Making Moves 2025/26 Choreographers
Fin Walker
I am a director, choreographer and educator investigating ‘human behaviour’ and how past experiences impact the present. I explore this through my creative work, coaching and teaching.
Working with the moving expressive body of the performer, my aim is to communicate to an audience the visceral, sensual resonance of what it means to be an emotional being through movement, story and words.
To better understand the energetic body and the interplay between thoughts, body, emotions and spirit I have studied numerous somatic practices as well as Energy Healing and Core Somatics – more widely known as body psychotherapy. I am a qualified Energy Healer.
My work is devised in collaboration with other artists, creating live performance and film.
I also work in theatre, opera, commercials & television.
I have been commissioned – alongside composer Ben Park – to make dance work on Rambert Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Candoco Dance Company, Gravity & Levity, Ricochet Productions amongst others.
I have worked with actors Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paterson Joseph, Nick Holder, Tobias Menzies, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Tara Fitzgerald, Daniel Radcliffe, Keira Knightly, David Harewood, Adrian Scarborough, Lex Shrapnel, amongst others in theatre productions (National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe, Broadway, West End) and my own research projects.
I am about to embark on a project with Ralph Fiennes as Physicality & Expression Coach and Choreographer for ‘As You Like It’ at the Theatre Royal bath.
Ivan Blackstock
Ivan Michael Blackstock is a South London-born multidisciplinary creative, whose work as an artist, mentor, and cultural innovator has been seen across the Europe’s most iconic venues and beyond.
Ivan is focused on his work as an independent artist, creating thought-provoking and political artistic expressions. His work have been showcased on TV and at iconic venues worldwide, including Sadler’s Wells, 180 Studios, La Villette in Paris, Kampnagel in Hamburg, and ITA in Amsterdam and is proudly recognized for his award for Breakthrough Cultural Excellence in Film and Video (Nowness Awards 2019), Dazed 100 shortlist, 2021 and his role as contributing editor at Fact Magazine.
His growing success has catapulted his career into a multidimensional innovative space, and he has since founded CRXSS PLATFXRM, an organization platforming talent that constructs new paths for subculture creatives. CRXSS PLATFXRM also delivers high-profile partnership events and consultancy with major cultural venues, brands and independent businesses such as Nike, Red Bull, Soho House and UAL: Central Saint Martins.
Now extending his creativity by tapping into the world of film and media. Ivan created TRAPLORD BLK MEME/RA for Channel 4 Random Acts in Autumn 2021, choreographing for Beyonce’s Black Is King and Grammy award-winning music video ‘Brown Skin Girl’, as well as founding his very own media production company ALTRUVIOLET, for which TRAPLORD is the premier work and winner for Britain’s most prestigious stage honors, The 2023 Olivier Awards for best new dance production. His most recent career highlights include serving as Former Artistic Director at 180 Studios and his appointment as Associate Artist at The Southbank Centre announced autumn 2024
Sir Richard Alston
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 and with Alfredo Corvino. On his return in 1977, he worked throughout the UK and Europe as an independent choreographer and teacher.
In 1980 Alston was appointed Resident Choreographer with Ballet Rambert becoming Artistic Director in 1986. In his time there he created 25 dances for the company and was also commissioned to create work for the Royal Danish Ballet (Kingdom of Pagodas 1982) and the Royal Ballet (Midsummer 1983).
In 1992 Alston left Rambert and that same year created Le Marteau Sans Maitre (to the Boulez score), for the Ballet Atlantique in France. He choreographed a full evening to Britten and Stravinsky for London Contemporary Dance Theatre at the 1994 Aldeburgh Festival and later that year started Richard Alston Dance Company when he became Artistic Director of The Place. Over 25 years Alston made more than 50 dances for his company before it folded in March 2020.
Commissions from other companies have included Ballet Theatre Munich (2006), Ballet Black (2008), Scottish Ballet (2009), New York Theatre Ballet (2011), Holland Dance Festival (2012), Phoenix Dance Theatre (2013) and in 2015 Alston restaged his Carmen for Miami City Ballet. Alston is Resident Choreographer with New York Theatre Ballet.
Alston was made Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 1995 and was awarded the CBE in the New Year Honours list of 2001. He received the De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards in 2008 and the Award for Excellence in International Dance by the International Theatre Institute in 2012. In 2019 he received a Knighthood for Services to Dance.
Thick & Tight
Thick & Tight is a dance theatre company based in the UK, co-directed by Daniel Hay-Gordon and El Perry. Daniel and El create a mix of dance, mime, theatre, satire and drag, taking influence from a wide range of historical, political, literary and artistic subjects.
At the heart of Thick & Tight’s practice, steered by a queer identity and perspective, is the intention to open up restrictive and elitist ideas of ‘artistic excellence’ and to explore dance as a political art form with the power to entertain while challenging social stigma.
Thick & Tight’s award-winning work has been presented extensively in the UK, including at Sadler’s Wells, Tate, Barbican, Southbank, V&A, Lowry and Royal Ballet and Opera, and at many festivals internationally. Of equal importance is the company’s focus on working in socially engaged contexts such as LGBTQ+ venues, social clubs, community groups and charity fundraisers. Thick & Tight are Associate Artists at The Lowry.