CAROLINE CULOT They say the best is left till last and this was certainly true of four contemporary dances by the Richard Alston Dance Company at the Theatre Royal.

CAROLINE CULOT

They say the best is left till last and this was certainly true of last night's performance of four contemporary dances by the Richard Alston Dance Company at the Theatre Royal.

Water Music, the final dance to the lilting sound of Handel's Water Music, was an inspiring and exhilarating finale. Dancer Jason Piper brought passion and energy to this sophisticated mix of contemporary dance with classical music, well supported by Diana Loosmore and Antoine Vereecken in particular.

Loosmore shone not only with her poise and elegance but with her smile – a rare find in last night's all too serious performance.

Earlier, there were three dances, which were fascinating and technically difficult but failed to inspire.

Soda Lake by soloist Martin Lawrance – performed in absolute silence – was complex and mystifying.

Last night marked the second date in a four-month tour of the UK by the company, formed in 1994, by choreographer Richard Alston.

All in all, what is probably a real treat for committed dance fans perhaps has limited appeal for others.

However it is worth seeing for the Water Music sequence alone.