Sir Richard Alston, the British choreographer and teacher who significantly influenced contemporary dance, has died at 77. His death was announced on Monday by the Richard Alston Foundation, stating he passed away peacefully at his home on 7 September after a period of ill-health.
Alston was a former artistic director of Rambert and the Place, where he created more than 50 pieces for the Richard Alston Dance Company. He was celebrated for his lucid, emotionally attuned work, which was often described as both graceful and rigorous.
Tributes have been paid by figures such as Akram Khan, who called Alston a "pioneer" and praised his kindness. Rambert dance company highlighted his "extraordinary musicality" and noted that he had "shaped generations of dancers."
Born in Sussex in 1948, Alston's career began after he studied fine art and theatre design. He joined the London School of Contemporary Dance, choreographed his first work in 1968, and formed the experimental group Strider in 1972. He was knighted in 2019 for his contributions to dance.