Wasn't September a bizarrely quiet month for dance? In fact, without The Place Prize, there was barely anything taking place, not like past Septembers which are usually overflowing with lots to see. And so October is more than making up for it, with plenty to choose from...

ZooNation, Some Like It Hip Hop: to 13 October
Peacock Theatre
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/ZooNation-Dance-Company-Some-Like-It-Hip-Hop
Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JVOYNBHXVY

The ultimate feelgood dance show returns to the Peacock Theatre with an even stronger show than last year's production, and is even more lovable and heartwarming than before, with extremely strong performances from each of the cast, whether dancer, narrator or singer.

Choreographed by Kate Prince and Tommy Franzén, and loosely based on Some Like It Hot and Twelfth Night, Some Like It Hip Hop tells the story of a dark city where Lizzie Gough and Teneisha Bonner are forced to cross-dress in order to find work and eventually love, with plenty of comedy and great storytelling along the way. An enormous hit with teens and small children.


Akram Khan, 'DESH': 2 - 9 October
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/DESH-Akram-Khan-Company-2012
Trailer: youtu.be/vWwli41zw1U

Currently sold out, but returns may be available, this is the much-awaited return of Akram Khan's semi-biographical solo show exploring his Bangladeshi roots and what it means to be Bangladeshi. With collaborations with Tim Yip (production designer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), award-winning lighting designer Michael Hulls, writer and poet Karthika Nair, Olivier Award-winning composer Jocelyn Pook and slam poet PolarBear, DESH is more spectacle than dance show, with stunning imagery and creativity, not to mention Khan's wonderful choreography - always a treat to watch. People expecting nothing but dance will be disappointed, but it's a beautiful and enthralling show.



Richard Alston Dance Company, 'At Home': 3 - 6 October
The Place
Tickets & details: www.theplace.org.uk/14269/whats-on/richard-alston-dance-company.html

Richard Alston usually spoils his audience, and this programme features no fewer than three premieres: Madcap, a new work by the gifted Martin Lawrance with music by the New York collective Bang on a Can All-Stars; Isthmus, a new work by Alston to Jo Kondo's music, and Darknesse Visible, a new solo for the wonderful Pierre Tappon. Also to be performed is Shimmer, a glittering work to the music of Ravel.


Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: 11 - 13 October
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Cedar-Lake-Contemporary-Ballet

If you only see one show this season, it should probably be this one - Cedar Lake are finally making their long-overdue UK premiere, showcasing their "powerful physicality with classical technique".

This programme will feature some of the hottest choreographers around, with a work exploring rhythm by Nederlands Dans Theater's Alexander Ekman, and works by Crystal Pite and Hofesh Shechter.

If you want to whet your appetite before their shows, do watch The Adjustment Bureau, starring Emily Blunt as a Cedar Lake dancer.


Rambert Dance Company: 16 - 20 October
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Rambert-Dance-Company-Featuring-Labyrinth-of-Love

Rambert's autumn programme is usually less showy than their springtime season, but they look set to break that tradition with this quadruple bill, which sees a return of Paul Taylor's beautiful and timeless Roses. Other works include Richard Alston's "sharp and witty" Dutiful Ducks and a UK revival premiere of Merce Cunningham's Sounddance. Irish choreographer Marguerite Donlon has created Labyrinth of Love, a heartbreaking and humourous work which will be accompanied by a live orchestra and soprano.


Birmingham Royal Ballet
Opposites Attract: 23 & 24 October
Autumn Celebration: 25 - 27 October
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Birmingham-Royal-Ballet-Opposites-Attract-and-Autumn-Celebration

Birmingham Royal Ballet usually bring both a classical programme and a modern ballet to Sadler's Wells on each of their visits, however this time, they're presenting two triple bills, in which the definition of "modern" ballet sees a blurring.

Opposites Attract sees the more modern works, with a new work by American choreographer Jessica Lang, a revival of Hans van Manen's impressive Grösse Fuge - last performed in all its black leather glory at Sadler's Wells by the Dutch National Ballet, and a personal tribute by David Bintley to jazz icon Dave Brubeck.

Autumn Celebration! presents BRB's own version of Ashton's elfin comedy The Dream, the central figures being an otherworldy Oberon and a Puck who is likely to outdance (and outpuppy) all the dancers. Also performed will be Broadway show choreographer Joe Layton's amusing take on the celebrities of the 1920s and an Olympic-inspired work by David Bintley.

 

Worthy Mentions


Nigel Charnock, 'Haunted By The Future': 13 October
Platform Theatre as part of Dance Umbrella
Tickets & details: www.danceumbrella.co.uk/nigel-charnock-uk

Nigel Charnock, one of the enduring greats of the physical theatre and dance worlds, tragically passed away only two months ago, and Dance Umbrella is presenting a rare opportunity to watch his final work, Haunted By The Future, "a tragically comic dance theatre piece about him and her and it." As Executive Director of The Place, Kenneth Tharp, recently reminisced (www.theplace.org.uk/15189/kenneth-tharps-blog/is-it-okay-to-walk-out-at-the-theatre.html), Charnock's work is not for everyone, so be warned before booking tickets.


Dance United: 20 & 22 October
The Place
Tickets & details: www.theplace.org.uk/14275/whats-on/dance-united.html

Dance United works with those who are marginalised in society and whose potential is often unrecognised or unfulfilled, whether they are troubled youths, prisoners, or involved in one of their Ethiopia-based projects. Among their projects is a London-based performance company, which has previous performed works by Siobhan Maguire-Swartz and John Ross.

Dance United's London-based company will be performing alongside the Yorkshire-based company to present a number of works by Kwesi Johnson, Carly Annable-Coop and Helen Linsell, while this programme will also see new Associate Artist Dam Van Huynh's first work for UK audiences since his return from his two year residency in Hong Kong only two months ago.


Phoenix Dance Theatre: 25 - 27 October
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/productions/phoenix-dance-theatre-by-phoenix-dance-theatre

Phoenix Dance Theatre is one of the UK's leading contemporary dance companies, and finally makes a long-overdue return to London with their new mixed bill, featuring premieres by Ana Luján Sánchez and Kwesi Johnson, the return of Henri Oguike’s unflinching Signal and Melt: a breathtaking mix of aerial dance and contemporary choreography by Sharon Watson, Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre.

 
Michael Clark: 17 - 27 October
Barbican Centre
Tickets & details: www.barbican.org.uk/theatre/event-detail.asp?ID=13338

Michael Clark is renowned for his days as a renegade figure in the world of ballet, and although his recent works haven't matched the creativity of his heyday, they've thrilled his many fans and won him more than a few new ones.

Little is known about the two new works to be performed, however they will include music by Relaxed Muscle and Scritti Politti, and these performances will feature live music from Relaxed Muscle.


Cloud Dance Festival Corner

Female Choreographers' Collective: 13 October
Tickets & details: www.dance-ground.com/2012/09/the-launch-of-female-choreographers.html
Tickets: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It appears that there is a shortage of female choreographers, or at least of visible support for them, so Holly Noble of AD Dance Company (formerly Antique Dances) and Jane Coulston of Beyond Repair Dance have chosen to form a new collective to create solidarity for the majority of the dance industry.

13 October will see the launch of this initiative, with works by Lucía Piquero (Diciembre Dance Group), Anna Watkins (WatkinsDance), Holly Noble (AD Dance Company) and Jane Coulston (Beyond Repair Dance). You will have to email the address above and make a bank transfer to secure tickets for the event, or buy them on the door.