Dance away the heartaches – Alston Style

RICHARD ALSTON DANCE ‘FINAL EDITION‘ Festival Theatre Edinburgh 27 and Sat 28 September 2019

This is Edinburgh’s last chance to dance the night away in the enthralling awop-bop-a-loola, Baroque n’ Roll company of RICHARD ALSTON DANCE with their wryly apposite, bitter-sweet suite ensemble farewell -‘Final Edition’.

This performance marks the company embarking on its farewell tour across the UK, giving its loyal audiences a last chance to see a live performance by what is undoubtedly one of the world’s best dance ensembles. Richard Alston Dance Company will sadly cease to operate in April 2020.

Over the past 50 years, Sir Richard Alston has played a major role in the world of contemporary dance, developing a unique and distinct dance language and shaping the art form in this country.

Determined to go out with colours flying, Richard Alston has put together a celebration of this company’s unflagging creativity, a richly diverse mix of dance and music bringing some brand-new dances along with key works revived from the company’s history.

For the last time, the Richard Alston Dance Company will treat Edinburgh audience – some of the company’s most loyal and lively supporters – to a world premiere at the Festival Theatre.

A Far Cry is associate choreographer Martin Lawrance’s newest creation set to the impassioned Introduction and Allegro of Edward Elgar, with costumes by Jeffrey Rogador and lighting by Zeynep Kepekli.

Voices and Light Footsteps is the UK premiere of Alston’s latest creation. The dance was inspired by the sensuously expressive vocal madrigals and instrumental sinfonias of Claudio Monteverdi, genius of the Italian Baroque.

Mazur is a duet for two friends to the music of Chopin, whose Mazurkas are an intense outpouring of longing for his beloved homeland. Created in 2014 for two former company dancers, Mazur will be revived for the current company of dancers.

Brahms Hungarian, which premiered at the Festival Theatre last year and proved hugely popular with Edinburgh audiences, will culminate the evening, with the hugely popular Brahms pieces played live by solo pianist Jason Ridgway.

Tickets : capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/richard-alston

Programme is available here.