AN ENTHUSIASTIC reception was given last Sunday to four short pieces in the New Dance Works Series at the Firkin Crane Centre, Cork, climaxing with Dubliner Andrew Wilson's splendid Zoku.

Set to the throbbing beat of traditional taiko drums, recorded by the Japanese group, Kodo, the jumps and turns were classical, but the ferocity of attack, and Pat Murray's Samurai-like black and white costumes and head-bands, gave it a contemporary feel. Bursting from the great doorway which constituted the simple set, Laura Hussey, Adam Pudney and Cork dancer Alan Foley gave it a dynamic performance, only lacking the drummers live on stage.

The evening began with the first professional performance of Cork choreographer Jane Kellaghan's Optional Cut, created last November. Ambiguous costuming underlined this investigation of gender, to the music of local band Dogabone. Sheamie Griffin's lighting made interesting use of shadows on the cyclorama in this slight piece, given an energetic performance by Amanda Gregory and the athletic Michael Johnson and Camo Coffey. Silver balloons backed Alexandra Diana's stylish if limited study, appropriately titled Style I, Takes, well-danced by the choreographer and fellow Spanish dancers Eva Garcia and Marian Ribon with Jim White, to the music of Lou Reid and John Cale.

Then the first group of dancers returned, plus Nonie Bradley, for Kellaghan's new piece, After Eights. The eponymous chocolates were both consolation and preferred alternative in this humorous battle of the sexes.