Fresh from two Sadler’s Wells performances, Richard Alston Dance Company embarks on its anniversary tour of the UK.
The company of 10 dancers presents a mix of repertoire including Nomadic and Burning, the latest works by Alston and his associate choreographer Martin Lawrance, alongside old favourites such as 2003’s Overdrive, now on the GCSE syllabus, and Illuminations from 1994.
Breaking new ground for himself with his latest work Nomadic, collaborating with hip hop and contemporary choreographer/performer Ajani Johnson-Goffe—a first in his 45-year career—exploring the meeting point between hip hop and world music, it is set to music by Ursari Gypsy band Shukar Collective who fuse Romany and electronic music.
Martin Lawrance’s latest work Burning, which premièred in Scotland in autumn 2014, is set to Lizst’s Dante Sonata, played live, and seeks to explore Lisztomania and the composer’s relationship with the young, married Countess, Marie D’Agoult.
Alston’s Rejoice in the Lamb is danced to Benjamin Britten’s setting of Christopher Smart fervent poetry. The words are full of wild and witty details reflected in Alston’s joyous choreography for his company’s ten dancers.
Set to Britten’s masterpiece, Illuminations paints a vivid picture of the wild young genius Arthur Rimbaud, depicting images from the turbulent life of the young poet, visionary and misfit.
Alston’s classic Overdrive is a blast of nonstop dancing to the pulsating rhythms of Californian minimalist Terry Riley. The ten dancers of ride the surging waves of Riley’s relentless patterning in an intricate and mesmeric crescendo of movement and sound.
Overdrive is one of twelve prescribed professional works for GCSE Dance on the AQA syllabus and Richard Alston Dance Company has produced a teacher’s resource pack to accompany it.
The duet from Unfinished Business is danced to Mozart, the adagio of his piano sonata K533 played live by Jason Ridgway. This piece was chosen by the New York Times as its number one dance favourite in 2013.
Also performed will be Hölderlin Fragments, an intimate cycle of Britten songs for voice and piano set to the enigmatic lyrics of Friedrich Hölderlin.