Red-hot dancing, drums and bodies

DANCE
Ballet Revolucion
Crown Theatre

REVIEW JO PICKUP

Ballet Revolucion is a dance show that spins traditional notions of ballet on its head. Sure, this elite troupe of Cuban dancers can hold their arabesques as well as any world-class classical dancer - they can even twirl en pointe and pirouette on cue.

But after the show's strangely romantic opening sequence these red-hot dancers reveal this work's true colours, which are definitely more Dirty Dancing than Bolshoi Ballet.

The night proves a round-the-world tasting plate of dance styles accompanied by an explosive live musical score which covers an equally broad spectrum of hits ranging from traditional Latin to Ricky Martin.

The dancers are all immaculate in their athleticism and precision - proof of their years of disciplined training at Cuba's renowned Escuela Nacional de Arte dance academy.

Yet, ironically, this flawless technique at times falls out of step with the carnival flavour of the show, as the performers' elegant poise conflicts with the work's free-spirited party tone.

This feature is compounded in the first half as the charismatic Ballet Revolucion musicians relentlessly pump out infectious Buena Vista pop hits which leave the dancers somewhat in their wake.

But by Act II the dancers and the band are well and truly on the same high-octane super- sexy level.

They bust all the right moves in passionate style and by the time of the first, second and third finales the stage is just about on fire.

This show is definitely a team effort between 18 of Cuba's hottest dancers and a swathe of that country's most dynamic musical talent. Congas maestro Luis Palacios Galvez's superhuman drumming solo that closes Act I is a total knockout which will leave you awestruck and maybe a little dizzy.

Another highlight is the Mambo scene in Act I, which, in a departure from the MTV-style tunes played for most of the show, relies more on raw rhythmic percussion beats which provoke mesmerizing tribal-style movements from the performers.

So there's no doubting Ballet Revolucion will prove a winner with local jazz-dance fans. But on the off-chance that the moves aren't enough for you, the pure sight of these dancers as exquisite examples of the human form should suffice (a few male dancers in particular make even the best Calvin Klein underwear models look like boy scouts).

So it's certainly worth a look if you enjoy dance with sass, spins (revolutions) and soul. But stay at home if the dance revolution you're seeking is the kind with sticks, signs and insurgency as there's no hint of revolt in this energetic work.

Ballet Revolucion ends on Sunday.