Rambert Dance Company

Question 1

Who created Ballet Rambert’s company ethos?

Answer 1

Marie Rambert, Norman Morrice and administrator Frederick Bromwich.

Question 2

When was Rambert’s ethos created?

Answer 2

May 1966

Question 3

What was Marie Rambert’s three proposed aims?

Answer 3

1. To encourage the production of new works by both new and established choreographers
2. To preserve as far as possible the master-works which constitute the Ballet Rambert’s artistic heritage
3. To give regular seasons in London and to tour selected dates in the provinces and abroad

Question 4

Who was Marie Rambert inspired by?

Answer 4

Isadora Duncan, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze and the Ballet Russes.

Question 5

What changes were made to the company in 1966 with the help of Associate Artistic Director Norman Morrice?

Answer 5

1. He encouraged Rambert to the company’s original ethos to create new work
2. The company was reduced to 18 dancers
3. Dancers were trained in both classical and contemp. (Graham Tech.) dance techniques
4. Each dancer was considered equal in status
5. No principle, all dancers were considered soloists in their own right

Question 6

What is the order of Artistic Directors?

Answer 6

Marie Rambert
Norman Morrice
John Chesworth
Robert North
Richard Alston
Christopher Bruce

Question 7

When was Norman Morrice Artistic Director?

Answer 7

1966-1974

Question 8

What works were created under Morrice?

Answer 8

1. Pierrot Lunaire - Glen Tetley (1967)
2. Ziggurat - Glen Tetley (1967)
3. Embrace Tiger and Return to Mountain (1968)

Question 9

When was John Chesworth Artistic Director?

Answer 9

1974-1980

Question 10

What works were created under Chesworth?

Answer 10

1. Cruel Garden - Christopher Bruce (1977)
2. The Tempest - Glen Tetley (1979)

Question 11

When was Robert North Artistic Director?

Answer 11

1981-1986

Question 12

What works were created under North?

Answer 12

1. Lonely Town, Lonely Street - Robert North (1981)
2. Ghost Dances - Christopher Bruce (1981)
3. Pribaoutki - Robert North (1982)
4. Death and the Maiden - Robert North (1984)
5. Entre Dos Augas - Robert North (1984)
6. Wildlife - Richard Alston (1984)
7. Sergeant Early’s Dream - Christopher Bruce (1984)
8. Soda Lake - Richard Alston

Question 13

When was Richard Alston Artistic Director?

Answer 13

1986-1992

Question 14

What dance works were created under Alston?

Answer 14

1. Pulcinella - Richard Alston (1987)
2. Strong Language - Richard Alston (1987)
3. Roughcut - Richard Alston (1990)
4. Plainsong - Siobhan Davies (1991)

Question 15

When was Christopher Bruce Artistic Director?

Answer 15

1994-2002

Question 16

What key works were created under Bruce?

Answer 16

1. Rooster - Christopher Bruce (1994)
2. Swansong - Christopher Bruce (1995)

Question 17

What was Morrice’s main impacts on the company?

Answer 17

1. extensive modern training in America - brought this back with him
2. Positioned company firmly in the dance arena
3. specific focus on contemporary Graham technique
4. Weekly choreographic workshops
5. Brought an American influence to the company - ie. Glen Tetley
6. All his early pieces were theatrical, breaking new ground with big themes, music that was often contemporary and designed by boldly innovative artists such as Ralph Koltai and Nadine Baylis
7. Widened the diversity of dancers and dance works

Question 18

What was Chesworth’s main impacts on the company?

Answer 18

1. Continued the promotion of new works from company member and expansion of repertoire through guest choreographers (S.Davies)
2. Developed Rambert’s reputation for diverse repertoire and technical excellence
3. Instrumental in developing Rambert’s educational activities - outreach in school’s with his Young Friends programme
4. Very interested in the possibility of dance on film/TV
5. revived regular workshop seasons of company members’ choreography - supported Rambert’s choreographic development

Question 19

What was North’s main impact’s on the company?

Answer 19

1. Developed the company in terms of movement style - physicality, musicality and dramatic quality
2. Seen as a populist who focused on music and dance and the links between the two.
3. Explored a range of genres from Bill Withers to Stravinsky
4. Wanted to create a place “where artists from all disciplines can gather to exchange ideas”
5. Continues to include work from guest choreographers (like Cunningham)
6. Continued the focus on dance education; episodes from Lonely Town, Lonely Street was used at school matinees, to show ‘extended gesture’ in creating movement which communicates the range of human emotion.

Question 20

What impact’s did Alston have on the company?

Answer 20

1. Influenced the company’s movement style through the inclusion of Cunningham Technique (replaced Graham tech.) - also used Release Tech. which was popular in the British contemp. dance scene
2. Choreographed many abstract works from the company - a push away from the narrative in dance
3. Created works in a formalist approach, not an expressionist approach - movement for movement sake, not to support narrative
4. Explored collaboration between music and design, became known for collaboration between choreographers, composers and designers (ie. Soda Lake)e
5. Changed the name of the company to Rambert Dance Company in 1987

Question 21

What impact’s did Bruce have on the company?

Answer 21

1. Relaunched the company
2. Built up the company to 25 members
3. Used a range of dance techniques, contributed new works, guest choreographers and a repertoire of neo-classical and modern works
4. Clear aim to develop young dancers and choreographers - under him the company performed 50 new dance works, 25 of which were Rambert’s own
5. Company style showed clear evidence of Graham technique
6. Contributed his own works - which became some of the company’s most popular