BRB, In the Upper Room Mixed Bill, Sadler's Wells

Birmingham Royal Ballet returns to Sadler’s Wells this season with a vivacious triple bill, titled Polarity and Proximity.

The programme includes one of American dance phenomenon Twyla Tharp’s signature works; a creation by former company member Alexander Whitley; and a new ballet from choreographer George Williamson.

Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room is quick-witted and even quicker footed. This exhilarating ballet, originally devised in 1986, features vigorous choreography that fuses boxing, tap dance, yoga, ballet and even sprinting. These styles are essentially merged to contrast the power of contemporary dance with the dexterity of classical ballet.

Dancers wearing sneakers and striking red pointe shoes fill the stage with energy, flair and finesse throughout a succession of solos, duets, trios and ensemble sections.

Created for Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2014 by former company member Alexander Whitley, Kin is an athletic, abstract piece. Ten dancers move through four phases of a pulsing, hypnotic score that was composed by Phil Kline and is played live by The Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Kin celebrates the raw kinetics of dance, the virtuosity of ballet technique and the potential for movement to connect us in different ways.

The line-up is completed by the world premiere of Embrace, a work from the talented young dance maker George Williamson, Artistic Associate of English National Ballet. This piece has been commissioned as part of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s classical choreographer development programme, Ballet Now.

For vibrant variety, London dance fans need look no further than this summer’s mixed programme from Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Pre-show talk: Saturday at 18:30 (free to BRB Friends and same-day ticket holders)

Open Company Class on stage, Saturday, 10:45 - Details here