A smorgasbord of Danish ballet

Johan Kobborg, a highly rated dancer with The Royal Ballet staged his first independent show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall last night. It's a mixed bill of new and little-seen Danish ballets, a taster menu from home, but why he chose the QEH is anyone's guess.

True, its small scale means you can see the dancers up close, but the sound system comes courtesy of Moulinex, plus there's no front curtain and precious little wing space, both essential for traditional ballet on a bare stage. Get a set, or a more modern work, and things fare much better. At least, that's how it seemed last night.

Kobborg's programme comprises six shortish works, three by August Bournonville and one each by Harold Lander, Kim Brandstrup and Flemming Flindt.

They span Danish dance history, from the neat, flowing style of the 19th
century Bournonville, to the expressive approach of contemporary dance makers Flindt and Brandstrup, the latter easily the hit of the show.

Brandstrup's duet portrays the last moments before two lovers part, with Dylan Elmore and the excellent Zenaida Yanowsky eking out the seconds, their quick-slow slides evoking that heartbreaking trick of time that accelerates the minutes together and freezeframes the years apart.

Yanowsky reappeared in the Flindt ballet, The Lesson, based on Ionesco's play. The fully staged piece depicts a recidivist teacher who murders his pretty young students while his pianist covers up the evidence. There were several styles of acting, with Yanowsky (as the Pianist) and Kobborg (the Teacher) majoring on drama, and Alina Cojocaru (the Student) more the comedienne. All tried tragedy, although not at the same time. Happily, Kobborg's chilling performance ensured dramatic sense prevailed.

The Bournonville ballets looked under-rehearsed. The Divertissements from Napoli were raggedy, while The Jockey Dance extract from From Siberia To Moscow was dashed off. Bethany Keating and Martin Harvey were sweet lovers in the William Tell Divertissement, but lacked the smooth flow required.

Johan Kobborg: Out Of Denmark