Richard Alston (choreographer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Alston is a British
choreographer. He has been Resident Choreographer and Artistic Director for the Ballet Rambert and is currently Artistic Director at The Place
.
He trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance
, and then choreographed for the London Contemporary Dance Theatre
before forming the UK’s first independent dance company, Strider, in 1972. In 1976 later he went to New York
to study at the Merce Cunningham
Dance Studio and in 1980 he was appointed resident choreographer with Ballet Rambert, serving as the company’s artistic director from 1986 to 1992. In 1981 Alston's dance company 'stride' merged with choreographer Siobhan Davies' company Siobhan Davies and Dancers to form 'second stride' During that time he created 25 works for Rambert as well as the Royal Danish Ballet
(1982), the Royal Ballet (1983), and two solo works for Michael Clark
(Soda Lake and Dutiful Ducks). He returned to Rambert in 2001, creating Unrest for the company’s 70th anniversary.
A revival of his Dangerous Liaisons (1985) was toured by Scottish Ballet
in 2003. In 1994 Alston took up the post of artistic director at The Place
and formed The Richard Alston Dance Company
; since then he has made over 20 pieces for the company.
Alston was made an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Dance) at the University of Surrey
in 1992 and in 2003 he received an honorary MA from University College Chichester. In 1995 he was named Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his work in France. In January 2001 he was awarded the CBE
.
Music plays a vital part in the company’s identity and Alston’s passion for a huge range of composers is illustrated by his use of music by Brahms, Britten
, Hoagy Carmichael
, Handel
, Monteverdi, Ástor Piazzolla
, Schumann
, Shostakovich and Stravinsky.
In 2002 the BBC
commissioned Richard Alston to choreograph excerpts of The Rite of Spring
for their Masterworks series, directed by Jonathan Haswell. In autumn 2003 Martin Lawrance’s Grey Allegro was introduced into the repertoire – the first time another choreographer’s work has been performed by the company. In May 2004 the Company made its New York debut with a week of performances at the Joyce Theater
.
Richard did many dance pieces concerning love, hate, anger etc.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
choreographer. He has been Resident Choreographer and Artistic Director for the Ballet Rambert and is currently Artistic Director at The Place
The Place
The Place is a dance and performance centre in Duke's Road near Euston in the London Borough of Camden. Originally the home base of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre from the 1970s, it is now the location of the London Contemporary Dance School, the Richard Alston Dance Company and the Robin...
.
He trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance
London School of Contemporary Dance
London Contemporary Dance School is a contemporary dance school located in London, United Kingdom. LCDS was founded by Robin Howard in 1966 in order to train new dancers for his company, London Contemporary Dance Theatre....
, and then choreographed for the London Contemporary Dance Theatre
London Contemporary Dance Theatre
The London Contemporary Dance Theatre was a contemporary dance company, based at The Place, founded by Robin Howard with Robert Cohan as its Artistic Director....
before forming the UK’s first independent dance company, Strider, in 1972. In 1976 later he went to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to study at the Merce Cunningham
Merce Cunningham
Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of the American avant-garde for more than 50 years. Throughout much of his life, Cunningham was considered one of the greatest creative forces in American dance...
Dance Studio and in 1980 he was appointed resident choreographer with Ballet Rambert, serving as the company’s artistic director from 1986 to 1992. In 1981 Alston's dance company 'stride' merged with choreographer Siobhan Davies' company Siobhan Davies and Dancers to form 'second stride' During that time he created 25 works for Rambert as well as the Royal Danish Ballet
Royal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
(1982), the Royal Ballet (1983), and two solo works for Michael Clark
Michael Clark (dancer)
Michael Clark is a Scottish dancer and choreographer.-Early life:Michael Clark was born in Aberdeen and began traditional Scottish dancing at the age of four. In 1975 he left home to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, and on his final day at the school he was presented with the Ursula...
(Soda Lake and Dutiful Ducks). He returned to Rambert in 2001, creating Unrest for the company’s 70th anniversary.
A revival of his Dangerous Liaisons (1985) was toured by Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
in 2003. In 1994 Alston took up the post of artistic director at The Place
The Place
The Place is a dance and performance centre in Duke's Road near Euston in the London Borough of Camden. Originally the home base of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre from the 1970s, it is now the location of the London Contemporary Dance School, the Richard Alston Dance Company and the Robin...
and formed The Richard Alston Dance Company
Richard Alston Dance Company
The Richard Alston Dance Company is a medium size contemporary dance company that was formed in 1994 after the demise of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, based at The Place in London.-External links: **...
; since then he has made over 20 pieces for the company.
Alston was made an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Dance) at the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
in 1992 and in 2003 he received an honorary MA from University College Chichester. In 1995 he was named Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his work in France. In January 2001 he was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
.
Richard Alston Dance Company
Alston's own company was launched in 1994 to great critical acclaim and is now one of the UK’s most celebrated contemporary dance companies. It offers a unique combination of the innovative and the entertaining in the work of its artistic director, Richard Alston, who, in 1998, celebrated 30 years of dance making. An experienced and mature artist, whose talent has had the time and space to develop and deepen, Alston is internationally recognised as a master of his craft.Music plays a vital part in the company’s identity and Alston’s passion for a huge range of composers is illustrated by his use of music by Brahms, Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
, Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
, Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
, Monteverdi, Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
, Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
, Shostakovich and Stravinsky.
In 2002 the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
commissioned Richard Alston to choreograph excerpts of The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
for their Masterworks series, directed by Jonathan Haswell. In autumn 2003 Martin Lawrance’s Grey Allegro was introduced into the repertoire – the first time another choreographer’s work has been performed by the company. In May 2004 the Company made its New York debut with a week of performances at the Joyce Theater
Joyce Theater
The Joyce Theater is a 472-seat dance performance venue located in the Chelsea area of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The Joyce Theater Foundation, the organization founded in 1982 that operates the theater, also owns the Joyce SoHo dance center located in a former firehouse on Mercer...
.
Richard did many dance pieces concerning love, hate, anger etc.