TWO dance companies make a welcome return to the York Theatre Royal this autumn.

Phoenix Dance Theatre bring two dance pieces The Rite of Spring and Left Unseen on October 18 and 19.

With The Rite of Spring Phoenix Dance Theatre offers a culturally distinctive 21st century re-working of the iconic ballet.

For his first work created in the UK, Haitian contemporary and folklore choreographer Jeanguy Saintus re-envisions The Rite of Spring introducing the sacred arts of Haiti along with contemporary global issues in his bold approach to the near riot-causing original by Vaslav Nijinsky.

Left Unseen, with choreography by Amaury Lebrun, explores inclusion and isolation and how we rely on our five senses to find our place and navigate the world. In isolation there is often stillness and silence and also unpredictable disturbance and chaos.

Eight dancers embody these different states creating an aesthetically beautiful and emotive piece of dance.

The work is set to a mixture of tracks by Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto and Hildur Gudnadottir which compliment Lebrun’s choreography creating both a sense of drama and vulnerability.

Following last year’s successful debut at York Theatre Royal Ballet Black, celebrating their 18th year, return with a Triple Bill featuring Ingoma on November 26 .

Their popular programme contrasts dramatic and inventive storytelling in a lively showcase of modern ballets.

Led by Artistic Director Cassa Pancho, recent recipient of the Freedom of the City of London for her contribution to diversity in ballet, the company celebrates dancers of black and Asian descent.

Ingoma (meaning song), created by company dancer and choreographer Mthuthuzeli November, is a fusion of ballet, African dance and singing.

This premiere and Barbican co-commission portrays a milestone moment in South African history and imagines the struggles of black miners and their families in 1946, when 60,000 of them took courageous strike action.

For further information and tickets contact the York Theatre Royal box office on 01904 623568 or go to yorktheatreroyal.co.uk