... Cirque du Soleil Orlando, Florida Since its creation in Quebec in 1984, Cirque du Soleil writer and director Franco Dragone has seen his mission to combine circus with other areas of performing arts take flight. The seven different shows to have found their way out of Dragones head and on to the stage are presented across the globe, including this version, La Nouba, playing in the Cirque du ...

... Conchita Wexford Wexford Festival uniquely features operatic rarities. Inevitably, therefore, some may turn out to be ropier than expected, and Ric- cardo Zandonai's excursion into Spanish territory is about as dire as it gets. Puccini, no fool, turned down the libretto based upon a Pierre Louys novel which was thought steamy in its day. Handsome young nobleman Mateo falls for free-spirited ...

... Divertissements/ The Two Pigeons Sunderland/Touring The second section of the Birm ingham Royal Ballet's offering at the Empire was simply stunning. Divertissements threw up four short works emphasising Fred erick Ashton's imagination and range of styles. Voices of Spring was quiet, moving and full of passion. Five Brahms Waltzes in the manner of Isadora Duncan was sensual, evocative and at ...

... Scottish Dance Theatre Edinburgh In these two newly-commissioned works at the Traverse, Dundee Rep's associated dance company has stepped away from the narrative linearity of recent works, while retaining a strong sense Of the theatrical. Plunge, choreographed by Janice Garrett to a score by Chris topher Bernstead, was the easi est on the eye. The slinky costume design by Craig Givens ...

... Krazy Spirit Manchester Congratulations to the Contact Theatre on its first anniversary and to RJC Dance, the popular black contemporary group who helped with the theatre's launch and returned to perform at the new celebrations. RJC s individual blend of con temporary dance mixed with jazz, reggae and club culture brought a packed house to see the specially commissioned Krazy Spirit. This ...