THE MAKERS — MDX DANCES

RICHARD ALSTON

Image: Hugo Glendinning

 Richard Alston choreographed his first work in 1968, formed the UK’s first independent dance group Strider in 1972 and three years later went to New York to study at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio. In 1980 Alston was appointed Resident Choreographer with Ballet Rambert, becoming Artistic Director in 1986.

In 1994 Alston became Artistic Director of The Place and formed the Richard Alston Dance Company following the closure of London Contemporary Dance Theatre. During a period of over 25 years, Alston made more than 50 Dances for his company, before it folded in March 2020.

Alston is one of the UK’s most celebrated choreographers. He received the De Valois Award for outstanding achievement from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards in 2008. In 2019 he received a Knighthood for services to dance. Richard Alston Dance Company received the Stef Stefanou award for Outstanding Company following its farewell tour in 2020. Alston is currently Resident Choreographer with New York Theatre Ballet.

LEROY DIAS DOS SANTOS

Throughout his career Leroy has had the pleasure of meeting and working with prestigious people such as HM The Queen, Prince Charles, Jermaine
Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Jason Statham, Will.I.AM, Jessie J, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Sugababes, Aston Merrygold and choreographers such as Jermaine Brown, Rafael Bonachela, Shobana Jesaysingh, Mavin Khoo and companies such as The English National Ballet. After graduating in 2007, he performed in theatre productions such as 'Carmen Jones' (2007) at The Royal Festival Hall, 'La Traviata' (2007) and 'Aida' (2008) conducted under The Welsh National Opera. He is also a member of the street dance sensation Flawless, who were finalists on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ (2009). They featured in movies such as ‘Street Dance 3D’ 1 and 2 by Vertigo films (2009) and have currently been touring their theatre production ‘Chase the Dream 2’ (2018-2019) across the UK and internationally.Louise’s research with Dr Lise Uytterhoeven is published in the Research in Dance Education Journal and her writing about dance careers can be found in the One Dance UK Education Bulletin. Louise has participated in One Dance UKs ‘Dance Teaching Mentoring Programme’ and the Royal Opera House’s ‘Creative Learning Practice Programme’, receiving creative mentorship from Jasmin Vardimon Company, Studio Wayne McGregor and MÓTUS.

As well as performing, he has also had the opportunity to choreograph and collaborate with Susie Mckenna on ‘Mandem On The Wall’ Live Show at Hackney Empire (2015) and ‘Macbeth’ with Twist Theatre Company (2015-2016), ‘Hosea’s Girl’ (2015) a Hip Hop spoken word play written by Anastasia Osei- Kuffour.
Leroy is currently based at Middlesex University and IRIE! Dance Theatre teaching urban/hip hop social dances, contemporary technique and choreography. He has also had the opportunity to work with different dance institutions such as Urdang Academy and Roehampton University, which have all played a significant role to his teaching.

Instagram: @leroyfx            Web: www.leroydias.com

Image: Josh Chow

SIÂN HOPKINS

Siân Hopkins, Lecturer in Dance at Middlesex University is a performer, creator, teacher. She holds a First-Class Honours degree in Dance, and an MA with Distinction in Dance Performance with Specialisation in Ritual from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Since graduating, she has had the pleasure of working with a variety of companies, independent artists, and projects both near and far. 

The most inspirational time she spent dancing was in cathedrals and sacred sites with Moving Visions Dance Company (2006-2018), seeking the numinous and exploring meaning in the arts. This work led to pursuing a career in dance education and becoming Research Assistant to Dr Ross McKim as well as Principal Artist and Rehearsal Director for the company. Siân's research interests lie in teaching methodologies focussed on the cultivation of positive self-perception through dance training and performance.

She has been a dance lecturer at Rambert School (2012-2021) and a guest teacher at dance institutions around the UK as well as in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada. Siân has restaged iconic works and choreographed for graduation showcases. Choreographic commissions include various site-specific and cathedral-based projects, Cantata Dramatica's choral dramatisations and collaborative screendance productions. She is also Lead Lectuer for Contemporary with the ISTD, training teachers and examiners in the contemporary syllabi.

Siân co-founded Kamavera Dance Theatre with musician and composer Tom Kirkpatrick in 2019, engaging in collaborative creativity and expression through screendance and live performance. The themes explored through the company's work aim to inspire curiosity and reflection, going hand in hand with the belief that dance enables us to become more empathetic, open, and generous human beings.

Instagram: @sian.louise.dance

Image: Karl Schoemaker

JAMES MULLER

Image: Hugo Glendinning

James graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2006. after joining Northern Ballet that same year, he went on to work with Peter Schaufuss Ballet in Denmark and Theater Ulm in Germany. 

In 2013, James returned to the UK to join Richard Alston Dance Company. in 2018, having toured extensively in Europe and the USA with Alston, James transitioned into full time teaching. The following year he performed the role of Interim Rehearsal Director for Alston's company and began teaching at DanceEast in Ipswich. James currently leads 'Directed Performance' modules for 2nd and 3rd year students at MDX, also teaching at The Place and English National Ballet.

GRADUATING CHOREOGRAPHERS

EOIN ó FIANNACHTA

Eoin Ó Fíannachta (they/he) is in their final year of BA Dance Practices (Choreography). Eoin has presented their work previously at the Emergence programme for yound Irish choreographers as part of the Noise Moves Youth Dance Festival (2022), and the Dance from the Dance Festival of Irish Choreography (2021, 2023).

MIRIUM NERI

Miriam Neri has studied dance and choreography at Middlesex University in London, mainly in these three years she has deepened and practised her artistic knowledge in the various styles of contemporary dance, especially a focus on Cunningham and Humphrey. Miriam is from Abruzzo, Italy on the south-eastern peninsula. She has always had an interest and passion for dance, and felt a deep connection with music even though she only started studying dance in a school as a teenager. Her first approach was through hip hop and street dance, subsequently studying ballet, modern jazz and some Latin American styles, theatre, and improvisation. Studying Pina Bausch's thoughts on dance had a strong impact. Miriam participated in local competitions and studied Michael Jackson's style for a period of time, and considers him an influencing artist. Dance taught her to believe in herself and that there are no age or physical limits to commitment, everyone can work to improve themselves and chase their dreams.

CHARLOTTE WADE

Charlotte Wade is a choreographer, dancer, and teacher from Cambridge who is currently based in London. Charlotte is in her third year of training at Middlesex University where she is studying for a BA Hons in Dance with specialisation in Choreography. In her choreographies, she takes inspiration from dance artists such as Pina Bausch as well as drawing upon practitioners she researched whilst studying drama such as Antonin Artaud to create thought-provoking pieces with the main aim that the audience resonates with the narrative driven by their own experiences to create a story that is wholly personalised.

RUBY BAKER

Ruby Baker, otherwise known as GhostCat via Producer Tag, is a Music Producer and DJ from East London who has worked across numerous genres. With a main expertise in EDM, she captivates audiences by enveloping them in a sonic journey through space, achieved through immersive pads and lively dance rhythms. Her specialised genres consist of Deep House, Drum & Bass, and Melodic House & Techno, although her repertoire extends far beyond, encompassing Cyberpunk-futuristic game music such as Synthwave, EBM, and Daft Punk, as well as genres ranging from AfroBeats to Horror-influenced hip hop, suitable for contemporary dance. Through composing, arranging, and producing all her tracks, she aims to convey her personal narrative and craft a distinct, recognisable sound. In hopes of uplifting listeners through mesmerising, uplifting Melodic House & Techno music, but also provide a reason for audiences to unleash all emotions through awe-inspiring, dark themes of Drum & Bass music, transporting audiences to entirely new realms where they can momentarily escape their surroundings and personal struggles.