Richard Chappell Summer Intensive

Rambert graduate Richard Chappell, set up his own company in 2013. In development over the years Richard performed and choreographed his first full length work through Wayne McGregor's FreeSpace programme this year. Richard includes a strong balletic and capoeira influence in his choreography.

This summer of 2017, Richard came to Swindon Dance and held a three day intensive for young professional dancers and in full-time training students. During these three days I learnt repertoire from his previously shown production At The End We Begin. We began with morning class with a capoeira influence and meditation influenced stretches. Across the days we would be given choreographic tasks such as inspiration from art, poems and images.

Majority of the attendees were recent graduates from Laban and Rambert and some still in training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. With myself being from Falmouth Univeristy, it allowed me to see the similarities and differences in training from university training and conservative training. The intense three days was celebrated through a dynamic encouragement of one another. Both attendees and the choreographer were approachable, and during class when I struggled there was nothing but support and advice of how to improve. The energy was bursting with an excitement to learn movement and be generous with material given to us.

Below is a video with participant of the intensive who graduated Laban, 2016. Lauren Stewart.

Choreography influenced by images from Anna Gillespie.