Richard Alston

Question 1

contextual info

Answer 1

-born in 1948
-background in art-trained at a visual art college
-trained at London Contemporary Dance school in Graham technique-1968
-formed first independent contemporary dance school-strider; did this alongside other dancers he worked with
-travelled to New York in 1975 where he spent 2 years with Merce Cunningham which sparked his interest in Cunningham
-Frederick Ashtons style of ballet- intricate, fast footwork and Fred Astaire inspired him
-main influence is music-direct correlation
-then created ‘second strider’ with Siobhan Davis in 1981
-works were hugely abstract-limited diversity
-he was asked to leave in 1982

Question 2

influences

Answer 2

-Mary Fulkerson- introduced ‘Release’ technique and ‘Contact Improvisation’
-fall and recovery technique
-Frederick Ashton-use of back and épaulement and the intricacy of the steps
-soundscapes and classical music
-influenced in visual arts and sculpture- movement is three-dimensional
-individuality- experiments through finding how each dancer will move.