One world première, two London premières, one Sadler’s Wells première, Richard Alston celebrates with new works by himself, associate choreographer Martin Lawrance, and a collaboration with young hip hop artist Ajani Johnson-Goffe.
Founding father of UK contemporary dance, Alston was one of the original students at London Contemporary Dance School, founder of Strider, the UK’s first independent dance company, co-founder of Second Stride and artistic director of Rambert.
In 1994 he was appointed artistic director of The Place where he finally formed his own Company. Now he is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a one-off programme at Sadler’s Wells on 26 and 27 January 2015.
For his latest new work Nomadic, commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, he has invited young hip hop choreographer and performer, Ajani Johnson-Goffe, to collaborate with him—a first in his 45-year career—and perform with the company.
Exploring the meeting point between hip hop and world music, Nomadic is set to music by Ursari Gypsy band Shukar Collective who fuse Romany and electronic music.
The programme will also see the London première of Alston’s Rejoice in the Lamb, danced to Benjamin Britten’s setting of Christopher Smart fervent poetry. The words are full of wild and witty details reflected in Alston’s choreography for his company’s ten dancers.
Alston and Richard Alston Dance Company associate choreographer Martin Lawrance will share the bill at Sadler’s Wells. Lawrance’s latest work Burning premièred in Scotland in autumn 2014. Set to Lizst’s Dante Sonata, played live, it explores ‘Lisztomania’ and the composer’s relationship with the young, married Countess, Marie D’Agoult.
A Sadler’s Wells première, Lawrance’s 2013 work Madcap with Bang on a Can composer Julia Wolfe’s score played live by Icebreaker, whose previous collaborations include the Royal Ballet and Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, completes the bill.
Alston's current ensemble features Ihsaan de Banya, Nicholas Bodych, Elly Braund, Oihana Vesga Bujan, Jennifer Hayes, James Muller, Nancy Nerantzi, Liam Riddick and apprentices Simon Donnellon and Phoebe Hart.