Combining a range of music and movement to create diverse moods, the Henri Oguike Dance Company came to the Playhouse to present four contrasting pieces, mixing vibrant movement with storytelling, operatic effect with Latin pulse and social commentary with sheer joyful expressiveness.

The music was the key element, setting the mood for dancers and audience alike. Two lighter, energetic pieces sandwiched the longer, more complex fable of Dido and Aeneas, the hero who Dido voluntarily relinquishes in order that he can fulfil his destiny as founder of Rome. A short, sharp solo by the company's eponymous artistic director and choreographer completed the programme.

Dido & Aeneas is an ambitious project which seeks to relate a story as well as expressing the characters' emotions. Set to a resounding operatic recorded backing which comes dangerously close to dominating the movement work, the dancing is expressive and superbly timed, yet fails to provide much needed contrast between scenes. There are intense moments, such as the pathos conveyed by bodies writhing on the floor to the accompaniment of minor chords as Dido expires, but the piece at times seems laborious and one-paced, prone to lose momentum and at times hard to follow.

The shorter pieces sandwiching Dido work better. Front Line is performed to live music - a string quartet performing Shostakovich at the back of the stage. The dancing is vibrant and has good momentum. The dancers' quick-fire movements portray the rapidly changing events and emotions of battle, conflict and the human reality of war. Change of pace is the driver reflecting the precariousness of war and life where conflict and discord turn in a moment to sadness and grief, energy and motion to prostration and stillness.

Oguike's solo piece, Frames per Second, again has a distinctive musical backdrop and his lithe, virtuoso performance is set against an insistent, scratchy string backing.

Finale is the lightest, most effervescent piece, bursting with irresistible beats, vivacity and colour. The steps are playful and exuberant and the intense yellow lighting brings a warm glow to the spirits as the dancers bounce merrily through the Latin rhythms of Rene Aubry's infectious soundtrack. This was joyful dancing, and it left everyone uplifted and in a shiny, happy mood.

The show presents a great variety of dance experiences, exploring at various intersections the relationship between music, movement and light converging in diverse ways to create diverse effects. Technique and timing are masterful and a varied set maintained momentum taking the audience through the full range of feeling before ending on a high and positive note.

Kathryn Karakaya, 11.10.03