25^th -26^th January.

The Theatre Royal plays host to thrilling contemporary dance as Richard Alston Dance Company opens its 25^th anniversary tour in Bath. Renowned for musical choreography danced by the very finest contemporary dancers, Richard Alston’s internationally acclaimed company presents three performances at the Theatre Royal

Richard Alston has been making beautifully crafted dance for 50 years and launched one of the UK’s leading choreographer-led companies, Richard Alston Dance Company, 25 years ago in 1994. Both these anniversaries will be celebrated with a special programme full of trademark lyrical choreography, new dances and revivals of successful works. After opening at the Theatre Royal Bath, the tour will visit six other UK venues, including London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, before travelling to America to perform at the Virginia Arts Festival.

As announced last year, the company will close in 2020 making the 2019 spring tour the penultimate chance to see a live performance by what is undoubtedly one of the world’s best dance ensembles. Richard Alston said, “I have put all my energy into making sure that the last two seasons of this company are the best they have ever been.”

The programme includes Richard Alston’s latest work, Brahms Hungarian, featuring live solo pianist Jason Ridgeway; Proverb, danced to music by Steve Reich; Detour, a new piece by Martin Lawrance and Mid Century Modern, a journey through each decade of Alston’s career.

It has just been announced that Richard Alston has been awarded a knighthood by Her Majesty the Queen for Services to Dance, Children and Young People in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List, in acknowledgement of his remarkable contribution to the art form over five decades as one of the most inspiring and influential choreographers in contemporary dance.  Richard Alston said, “I am delighted to receive such a tremendous honour, not only for myself but also for dance, the art form to which I have devoted the greater part of my life and which I love so much.”

2019’s spring tour centres around two exciting new works by Richard Alston and associate choreographer Martin Lawrance. Richard Alston’s Brahms Hungarian is danced to the hugely popular Brahms pieces, which will be played live onstage by RADC’s outstanding pianist Jason Ridgway. As a young composer Brahms was inspired by the traditional folk melodies he heard during a concert tour of Hungary. Full of passionate drive and joyful gusto, the dancers are carried along by fast steps and an abandoned fervour in this thrilling new piece of choreography. Costumes are by award-winning designer Fotini Dimou with lighting by Zeynep Kepekli, both regular collaborators with Alston.

Associate Choreographer Martin Lawrance’s new work Detour is set to Michael Gordon’s pulsing Timber with costumes by Jeffry Rogador and lighting by Zeynep Kepekli. Setting off Lawrance’s customary fast-paced style, the music builds in pace and drives the dance forward into frenzied duets and trios.

This piece will accompany a celebratory revival of Proverb, one of Richard Alston’s most telling choreographies to the serene and cool vocal work of Steve Reich washing over intricately complex dancing. Created in 2006 as part of Reich’s 70^th birthday celebrations at London’s Barbican, this is the first time it has been revived.

The programme in Bath also features a rare chance to see Mid Century Modern, a journey through Alston’s 50 years of choreography, featuring sections from some of his favourite dances including Nowhere Slowly (1970), Rainbow Bandit (1977) and the joyous Signal of a Shake (2000).

Richard Alston choreographed his first work in 1968 as one of the original students at the London School of Contemporary Dance. He then choreographed for London Contemporary Dance Theatre before forming the UK’s first independent dance company, Strider, in 1972. In 1980, he was appointed Resident Choreographer with Ballet Rambert, becoming the company’s Artistic Director from 1986 – 1992. He created twenty-five works for Rambert and was also commissioned to create works for the Royal Danish Ballet, the Royal Ballet and two solo works for Michael Clark, before launching his own celebrated company, Richard Alston Dance, in 1994 for which he has created over 45 innovative and entertaining dance-works.