Tremor (2000)

Tremor is danced to the third String Quartet of Shostakovich and its opening is carefree, flowing with Russian folk melody. The music starts to dig progressively deeper, touching on a darker side of the Russian soul.

"Free-flowing and carefree at first, the piece quickly tightened into a tense vision of mortal fear...with an expressive simplicity of which Alston can be truly proud"
Country Life
 
The Signal of a Shake (2000)

The sheer and unadulterated pleasures of Handel's concerti for organ and orchestra inspire Richard Alston to get his whole company on the move. Rejoicing in melody, mixing rumbustious vigour with lightness of touch, this is music and dance at its most celebratory and joyous.

"Dancers soaring over Handel's cadences with the joy of Cheltenham winners over fences"
Independent on Sunday

A Sudden Exit (1999)

A Sudden Exit is about the pain of abrupt departure, a dance about deep affection, affection nonetheless tinged with regret. The piece is set to the mature masterpieces of late Brahms (from Opus 118 and 119).

"This meditation on aloneness and the pangs of letting go...is Alston at his most introspective and personal...slipping quietly into one's subconscious’"
The Times

Roughcut (Revival 1999)

A euphoric display of pure energy from the whole company, Roughcut is set to the cascading peals of Steve Reich's shimmering New York and Electric Counterpoints for clarinet and guitar.

"A wonderfully vigorous end-of-evening statement - upbeat, energetic, destined to send us home elated"
The Times

Slow Airs Almost All (1999)

Duets folding and unfolding to the sweet untrammeled singing of Mozart adagios for string trio form the heart of the piece – choreography inspired by the mixture of sombre richness and warm sensuality in Mozart’s string writing.

"Slow Airs is Alston at his very best and that is something to treasure"
Financial Times