Alistair Spalding
Encyclopedia
Alistair Spalding has been the Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Sadler's Wells Theatre since 2004.
He has been responsible for programming at the theatre since February 2000 (when he joined as Director of Programming, becoming CEO and Artistic Director in October 2004). During that time he has presented companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
, Ballett Frankfurt, Pina Bausch
Tanztheater Wuppertal, Ballet C de La B, Michael Clark
, Dutch National Ballet
, Martha Graham Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Netherlands Dance Theatre 1 and 2, and the National Ballet of China
.
Under Spalding, Sadler's Wells has become a production house for dance, as well as a receiving house presenting performances by touring companies.
In March 2005 he announced a new commissioning and co-producing policy at Sadler's Wells and has since appointed Matthew Bourne
, Jonzi D, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Sylvie Guillem
, Akram Khan (dancer)
, Michael Hulls, Russell Maliphant
, Wayne McGregor
, BalletBoyz (Michael Nunn and William Trevitt), Kate Prince, Nitin Sawhney
, Hofesh Shechter, Jasmin Vardimon, and Christopher Wheeldon
as Associate Artists at the theatre.
He has also initiated projects such as the Breakin' Convention
International Hip Hop Dance Theatre Festival, as well as inviting Wayne McGregor | Random Dance to become the theatre's Resident Company.
Dance Company. The South Bank Centre won the Time Out award for best dance production in both 1998 for Alain Platel and in 1999 for the New York Ballet Stars project.
Dance advisory panel between 1995 and 2003 and he is an external advisor on the City University Validation Board for the Laban centre London degree courses. He was awarded Le Chevalier des Artes et Lettres by the French Embassy in October 2005. In January 2009 he was appointed a National Member of the Arts Council of England board.
He has been responsible for programming at the theatre since February 2000 (when he joined as Director of Programming, becoming CEO and Artistic Director in October 2004). During that time he has presented companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey...
, Ballett Frankfurt, Pina Bausch
Pina Bausch
Philippina "Pina" Bausch was a German performer of modern dance, choreographer, dance teacher and ballet director...
Tanztheater Wuppertal, Ballet C de La B, Michael Clark
Michael Clark
Michael Clark may refer to:*Michael Clark *Michael Clark , Member of Parliament, 1908–1921*Michael Clark , British post-punk ballet dancer...
, Dutch National Ballet
Dutch National Ballet
Dutch National Ballet was formed in 1961 when the Amsterdams Ballet and the Nederlands Ballet merged. The company has been directed by Sonia Gaskell , Rudi van Dantzig , Wayne Eagling and is currently directed by Ted Brandsen. It is the largest dance company in the Netherlands and attracts many...
, Martha Graham Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Netherlands Dance Theatre 1 and 2, and the National Ballet of China
National Ballet of China
The National Ballet of China , known in China as the Central Ballet Troupe was founded on 31 December 1959. It is the mainland Chinese national ballet troupe...
.
Under Spalding, Sadler's Wells has become a production house for dance, as well as a receiving house presenting performances by touring companies.
In March 2005 he announced a new commissioning and co-producing policy at Sadler's Wells and has since appointed Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne OBE is a British classical and contemporary ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Matthew Bourne was born in Hackney, London in 1960. He went to William Fitt and Sir George Monoux School in Walthamstow, London...
, Jonzi D, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Sylvie Guillem
Sylvie Guillem
Sylvie Guillem CBE is a French ballet dancer. She was the top-ranking female dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet from 1984 to 1989, before becoming a principal guest artist with the Royal Ballet in London. She is currently performing contemporary dance as an Associate Artist of London's Sadler's...
, Akram Khan (dancer)
Akram Khan (dancer)
Akram Khan, MBE is a dancer whose background is rooted in his classical kathak training and contemporary dance.-Career:Khan was born in London into a family of Bangladeshi origin. He began dancing and trained in the classical Indian dance form of Kathak at the age of seven. He studied with Sri...
, Michael Hulls, Russell Maliphant
Russell Maliphant
Russell Maliphant is a British choreographer who trained at the Royal Ballet School and graduated into Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet before leaving to pursue a career in independent dance. As a performer Maliphant worked with companies such as DV8 Physical Theatre, Michael Clark & Company, Laurie...
, Wayne McGregor
Wayne McGregor
Wayne McGregor CBE is a British choreographer of contemporary modern dance. His work is highly distinctive in its vocabulary of movement, for its integration of dance with film and visual art, and for his active interest and incorporation of computer technology and biological science...
, BalletBoyz (Michael Nunn and William Trevitt), Kate Prince, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
, Hofesh Shechter, Jasmin Vardimon, and Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon is an international choreographer of contemporary ballet. Born in Somerset, England, to an engineer and a physical therapist, Wheeldon began training to be a ballet dancer at the age of 8. He attended the Royal Ballet School between the ages of 11 and 18...
as Associate Artists at the theatre.
He has also initiated projects such as the Breakin' Convention
Breakin' Convention
Breakin’ Convention is an international hip-hop theatre festival based in London, England that was founded in 2004 and is produced annually by Sadler's Wells Theatre. It has been under the artistic direction of playwright and dancer Jonzi D since its inception. Since May 2008 Breakin’ Convention...
International Hip Hop Dance Theatre Festival, as well as inviting Wayne McGregor | Random Dance to become the theatre's Resident Company.
Early career
Spalding's first job in arts management was at the Hawth Theatre, Crawley, where he was a programmer from 1988 to 1994.Southbank Centre
Over six years between 1994 and 2000 Spalding was the Head of Dance and Performance at the Southbank Centre in London where he developed both the presentation and commissioning of national and international dance and performance companies. As well as increasing the number of performances and audience attendance for dance at the centre he developed strong co-producing relationships with a number of national and international companies and artists including DV8, Alain Platel, Jonathan Burrows, Javier de Frutos and RosasAnne Teresa De Keersmaeker
Anne Teresa, Baroness De Keersmaeker is one of the most prominent choreographers in contemporary dance...
Dance Company. The South Bank Centre won the Time Out award for best dance production in both 1998 for Alain Platel and in 1999 for the New York Ballet Stars project.
External posts
Spalding is also Chairman of Dance UK. He was a member of the Arts Council EnglandArts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
Dance advisory panel between 1995 and 2003 and he is an external advisor on the City University Validation Board for the Laban centre London degree courses. He was awarded Le Chevalier des Artes et Lettres by the French Embassy in October 2005. In January 2009 he was appointed a National Member of the Arts Council of England board.