Green Candle’s Old Man Dragging Stones (reviewed last week) was an outstanding contribution to Dance Umbrella three months ago. Drawing on the story of the bridge at Mostar, its theme is that peace can be built only by reaching out between people, building bridges. Well written, acted, danced and sung it is touring this theme now to schools and colleges throughout England and Scotland. More details from 071 359 8776.

Royston Maldoom’s Tryst for his 11th annual Youth Dance Project at the Place Theatre last week, has a similar theme. Created originally for the 1992 Edinburgh Euro-summit and repeated since in Germany Tryst recalls the 50 years since Germany’s concentration camps were liberated. “We must never forget, never give up working for peace nor give up hope”, explained Maldoom during a rehearsal. He is a committed choreographer.

From this beginning, with music by James McMillan, Tryst becomes an oratorio in movement about peace. Starting from the oppression of one group by another it moves through struggle, concentration camp and release to show that differences should not breed intolerance but be a cause for celebration. The conception is large, demanding equally large commitment from the young people taking part. Drawn from schools throughout London and reflecting all ages, shapes and colours, some had dance experience, many not.

Since December 17 they had worked daily to create a production of three linked items. Child for children aged seven to nine, was about friendships and the fun of being young. Directed by Cheryl McChesney it belonged entirely to today (no fairies, no princesses) and was as much fun to watch as it must have been to dance. Even Ground, its opposite, came from the Baylis Theatre’s dance group for over 60s. Directed by Suz Broughton it was about feelings responding to music and the calm which belongs to old age.

Both the pieces helped to create a climate for Tryst. Watching Maldoom at work it is clear he sees himself as as much teacher as creator of movement. He never talks down, never says something is good when it isn’t but praises positively as adult speaking to adult.

The reward is a performance of intensity and conviction. The 60 young Londoners, transformed as the ragged poor of Europe in Jacqueline Hutson’s designs and Robert Liam Oliver’s clever lighting, look their lean parts. The show becomes not just a Christmas celebration but a portrait of hope across ages and frontiers, of springtime out of winter. The two week experience therefore offered not only dance knowledge, but something of philosophy, of history, of the arts, human relations and the world as it is today. Not bad for a holiday.