Swimming upstream

RETURNING, the most expensive commission of the Singapore International Festival of Arts, is an ambitious work that involves eight choreographers, two dozen dancers and a score of musicians. Among the choreographer mentors are three doyennes of Singapore dance - Goh Lay Kuan, Santha Bhaskar and Som Said - while the music team comprises some of Singapore's best players. Expectations are, thus, naturally high.

There are many moments in Returning when these expectations are met splendidly as young dancers let their strength and technique roar, while the music, directed by Julian Wong and composed by him and five others, supports the dancers with its stirring and consistent beauty.

But there are also moments when one can't help feeling that the four choreographers (Meenakshy Bhaskar, Jenny Neo, Osman Abdul Hamid and Low Ee Chiang) each come with such a unique and individual sensibility that Returning cannot possibly integrate all four visions into a seamless whole.