Richard Alston is one of the most influential figures in British contemporary dance. He choreographed his first work in 1968, as one of the original students at London School of Contemporary Dance, directed Britain’s first independent dance company, Strider, and was artistic director of Rambert Dance Company from 1986-92.
In 40/60, Alston marks the 40th anniversary of his first choreography, the 30th anniversary of his first solo dance, a decade since the new Sadler’s Wells reopened and, last but not least, his 60th birthday. The standing ovation for him at this celebration makes a fitting birthday present.
In Shuffle it Right, the company syncopates to jazzy songs recorded by Hoagy Carmichael. With relaxed body movements, beaten jumps and contractions, it is typical of Alston’s high quality work all joyfully danced by the company.
The Men in My Life is a collage of eight works Alston made for male dancers over the past 40 years. The opening solo from 2001 for Jason Piper to Handel’s Water Music had gracious elegant phrases.
Strider, dating from the 1971, was well danced by a quartet.
Andres de Blust-Mommaerts and Darren Ellis excelled in Rumours Visions from 1993.
Pierre Tappon in Movements from Petrouchka (1994) received massive applause, as did Jonathan Goddard performing Dutiful Ducks, created for Michael Clark in 1982.
Alston is still on form, as this premiere of Blow Over, set to the speedy Songs from Liquid Days by Philip Glass, shows - and the dancers have to move at a fast pace to keep up.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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