Wayne McGregor: Alchemies review – this spellbinding dancing will make you swoon

Royal Opera House, LondonIncredible physical facility is married to expressive lyricism in this triple bill by the Royal Ballet’s ever adventurous resident choreographer. You never know what’s coming next Choreographer Wayne McGregor has a reputation for making dance that is hugely impressive but sometimes on the cold side. His experiments in AI, for example: totally fascinating for the mind, arguably less engaging for the soul. But the triple bill Alchemies – two existing works and one world premiere – is a warm counterpoint to that view, featuring some of McGregor’s most human dance. McGregor has been resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet for 20 years. It was a controversial appointment to some, since he came from contemporary dance, not ballet. His influence has changed the company, expanded its outlook, pushed dancers to be more versatile – and it is noticeable that while the contortions of his early works could look awkward on the classically trained dancers, the new generation take it all in their stride. But the dancers must have influenced him too, with their incredible physical facility, but also their lyricism and their instinct as communicators (even in