Alston, Richard (1948– )

English choreographer. A modernist, or postmodernist, his style is lyrical, characterized by lightness and speed. His work is nearer to the concepts of Merce Cunningham than to the weightiness and dance drama of Martha Graham. He was a founder member of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre during the 1970s and artistic director of the Rambert Dance Company from 1986 to 1992. The Richard Alston Dance Company was launched in 1994.

Among his principal works are Rainbow Bandit (1974, revived 1992 and 1994), Doublework (1978), The Rite of Spring (1981), Soda Lake and Dutiful Ducks (solos for Michael Clark, 1981 and 1982), Wildlife (1984), Strong Language (1987), Roughcut (1990), Le Marteau sans Maître (1992), Stardust (1995), and Rumours, Visions (1996).

Alston started choreographing for the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, and in 1972 formed Strider, Britain's first independent contemporary dance company. In 1975 he went to New York to study with Merce Cunningham for two years, culminating with UnAmerican Activities (1977), a collection of his pieces. In 1994 he was appointed artistic director of the Place (the home of the London Contemporary Dance School).