BIRMINGHAM Royal Ballet so enjoyed its return to York Theatre Royal last year after an indecently long hiatus, the company will be back next week as part of Arts Council England's mid-scale touring scheme.

"All the stages on this tour are smaller than we generally perform on," says director David Bintley. "We're a company of 60 dancers with a regular orchestra of 40 and when we take a full-scale production on the road, we have a company of 120, but we have embraced this mid-scale scheme."

The world premiere of Michael Kopinski's Dumbarton Oaks, choreographed to the music of Igor Stravinsky, is typical of the opportunities afforded by BRB's new touring programme. "Dumbarton Oaks fulfils two purposes," says David. "It has a chamber orchestra so we can fit it on tour, and it fits in with the Stravinsky programme that we're starting this year; we're preparing an all-Stravinsky season for Birmingham, which will include Dumbarton Oaks and The Rite Of Spring, which has a 60-piece orchestra so we can't take that piece on tour."

Bintley likes to give new choreographers their wings, and Michael Kopinski falls into that category. "Michael has just turned 24, he's only been choreographing for a couple of years, and Dumbarton Oaks is an ideal chance for a young choreographer. He's choreographing it for six to eight dancers in neo-classical style, and it's a youthful and funny piece, very spring-like and energetic. It really reflects where he's at in his dancing."

The BRB runs a group to promote new choreography. "For people who are interested in choreographing dance, we have a group which meets behind closed doors and we see if there are possibilities there to develop." says David.

"We're now upping the ante with three performances of two new pieces in June in Birmingham, just after the Stravinsky season, when six new choreographers will choreograph music from Holst's The Planets suite."

In York, the BRB programme will be completed by Hans van Manen's upbeat, street-cred burst of South American dance, Five Tangos; George Balanchine's Duo Concertant, danced to a piano and violin on stage; and Frederick Ashton's serene Monotones II. "Sir Fred's work is a lovely piece from the Sixties with an incredibly dream-like quality," David says. "It's all about line and fluidity, and it's still quite daring today."

Birmingham Royal Ballet, York Theatre Royal, next Friday, 7.30pm, next Saturday, 2.30pm, 7.30pm. Tickets: £7.50 to £15.50; ring 01904 623568.

Updated: 16:28 Thursday, April 14, 2005