White Christmas
By Allen Robertson for The Times

This joyous holiday notion derails itself in dribs and drabs of indulgence. The opening night of White Christmas, a two-week series of mix and match performances, showcased some exceptional dancers, but not everything they were asked to perform could match their excellence.

The evening began dramatically with a brooding solo choreographed earlier this year for the Royal Ballet’s Zenaida Yanowsky by Kim Brandstrup. Nearly an hour later Brandstrup kicked off the second half of the evening with a new duet, Theme and Inversion, for Natalia Thorn and Gildas Diquero. A weighted look at a collapsing relationship, it features a wearied couple locked in a marathon dance of interdependence.

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White Christmas
The Place presents a pristine Christmas box. By Jann Parry for The Observer

Contemporary dance usually gives up the unequal struggle against ballet in the festive season, but this year The Place is offering varied programmes of short works (until next Saturday).

Some 37 choreographers were invited to make imaginative use of the space, which was painted white instead of black.

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White Christmas
By Gavin Roebuck for The Stage

The Place has converted its theatre from a black box to a white cube. Over 15 nights there are mixed bills of the work of 37 choreographers. On opening night a false fire alarm delayed the usual audience rush into the unreserved and cramped seating.

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