© Johan Persson 'Impressing The Czar' reviews recent Flanders reviews more Charlotte Kasner reviews Discuss this review (Open for at least 6 months)

Thom Willems was much in evidence again in Impressing the Czar, his take on Beethoven being most amusing (with a little help from Leslie Stuck). What a joy The Royal Ballet of Flanders are and what an eye opener their interpretation of Forsythe is. The dancers are, without excpetion, superb technicians and they threw themselves into this work with humour and gusto that even a forty minute delay to the curtain going up could not diminish.

The opening section, Potemkin's Signature, looked at times like a painting by a Dutch master, Ferial Munnich's autumnal coloured costumes, complimenting the mood perfectly. There was so much detail amongst the zany movement and witty references that it was at times difficult to focus. The dancing bordered on the virtuosic and was executed flawlessly.

In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated is by now very well known and has become a Royal ballet staple. This performance however presented it afresh, the Company seeming to meld with the work and present total understanding rather than, I feel, the Royal's studied, academic technicality. It looked like a seamless, masterclass, with precision timing and a vibrancy that I hadn't realised was inherent in the piece, and again, a wit and intelligence that was joyous to behold.

La Maison de Mezzo-Prezzo was positively Pythonesque and not in the least afraid to be self-mocking. The references to recent contemporary events and the irresistable Sarah Palin joke prompted a couple of loud guffaws, but it was the breathtaking pace that awed and amused as much as the content.

If the penultimate section was fast, the finale Bongo Bongo Nageela Mr Pnut Goes to the Big Top went off the scale. With dancers dressed as schoolchildren, it looked like a combination of a 1980's school disco and a power aerobics class. It was quite frustrating having to sit and watch as the piece gathered pace and became positively infectious.

This was a glorious evening that illuminated Forsythe for me. This is dance that demands solid classical training, but really does take it into new territory. It was hard to believe that this is the same Company that brought London the period version of Fille Mal Gardée. Let us hope that it is not too long before they pay us another visit.