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posted 01/11/10 01:01 PM | updated 01/11/10 01:20 PM
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The Richard Alston Dance Co. Coming to Seattle

By Jeremy M. Barker
Arts Editor
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Yesterday, The New York Times ran a profile of Richard Alston, the granddaddy of British Modern dance, whose company, as it happens, will be making Seattle the second stop (after the Joyce Theatre in NYC) on their North American tour, Jan. 21-23 for as part of the UW World Series (tickets $39/$37/$35/$20).

Alston, who recently celebrated the fortieth year of his career as a choreographer, is a lion of dance whose work remains exuberant if more restrained than that of many younger choreographers. "I still believe in steps and articulate performers," he told the Times. "Sometimes I feel that people are straining and distorting in order to be inventive. I don’t feel that need. I find the activity of dancing a very harmonious and joyful one, and it’s that physicality that I’m interested in exploring."

The company is presenting three recent pieces: Shuffle It Right, a jazz-influenced piece set to music by Hoagie Carmichael; Movements from "Petrushka," an homage to centenary of the Ballets Russes; and Blow Over, performed to selections of Phillip Glass's Songs from Liquid Days. All three have received strong reviews over the past few years--The Daily Telegraph said Shuffle It Right "combines whimsy with an emotional and physical strength," while the Guardian wrote that Alston responds to Glass's score "with hot sparkles of detailed dancing and powerfully massed ensembles."

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Tags: richard alston, dance, uw world series, meany hall, shuffle it right, movements from petrushka, blow over, phillip glass + add tags
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