Richard Alston Dance Company makes its first visit to The Orchard Theatre, Dartford to present a brand new programme set to music ranging from live Chopin to Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau – ‘the god of dance’
Tuesday 8 November 2016 at 7.30pm
One of the country’s most successful and popular contemporary dance companies is giving the first performance at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford in its 21-year history. On Tuesday 8 November, Richard Alston Dance Company will present an evening of work featuring three pieces by Alston and one by his Associate Choreographer, Martin Lawrance. The evening encapsulates everything Richard Alston Dance Company is acclaimed for – extraordinary dancers, exhilarating choreography and wonderful music.
Alston is acknowledged as one of this country’s most musical choreographers. For his company’s debut Dartford performance he has chosen work danced to music by Chopin, Jean Phillippe Rameau and Japanese composer, Jo Kondo.
The Chopin Mazurkas for Alston’s 5-star reviewed duet Mazur will be played live by the company’s regular collaborator, pianist Jason Ridgway. The music expresses the composer’s longing for his homeland and the piece sees two friends sharing what they love and what they have lost.
An Alston classic, Brisk Singing celebrates the music of Jean Phillippe Rameau, genius of the French baroque. A joyous uplifting work for eight dancers, the dance is carried along by the warmth and lightness of spirit in Rameau’s music.
Isthmus Remix is a light, fleet-footed response to a score by the contemporary Japanese composer Jo Kondo, with whom Alston has long been fascinated.
Associate Choreographer Martin Lawrance – formerly one of the company’s star dancers – has been making work for the RADC since 2003. Stronghold is a fast and furiious piece for the company’s ten dancers which reflects the character of its fierce, intense score for eight double basses by Pulitzer Prize-winner, Julia Wolfe
There will be chance to hear Richard Aston talk about the programme at a pre-show talk on 8 November. The talk is free to ticket-holders but space is limited so people are advised to book.