PROVERB (2006) 

Choreography: Richard Alston
Restaging: James Müller
Music: Steve Reich, Proverb
Lighting: Mikkel Svak
Costume: Aylin Altinelli
Rehearsal Direction: James Müller and Chris Tudor
Dancers: Sophie Ballard, Georgina Barnard, Abbie Botha, Matilda Foreman, Ya-Chi 'Anika' Huang, Olivia Litenstone
The Proverb of the title is a single line of text from Ludwig Wittgenstein - ‘how small a thought it takes to fill a whole life’. In the Reich music the vocal style is very much influenced by the harmonies and dissonances of medieval singing, but the underlying vibraphones give a sense of urgency which propels the voices forward. 
Proverb made me think of the anonymous but extraordinarily skilled artisans of the Middle Ages who worked, often at great risk to their own lives, on the adventurous experiments which produced the great cathedrals. That sense of courageous and committed teamwork carried out in blind faith is in the imagery of the choreography. I made Proverb for Steve Reich’s 70th Birthday celebrations. It’s one of a small number of dances which I feel are right at the heart of my work - Richard

RICHARD ALSTON

Richard Alston choreographed his first work in 1968, formed the UK’s first independent dance group Strider in 1972 and three years later went to New York to study at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio. In 1980 Alston was appointed Resident Choreographer with Ballet Rambert, becoming Artistic Director in 1986.
In 1994 Alston became Artistic Director of The Place and formed the Richard Alston Dance Company following the closure of London Contemporary Dance Theatre. During a period of over 25 years, Alston made more than 50 Dances for his company, before it folded in March 2020.
Alston is one of the UK’s most celebrated choreographers. He received the De Valois Award for outstanding achievement from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards in 2008. In 2019 he received a Knighthood for services to dance. Richard Alston Dance Company received the Stef Stefanou award for Outstanding Company following its farewell tour in 2020. Alston is currently Resident Choreographer with New York Theatre Ballet.

JAMES MULLER

James graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2006. after joining Northern Ballet that same year, he went on to work with Peter Schaufuss Ballet in Denmark and Theater Ulm in Germany. 

In 2013, James returned to the UK to join Richard Alston Dance Company. in 2018, having toured extensively in Europe and the USA with Alston, James transitioned into full time teaching. The following year he performed the role of Interim Rehearsal Director for Alston's company and began teaching at DanceEast in Ipswich. James currently leads 'Directed Performance' modules for 2nd and 3rd year students at MDX, also teaching at The Place and English National Ballet.

CAST

  • Sophie Ballard

    Sophie Ballard

    DANCER

  • Georgina Barnard

    Georgina Barnard

    DANCER

  • Abbie Botha

    Abbie Botha

    DANCER

  • Matilda Foreman

    Matilda Foreman

    Dancer

  • Ya-Chi 'Anika' Huang

    Ya-Chi 'Anika' Huang

    dancer

  • Olivia Litenstone

    Olivia Litenstone

    dancer