Story perspectives

Richard Alston Foundation Announces Sir Richard Alston’s Death

9/8/2026

Summary

Richard Alston Dies

The Richard Alston Foundation announced Sir Richard Alston’s death on 7 September 2026 after treatment at Royal Free Hospital.
He was resident choreographer (1980) and artistic director (1986-1992) of Ballet Rambert, then founded his own company in 1994.
He earned a Chevalier l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1995), CBE (2001), Valois award (2008) and knighthood (2019).
Despite hearing loss, he remained a teacher, mentor and Youth Dance England chair.

Summary

Alston Merges Music

Alston treated music as an equal partner and demanded dancers respect composers’ intentions.
He regularly selected challenging scores by Ligeti, Boulez and Birtwistle, shaping a radical choreographic voice.
In the late 1960s, Alston was among London’s first contemporary dance students.
His rehearsals involved deep musical analysis, drawing on his pianist experience and gramophone-library listening.

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Richard Alston Dies

The Richard Alston Foundation announced Sir Richard Alston’s death on 7 September 2026 after treatment at Royal Free Hospital.
He was resident choreographer (1980) and artistic director (1986-1992) of Ballet Rambert, then founded his own company in 1994.
He earned a Chevalier l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1995), CBE (2001), Valois award (2008) and knighthood (2019).
Despite hearing loss, he remained a teacher, mentor and Youth Dance England chair.

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