Talent showcase kicks off

An Untold Amount Of Steps is one of the titles in this year's Resolution! season at The Place.

It's a pretty good summary of the new talent showcase that has seen hundreds of companies tread the boards at London's top launching pad for new dance talent in search of their big break.

Whether Dan Watson, creator of said piece, will embark on the career trajectory enjoyed by Resolution! graduate Wayne MacGregor - recently appointed resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet - remains to be seen.

But, now in its 18th year, Resolution! remains true to Place Theatre director John Ashford's belief in giving everyone - including the good, bad and sometimes just plain baffling - a shot at the stage.

So, over the next six weeks, grouped into random triple bills, 114 companies and choreographers - including a ten-strong contingent from Europe - will premiere new work with a 40-minute time limit.

It kicks off tonight in fine style, with the brilliantly blowsy Natasha Gilmore, whose comic skills have been a highlight of Protein Dance's hit shows Publife and Big Sale, in a solo romp on the subject of marriage and social uprooting. From then on it's everything from ballet to butoh and back with Watson and his bunch of pedometers on January 13.

Tonight until Feb 17, The Place: Robin Howard Dance Theatre, 17 Duke's Road WC1, Mon to Sat 8pm, various prices. Tel: 020 7387 0031. www.theplace.org.uk Tube: Euston/King's Cross