Beijing Weekend

Britain's long-established Rambert Dance Company is to perform in Beijing as the last event in the Think UK activity organized by the British Council. The event aims to introduce the country's culture and achievements to China.

The troupe, which aspires to become one of the world's most versatile modern dance companies, is Britain's flagship contemporary dance company and employs a larger group of artists than any other contemporary dance company in the UK. It is also committed to increasing the audience for contemporary dance by pursuing a commitment to excellence and wider access through its work.

For its Beijing performance, the dancers will present four of the best pieces from its repertoire, choreographed by Karole Armitage, Hans van Manen and Rafael Bonachela.

One piece is called 21, a work in three parts, each lasting 7 minutes. The piece opens with a trio of females who perform daring lifts and skillful manoeuvres. In the second part, a huge gauze screen appears on stage on which a film of Kylie Minogue is projected. The dancers are visible through the screen and appear to interact with the pop star. In the final section 14 dancers step up the pace, creating a powerful atmosphere in unison.

The other programmes are Visions Fugitive, a piece that is very interpretative of the music; Living Toys, which transports us into that precarious and surreal state where dreams and consciousness merge and Pre-Sentient, claiming to be an assault on the senses and said to be most thrilling and daring of them all.

Time/date: 7:30 pm, January 23-25
Location: Tianqiao Theatre, Beiweilu
Tel: 8315-6300, 6590-6903 ext 316