are:
7 February: James Loffler
James Loffler has danced for National Youth Ballet, Michael Clark and Ballet Ireland, which could lead to some interesting influences on him; he created a very impressive piece for a Ballet Ireland choreographic session last year (described as 'absolutely fab'), so we're looking forward to seeing him!
17 February: Yuyu Rau
Yuyu Rau has been extremely busy recently as an associate artist of Step Out Arts, and as one of the dancers in the Pet Shop Boys / Javier De Frutos collaboration The Most Incredible Thing, so her latest work, Beloved Emoh, again fusing contemporary dance with classical Chinese dance, is long-overdue and much-anticipated.