February 8, 2001 12:34: HIGH Wycombe has of course won international fame for its furniture but these days it's making its name in quite a different world: the world of dance.

The Swan theatre's annual programme of dance, which starts on Wednesday, has become so well-known that international companies are drawn there and shows are premiered at the High Wycombe venue.

Swan director Stuart Griffiths says: "We're pretty unique. Most theatres present some dance from time to time, but we are unique in the amount and range of dance we put on."

Swan Dance 2001 will be launched on Wednesday by the world premiere of a music and dance feast.

The Bird Sings with its Fingers is billed as one of the most exciting dance events of the year. It is a modern re-working of the classical Orpheus myth with music by leading British composer Julian Anderson, choreography by Mark Baldwin and musical performance by the 34-piece orchestra Sinfonia 21.

The programme also includes Danses Concertantes, danced to one of Stravinsky's most popular scores, and a dance to the post-modern music De Staat.

Mark Baldwin says he is delighted to be returning to The Swan: "It is fantastic that a theatre has that agenda for a community and it makes High Wycombe an important place for the arts."

Mark has fast become one of the leading lights of contemporary international dance. His obsession with music and dance started young. He says: "My mother dragged me to ballet performances when I was three. I was always considered musical but my musicality wasn't quite like other people. I learnt piano and violin but as a dancer I heard music differently. They were counting it, I was listening to the phrases.

"Imagining movement was one of the things that comforted me. If I was late or sitting on a bus, I would float away into a world of dance."

Mark lived in Fiji until he was three and the sight of Melanesian dancing forms one of his earliest memories. The family moved to New Zealand where he grew up.

Now he is based in London but travels widely as choreographer to key dance companies. Following the current tour, Mark is off to work with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company.

His latest production excites him. He said: "The Bird Sings with its Fingers will appeal to those who like dance and to those who like music. I worked with the composer Julian Anderson and Sinfonia 21's Oliver Rivers about ideas for the piece. The beautiful Cocteau film Orphee, made in the 30s, was a starting point.

"The resulting dance and music are lush, very graphic, fluid, alive, illuminated."

It's dramatic too, ending with the seductress Death drawing her victims to the underworld.

He adds: "Justin and I believe we should create new works, things that are brand new in every aspect. People love to have a new experience. Even Swan Lake was new and unusual in its day."

There will be 19 events at The Swan and Town Hall Studio between February 14 and June 21 during this year's Swan Dance, interspersed with the theatre's regular programme.

It includes Swan Lake by the Moscow City Ballet, the soulful and sassy Phoenix Dance Co, or High Spin, a company of dancers with and without learning difficulties.

The Town Hall will feature companies like Frantic Assembly with Underworld, billed as 'an electrifying study into the realm of fear. There will also be a free performance in the High Street on June 21.

The secret of The Swan's success with dance, Stuart says, lies partly with the theatre itself.

He said: "It is extremely well appointed physically for dance, basically because of the dimensions of the stage which is large and wide.

"Also the sight lines from the seats and the relationship of the auditorium to the stage are just right for dance.

"In the Town Hall too we build a dance studio that is quite intimate and a great place to see the smaller dance companies."

He said the combination allowed them to feature a combination of world famous choreographers, artists and companies along with up-and-coming companies.

By.Sandra Carter