 He undertook more lighthearted roles in "La fille mal gardée", "Card Game", and "Varii Capricci", with which, in 1983, Ashton celebrated his continued partnership with Sibley.He was also praised for the passion and musicality he brought to leading roles in Ashton's "Cinderella", "Daphnis and Chloe", and "Symphonic Variations", in MacMillan's "Song of the Earth" and "Romeo and Juliet", in Jerome Robbins's "Dances at a Gathering" and "In the Night", and in George Balanchine's "Agon".In the early 1970s, Dowell began to explore activities away from the ballet stage.