Richard Alston Dance Company

The current Richard Alston Dance Company tour sees the versatile group perform four short works from a selection of over eight pieces. The Brighton show opened with ‘Rejoice in the Lamb’, a florally dressed, sincere and warmly lit piece performed to a glorious cantata soundtrack of the same name by Benjamin Britten. The musical choices were integral to every piece in fact, imbuing the show with more crossover appeal. ‘Isthmus Remix’ for example featured a far more modern, dissonant soundtrack by Jo Kondo with similarly jagged dancing that was a striking contrast to the first work.

The dancing was stellar throughout, and Associate Choreographer Martin Lawrance’s piece ‘Tangent’ was romantic, lustful, punchy and thrilling. A live piano accompaniment was stunning (a piano arrangement of Piazzolla’s ‘Four Seasons of Buenos Aires’), Jason Ridgway invoking a whole orchestra with pounding, droning stabs on the lower keys. Final piece ‘Illuminations’ featured a taut, standout performance from Liam Riddick, but rounded off the evening with a slightly more subdued tone. The overall effect was impressive however: a colourful, varied evening filled with moving movement.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 8 October 2016
Rating:
Joe Fuller