Dance review: Mark Morris Dance Group

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 18:07

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP **** EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE

THERE'S a comforting consistency to the Mark Morris Dance Group that brings audiences back time and again.

A year shy of its 30th birthday, the company has more than proved its worth over the years, and the four works presented tonight did nothing to tarnish its reputation. Once again, live music played a major part in our enjoyment. Two pieces set to solo piano, followed by a vocal treat in the form of a mezzo-soprano, tenor and three baritones, and finally a piano/violin duet.

The dancers also created music of their own. Morris's choreography often looks like a literal representation of sound, and in Italian Concerto the dancers became the orchestra backing Colin Fowler's solo piano. As the title suggests, the work was delivered in three distinct parts, switching from happy to contemplative before building to a busy climax.

So too Three Preludes, a solo Morris originally created for him and Mikhail Baryshnikov to perform. It's a demanding role that needs a strong dancer to carry it and Morris has that in Bradon McDonald, who delivered just the right amount of humour and melancholy, and in all the right places.

Steadily building the momentum, next came Bedtime – a beautifully structured work for 12 dancers that took three Schubert songs and gave them life on stage. But it will be closer Grand Duo that most people remember tonight by. Once again, this joyful signature piece proved just how crowd-pleasing Morris can be when he wants to.