Giant leaps into mythology

THE BEST DANCE piece lever presented by Rubato Ballet is to be seen at lunchtime in the National Gallery this Wednesday and Friday.

Running for 50 minutes, Cuchulainn a Chroi won cheers from the 50 or so boys from Synge Street School and a good sized audience of adults for the strength and attack of Monday's performance.

The large downstairs all decorated with bronze shields by designer Elaine Leigh, gave the space needed for the great leaps and whirling turns of the pagan dance and choreographer Fiona Quilligan has never before had so strong a cast on which to create her work. Not for the first time, she has gone to mythology for her inspiration, and this tale from the Tain Bo Cuailgne has the eponymous hero (vigorously danced by Anthony Kirwan) studying the art of the warrior with Scathach (Zelda Francesca) and falling for her daughter, Uathach (Judith Sibley). Dancing mostly on point, the two women easily convince us of the strength of their conflicting magnetism as the hero is pulled between the power of the mother and the beauty of the daughter.

As Scathach's sons, Cuar and Cat, Malachy Bourke and Neil Owens are impressive in their trials of strength, and their vigorous athleticism is underlined by the percussion. Frankie Lane's score, which he performs live on pedal steel guitar and mandolin, with Breeda Mayock on fiddle and David Hingerty on percussion, the use of rippling cloth to suggest the river into which the dancers plunge, the intelligent use of the gallery stairs and the attractive costuming by Nikkola Connor of both dancers and musicians all add to the attractions of this performance, which can be faulted only because the hurdle sequence is overextended.