WITH a brand spanking new studio to prepare in Phoenix Dance say from now on the only limit to their work will be their imaginations so this charismatic programme of four diverse pieces includes one centred around aerial movement, something the Leeds-based company has never done before.

Melt, by Phoenix's artistic director Sharon Watson, draws on the visual effect of elements colliding - the dancers shape-shifting to the primeval-meets-pop sounds of Mercury-nominated Wild Beasts as fire comes into contact with ice.

WHAT pressure Matthew Bourne must have felt devising a new version of Prokofiev's Cinderella ballet with the composer's son in the room sketching the dancers at work.

But he needn't have worried for while there are muses a plenty in this thrilling take on the rags to riches tale - 1940s films and real-life bombing raids among them - the original score remains the choreographer's most deeply felt inspiration.

Set during the London Blitz, the piece draws on the themes of loss, isolation and hurried romance to create an interpretation that enhances the fairytale qualities of the Cinderella story while embedding it in reality.

A BROAD range of influences infiltrate the trio of dances that makes up Henri Oguike's Butterfly Dreaming tour.

Yet all three are beautiful in their simplicity, reflected in the barely there yet striking stage sets.
The first is a waterfall, which in Freq is as much a part of the choreography as the solo dancer's movements.

Elana Zaino begins almost stiffly, before the water releases her, cascading off her back in a fan and splattering across the stage as she flicks her hair.

Her motion becomes primal, matching the intensity of Brian Eno's and David Byrne's soundtrack.

I INTERVIEWED Ballet Black choreographer Henri Oguike last week for a piece in yesterday's paper on his new triple bill of dance coming to the Liverpool Playhouse in February.

It's always interesting hearing choreographers talk about their work because words are not usually part of their main form of expression. So it helps when there's a film to watch . . .

IN CASE you missed it in last Wednesday's paper, here is my list of 10 shows that shouldn't be missed in 2011. . .

1. AFTER bringing his spectacular Swan Lake to the Empire Theatre in 2010, Matthew Bourne returns with his 1940s version of Cinderella. This extraordinary production transforms the heroine from a dejected princess to a daughter ignored by her large step-family and the prince into an air force pilot searching for her in the Blitz.

The costumes are beautiful, resembling Erte paintings, and the stage sets ambitious with a steam train entering the stage in the final scene.

MATTHEW BOURNE'S Cinderella, Empire Theatre, April 26-30.

I AM very excited by the news that Matthew Bourne is returning to the Liverpool Empire next year with his version of Cinderella.

Swan Lake, which he brought here at the beginning of this year, was really magical and I've been hoping his company would come back ever since.

The ballet is set in London during the Second World War and uses Prokofiev's original score. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz.

Tickets go on sale today.

SOUTH African-born choreographer Warren Adams will be attending the UK premiere of his work The Audacious One at the Liverpool Playhouse today.

It's based on Barack Obama's 2004 Audacity of Hope speech but interestingly Adams says he sometimes regrets telling people where his original idea came from as the piece has become known as the "Barack Obama Ballet".

THIS is a new blog that will complement the Daily Post's in print LDP Arts pages and our online arts and entertainment section.

While I believe we do a good job of covering Merseyside's cultural venues and events - and in fact the Daily Post dedicates more pages to the arts than any other regional paper in the country outside London - there are always too many shows to write about and too many exhibitions to fit in the paper.

I'm not certainly not complaining about the wealth of culture in the city. It just means that we have to find other ways of covering it, and this blog is one of them.

As well as widening the geographical area of our coverage to events readers will be interested in across the North West and further afield, I will be sharing behind the scenes gossip and giving you a chance to share your views too.

Don't forget you can also follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Hope you enjoy reading...

Title "red curtains" image by KRO-Media