Russell Maliphant
Encyclopedia
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 Booth Company and Rosemary Butcher. He has studied anatomy, physiology, bio-mechanics, and the Rolfing
Method of Structural Integration. In April 2000, he received an Arts Council Fellowship. He has created over 20 pieces to date, collaborating closely with lighting designer Michael Hulls, and has set works on renowned companies and artists including: Lyon Opera Ballet, Ricochet Dance Company, The Batsheva Ensemble and Ballet de Lorraine.
In 2003, Russell created Broken Fall with Sylvie Guillem
and George Piper Dances and music by Barry Adamson. Broken Fall premiered at the Royal Opera House in December 2003 and was awarded an Olivier Award in 2003. Rise and Fall – an evening of work at Sadler’s Wells Theatre including Broken Fall – was awarded a Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Best Choreography (Modern) in 2006.
Broken Fall marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship with Sylvie Guillem, which has seen further fruit with the award winning Push and Solo. These two works premiered at Sadler’s Wells in Autumn 2005 in a programme entitled PUSH, which has subsequently toured to sell-out audiences in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and America. The duet Push danced by Guillem and Maliphant has been presented by The Tokyo Ballet in Tokyo and on tour in Japan. Maliphant received a South Bank Show Award and an Oliver Award (2006) for the work; Guillem also received a Time Out Live Award for Solo (2006). This collaboration with Guillem will continue in 2009 with the premiere of a new production, Eonnagata which is being created with the Canadian Director Robert Lepage
, and will feature all three artists performing together.
Russell does however continue to work with his own company, the Russell Maliphant Company, which acts as his creative lab for the development and presentation of new work. In the past two years, the Company have been touring Push, reworked for and presented by two of the company dancers, alongside the new female quintet, Transmission, and a new male solo, Flux. In 2007,the Company featured in Cast No Shadow, a new work exploring the ideas of identity and migration created in collaboration with the visual artists Isaac Julien which was presented at Sadler’s Wells and BAM in New York.
Russell Maliphant is Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells and Wycombe Swan.
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
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
DV8 Physical Theatre
DV8 Physical Theatre is a dance company based at Artsadmin in London, UK. It was founded in 1986 by an independent collective of chiefly modern dancers. It is led by Lloyd Newson, whose intent has been to have a different approach to most contemporary dance than other existing companies...
, Michael Clark & Company, Laurie Booth Company and Rosemary Butcher. He has studied anatomy, physiology, bio-mechanics, and the Rolfing
Rolfing
Rolfing is a therapy system created by The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and is a system whereby the alleged manipulation of the fasciae by specific methods is theorized to yield therapeutic benefit....
Method of Structural Integration. In April 2000, he received an Arts Council Fellowship. He has created over 20 pieces to date, collaborating closely with lighting designer Michael Hulls, and has set works on renowned companies and artists including: Lyon Opera Ballet, Ricochet Dance Company, The Batsheva Ensemble and Ballet de Lorraine.
In 2003, Russell created Broken Fall with 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...
and George Piper Dances and music by Barry Adamson. Broken Fall premiered at the Royal Opera House in December 2003 and was awarded an Olivier Award in 2003. Rise and Fall – an evening of work at Sadler’s Wells Theatre including Broken Fall – was awarded a Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Best Choreography (Modern) in 2006.
Broken Fall marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship with Sylvie Guillem, which has seen further fruit with the award winning Push and Solo. These two works premiered at Sadler’s Wells in Autumn 2005 in a programme entitled PUSH, which has subsequently toured to sell-out audiences in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and America. The duet Push danced by Guillem and Maliphant has been presented by The Tokyo Ballet in Tokyo and on tour in Japan. Maliphant received a South Bank Show Award and an Oliver Award (2006) for the work; Guillem also received a Time Out Live Award for Solo (2006). This collaboration with Guillem will continue in 2009 with the premiere of a new production, Eonnagata which is being created with the Canadian Director Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage, is a playwright, actor, film director, and stage director from Québec City, Québec, and is one of Canada's most honoured theatre artists.- Life and work :...
, and will feature all three artists performing together.
Russell does however continue to work with his own company, the Russell Maliphant Company, which acts as his creative lab for the development and presentation of new work. In the past two years, the Company have been touring Push, reworked for and presented by two of the company dancers, alongside the new female quintet, Transmission, and a new male solo, Flux. In 2007,the Company featured in Cast No Shadow, a new work exploring the ideas of identity and migration created in collaboration with the visual artists Isaac Julien which was presented at Sadler’s Wells and BAM in New York.
Russell Maliphant is Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells and Wycombe Swan.