Richard Alston Dance Company 2017

The ever musical Richard Alston Dance Company returns with a programme including two dances to piano pieces that originate from completely different worlds. Both new, these works by Richard Alston and Martin Lawrance are accompanied live onstage by the extraordinary pianist Jason Ridgway.

Alston’s An Italian in Madrid is inspired by the sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti, a composer hugely influenced by Spanish music. This continues Alston’s fascination with the fusion of different cultures and styles and to explore this, Alston has invited BBC Young Dancer grand finalist Vidya Patel to join his company.

In Tangent, Martin Lawrance explores the vivid accents and attack of Tango. Four couples, intertwined but shifting and subtly syncopating, glide through the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Tango master Piazzolla, played live by Jason Ridgway on piano.

Alongside these new works are three razor sharp short pieces by Richard Alston: the micro-masterpiece Dutiful Ducks, the precise and succinct Isthmus Remix to music by Japanese composer Jo Kondo and Holderlin Fragments to the lyrical and intimate song-cycle by Benjamin Britten.

★★★★
“A marriage made in heaven”
THE OBSERVER

★★★★★
“Echoing cheers for Alston and his dancers”
THE FINANCIAL TIMES

★★★★★
“Forget Strictly – come see these wonderful dancers in exhilarating form.”
SCOTTISH HERALD