recent AMP reviews

Presented by Matthew Bourne, the programme is more like a turkey sandwich than a full Christmas dinner. It takes you for a quick spin through the evolution of the male dancer with some excursions along the way on what has, and does, influence Bourne as a choreographer. In between short snatches of conversation with the likes of Alastair Macaulay, Judith Mackrell and Mark Morris, there is some wonderful footage of dancing by a roll call of ballet greats (Nureyev, Baryshnikov, Dowell) and Hollywood hoofers (Astaire and Kelly). Look out in particular for the amazing soft shoe shuffle between the boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and Gene Kelly. The other highlight are some amazing "true confessions" from Anthony Dowell on which dancer he could never emulate and his wish to play a leading swan.