Richard Alston Dance Company’s ‘Final Edition’ is the last chance you will have to see the fabulous work of Richard Alston. His dance company is due to close in April 2020 due to funding cuts. This Final Edition production is a fantastic farewell tour.
Photo Credit: Chris Nash
The show opens with Red Run which was first performed by the company in 1998. The music was written by Heiner Geobbels. The music is slightly foreboding at times but does contain the occasional burst of positive upbeat jazz music. The dance that accompanied this is powerful and changed pace to reflect the pulse of the music as the six dancers worked their magic.
Richard Alston works closely with youth performers. Students for Rambert School pre-vocational programme dance Maiden Flight which was choreographed by Hannah Kidd. The dancers became a flock of birds swirling and coursing across the sky. Settling and flitting off again the audience was left with the impression of the birds journey across the course of a day.
Voices and Light footsteps is the fourth dance Alston as choreographed to Monteveris music, The dance is made up of ten movements. The dancers and the music are completely matched and it is hard to believe that the music is over 400 years old. The fluidity and ripple effects of the dancers is mesmerising to witness.
The last dance of the evening is Brahms Hungarian. This final piece is very different to the earlier three. Not only in the style of the dance, but also in the costumes and lighting. The dancers outfits are pretty floral dresses which echoed the folk influence of the music, and this is a splendid dance to finish the show with.
The dance company received a standing ovation from our audience at the end, fully knowing that this was the last time they would get the see the fabulous spectacle celebrating the power and beauty present in Richard Alston’s work.
Final Edition is running at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking until 8th November 2019.
