Irish National Youth Ballet's opening performance on Saturday night in An Evening of Dance and Music From Spain raised expectations. Jewelled Gypsies was an attractive piece, choreographed by Joyce-Ann Bell Straub to music by Pablo de Sarasate which was beautifully played live by Keith Rice on violin and Stuart O'Sullivan on piano. I have complained in the past about these young dancers' port de bras, but on Saturday their arms were fine and their musicality and expressiveness were also much improved. Indeed, one dancer, Danielle Moran, showed definite promise.

With Valses Poeticos, to the music of Granados, however, the hopes that had been raised were dashed. It is actually dangerous for young dancers to be allowed to perform on pointe before they are capable of doing so and, among the 12 in this piece, there were repeated examples of dancers falling off pointe. Aran Corcoran's guitar-playing was delightful, however. Helen Dormer's charming costumes were spoiled by the black knickers worn under them. Three graduates from the Conservatorio de Valencia guested in Dances in Three Temperaments to music by Granados, Lorca and de la Torre. It seems strange that the choreographer, company ballet mistress Alexandra Diana, herself Spanish, did not create the piece to be danced in Spanish character shoes instead of putting on pointe these dancers who clearly had not been sufficiently trained in pointe work. Finally, Paquita Suite was attractively led by guest artist Lisa Ritchie from Scotland, but among the nine supporting dancers, again, were several who should not have been allowed on pointe.