Rambert: Dark Arteries/Frames/Four Elements, Sadler's Wells

Dark Arteries is the centrepiece of Rambert’s Spring programme – a unique collaboration between Britain’s foremost contemporary dance company and a champion brass band, the Tredegar Town Band.

Described as an “historic crossover of artistic genres,” Dark Arteries pays homage to the enduring power of brass band music as the legacy of Britain’s now almost extinct mining communities, whose lives centred on the coalfields - the “dark arteries” of the title.

Uniting the talents of composer Gavin Hughes and Rambert Artistic Director Mark Baldwin, and with massed ranks of the Tredegar Brass Band playing live on stage, this is an emotional and ultimately uplifting piece.

Dark Arteries is part of an enticing triple bill, which includes the latest work from one of Britain’s most exciting young choreographers, Alexander Whitley. Frames brings together dancers and metal structures that grow, transform and combine to create a stage within a stage. Music is by Daniel Bjarnason, and the metal structures are the work of the experimental duo Revital Cohen and Tuur van Balen

Intriguing and very cutting edge.

The final work of the evening is a masterpiece from one of the key figures of American contemporary dance, Lucinda Childs. Her minimalist Four Elements has already carved its place as a classic of the contemporary canon.

Music for these two pieces will be care of the Rambert Orchestra.

This is a well-balanced, original mixed bill, with something for everyone and well worth a viewing,

If you want to learn a little more about Rambert and the community roots of Britain's brass bands, there will be free pre-show talks on Wednesday at 18:30, with Mark Baldwin; and Friday at 18:30 with Music Director Paul Hoskins.