Richard Alston Flashcards
When was RA named Artistic Director?
1986.
When did RA resign as Artistic Director?
1992
What were RA’s Key Contributions to Rambert?
A shift towards a more abstract emphasis became a feature of the company’s work during this period, the company was renamed Rambert Dance.
Alston removed Graham’s modern technique and focused purely on Cunningham as its primary training.
List Richard Alston’s Influences.
Architecture and Space.
Art and Sculpture.
Individuality.
Movement.
Music.
Explain how Architecture and Space has an Influence on Alston’s Works.
Alston said he finds architecture inspiring.
Explain how Art and Sculpture has an Influence on Alston’s Works.
Dancers in his pieces often perform the same material at the same time or in quick succession but with different facings or travelling on a different pathway.
Explain how Individuality has an Influence on Alston’s Works.
Alston selects company members from varying backgrounds, choosing them for their own movement quality and physical characteristics.
Explain how Movement has an Influence on Alston’s Works.
His choreography flows with a sense of fall and suspension not seen in pieces by Cunningham partly due to the dynamics that come from tying the movement closely to the music/the intimate relationship between the movement and the music.
Explain how Music has an Influence on Alston’s Works.
Alston is an intensely musical choreographer and they drive to create movement in response to music arguably underlies all his work.
Explain Richard Alston’s Choreographic Style and Features.
Music Visualisation.
Over-Complicates Movement.
Cunningham Technique.
Neutral Facial Expressions.
Fast and Rhythmic Footwear.
Space.
Rapid and Unexpected Change of Direction.
Canon/Repetition.
Use of Torso.
Expressiveness.
Openness of Gesture.
List Richard Alston’s Choreographic Devices.
Unison/Canon.
Climax.
Highlights.
Repetition.
Motif and Development.
Manipulation of Number.
Explain Richard Alston’s Early Training and Background.
Studied fine art and theatre design at a college called Croydon College of Art in 1965.
He then continued his studies at the London School of Contemporary Dance in 1968.
