London Contemporary Dance Theatre
Encyclopedia
The London Contemporary Dance Theatre (LCDT) was a contemporary
dance
company, based at The Place
, founded by Robin Howard
with Robert Cohan as its Artistic Director.
Founded in 1967, and strongly influenced by the ideas of American modern and postmodern dance artists Martha Graham
and Merce Cunningham
, the company was probably the first contemporary
dance
company in the United Kingdom
, and played a pioneering role in developing the art form in that country.
Choreographers such as Siobhan Davies
and Micha Bergese worked alongside composers like Barrington Pheloung
to create new works which were performed at the Sadler's Wells Theatre
and toured the UK and internationally.
Well-known works created by the company include:
LCDT won the 1975 Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Achievement In Ballet and Olivier Awards on three occasions: in 1978, 1989–1990 and 1994.
The company closed in 1994 when The Place refocused its work, creating the Richard Alston Dance Company
, and developing a bigger presenting programme for the Robin Howard Dance Theatre.
London Contemporary Dance School was originally conceived to train dancers for the company, and awarded its first degree in practical dance in 1982. The School is still in operation as part of The Place.
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
company, based at The Place
The Place
The Place is a dance and performance centre in Duke's Road near Euston in the London Borough of Camden. Originally the home base of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre from the 1970s, it is now the location of the London Contemporary Dance School, the Richard Alston Dance Company and the Robin...
, founded by Robin Howard
Robin Howard
Robin Jared Stanley Howard was a British philanthropist, dance patron and founder of The Place who promoted modern dance in England.-Early life:...
with Robert Cohan as its Artistic Director.
Founded in 1967, and strongly influenced by the ideas of American modern and postmodern dance artists Martha Graham
Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
and Merce Cunningham
Merce Cunningham
Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of the American avant-garde for more than 50 years. Throughout much of his life, Cunningham was considered one of the greatest creative forces in American dance...
, the company was probably the first contemporary
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
company in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and played a pioneering role in developing the art form in that country.
Choreographers such as Siobhan Davies
Siobhan Davies
Siobhan Davies CBE DLitt was a dancer with the London Contemporary Dance Theatre during the 1970s, then becoming one of its leading choreographers before founding her own company — the Siobhan Davies Dance Company — in 1988.First training in art, Davies was one of the first year's intake of...
and Micha Bergese worked alongside composers like Barrington Pheloung
Barrington Pheloung
Barrington Somers Pheloung is an Australian composer, now living in England. He is one of the most prolific television and film composers in the UK, known for his wide range of compositional genres....
to create new works which were performed at the Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
and toured the UK and internationally.
Well-known works created by the company include:
- Cell (1969)
- Forest (1976)
- Nympheas (1976)
- Stabat Mater (1976)
- Sphinx (1977)
- Rainbow Bandit (1979)
- Run Like Thunder (1983)
LCDT won the 1975 Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Achievement In Ballet and Olivier Awards on three occasions: in 1978, 1989–1990 and 1994.
The company closed in 1994 when The Place refocused its work, creating the Richard Alston Dance Company
Richard Alston Dance Company
The Richard Alston Dance Company is a medium size contemporary dance company that was formed in 1994 after the demise of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, based at The Place in London.-External links: **...
, and developing a bigger presenting programme for the Robin Howard Dance Theatre.
London Contemporary Dance School was originally conceived to train dancers for the company, and awarded its first degree in practical dance in 1982. The School is still in operation as part of The Place.