Three couples begin in formal tailcoats, later discarded for less formal tops with their black trousers. By the end, there are a dozen dancers on stage and the mood is more relaxed and friendly. The only one who has made a strong impression is Paul Liburd, who has fleetness and buoyancy, and a vibrancy that his colleagues lack. Rooster , the concluding work, was choreographed by Bruce in 1991 and seems to have become a signature piece for the company. Alas, the Rooster males of the title tend to turn into feather dusters at the wave of their feisty chook companions' hands.
Duets dominate again in sequences built on social dances to reflect the music.
You have to ask the same of Rooster . Gaps, Lapse and Relapse was choreographed by an Australian, Jeremy James, who died last year at a tragically early age. In this context, with a cast of senior dancers, it didn't have a lot to offer.