Rambert

Question 1

artistic directors

Answer 1

-Norman morrice; 1966-1974
-John Chesworth; 1974-1981
-Robert North- 1981-1986
-Richard Alston; 1986-1992
-Christopher Bruce; 1994-2002

Question 2

1966 aims of the company

Answer 2

• to develop and encourage new works by existing and upcoming choreographers.
  -preserve the heritage of the company; kept some of its historic works.
• selected tour dates abroad and had a London based season annually.

Question 3

changes made in 1966

Answer 3

-company size was shrunk down to 17/18 dancers
- every dancer was of equal status-no hierarchy
-each dancer was good enough to be of soloist standard
-dancers training in ballet and Graham/modern technique- 5 ballet, 4 modern classes per week.

Question 4

norman morrice

Answer 4

• reduced companies size
  -encouraged the creation of new works: glen tetley and Anna sokolow
• introduced graham classes to dancers’ training
• preserved historic works in the repertoire
  -introduced choreographic works

Question 5

John chesworth

Answer 5

-enhanced Rambert’s reputation for quality and diversity in the repertoire by bringing in a range of choreographers.
-developed the educational activities of the company giving young people opportunities in performance, choreography and staging of works.
-1970s repertoire was dominated by Bruce and Tetley.

Question 6

Robert North

Answer 6

-developing the British identity of the company through triumvirate of choreographers; Bruce, North, Alston.
-developed the physicality, musicality and dramatic qualities of the dancers.
- encouraged the creation of new choreography by visiting choreographers.
-offered wide and varied programme so there was something for everyone.

Question 7

Richard Alston

Answer 7

-changed technique from Graham to Cunningham.
-produced heavily abstract works that were based on Cunningham’s idea of movement for movement’s sake
-reduced the diversity of the works
-changed name from Ballet Rambert to Rambert Dance Company.
-brought in choreographers that had a similar style to him- Siobhan Davies.
-developed idea of collaboration between artists, choreographers and composers.

Question 8

Christopher Bruce

Answer 8

-brought the company ‘back’ to its original ethos that Marie Rambert had first initiated in 1966.
- shift away from Alston’s Cunningham focus and resorted back to training/ influence
-diverse training- ballet/graham/cunningham/folk dance.
-restaged popular historical works and created new ones
-1/3 original dancers, 2/3 new dancers from other companies across the world
-maintained the use of guest choreographers
-neo-classical and modern works.