Modern Dance Modern Dance in the UK London Contemporary Dance Theatre Dance post 1960

Khamsin

Martha Graham first appeared in London in 1954. In the audience was Robin Howard. Impressed by Graham he financially backed her successful 1963 London season. He paid for British dancers to study at Graham’s school in New York and founded the Robin Howard Trust to encourage American dance in Britain. London Contemporary Dance School was established in 1966, moving to The Place in 1969, giving the Trust a headquarters, studios, offices and, eventually, a performance venue.

London Contemporary Dance Theatre

The Waterless Method of Swimming Instruction

In 1967 Robert Cohan, a leading Graham dancer, came to London to produce a full evening of contemporary dance by the students and guest Graham dancers. He stayed to become choreographer and director of what became London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Under his leadership the company evolved a recognisable school of contemporary dance derived from the Graham technique. It became the flagship of modern dance in Britain.

People Alone

Nympheas

With no modern dance repertory on which to draw, students were encouraged to choreograph their own work. The result was an outstanding generation of dancer-choreographers. Richard Alston, Robert North and Siobhan Davies were among the first students in 1966; then came Christopher Bannerman, Micha Bergese, Patrick Harding-Irmer and Darshan Singh Bhuller. Exhilarating images of uninhibited, energetic dancers made the public realise that dance could be more than tutus and swans. Young audiences responded to the new choreography, modern scores and exciting design and lighting.

Troy Game

Rite Electrik

For twenty-five years the company maintained a high level of creativity, constantly finding new talent as dancers left to found their own companies and teach. In 1994 Contemporary Dance Trust was restructured and Richard Alston became artistic director. The company was disbanded, and replaced by the smaller Richard Alston Dance Company.

Alston, Richard

Important figure in the development of British contemporary dance. Alston was an original student at London Contemporary Dance School and one of the first notable contemporary dance choreographers to develop in the 1960s. He has directed several of his own companies as well as Ballet Rambert and is now Artistic Director of The Place and the Richard Alston Dance Company. Greatly influenced by Merce Cunningham, his work is not constrained by literary or dramatic overtones.

North, Robert

American born dancer and choreographer who trained in England. From classical ballet he went to study with Martha Graham and then joined London Contemporary Dance Theatre. For them he produced two of his best ballets, Death and the Maiden and the hilarious Troy Game. He was artistic director of Ballet Rambert in the early 1980s. His works are performed by companies around the world.

Davies, Siobhan

A major figure in British dance, Davies was a founder member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre before founding the innovative Second Stride with Richard Alston and Ian Spink in 1982. In 1988 she formed the Siobhan Davies Dance Company. Like many contemporary choreographers she avoids direct narrative, exploring what and how much dance itself can convey. The works thus reveal resonances and relations between the dancers.