I first saw Alastair in 2008 with the New English Contemporary Ballet. One of three male dancers with this small company that had a growing repertoire of new work by a range of choreographers, mixing contemporary style with classical technique to a mixture of classical and electronic music pieces. Seeing them quite early on when I started going to see dance on a regular basis the company were a revelation to me, as they were one of the first who fully embodied the style of dance that I have come to consider as my favourite. I was especially struck with Alastair, although all the company's dancers were excellent. Alastair was tall, blond, handsome and solidly built. He was expressive and masculine and represented to me an ideal of a what a male dancer should be. I have seen many male dancers since but Alastair still holds a special place for me.
By the time I saw NECB again in 2009 he had left. Before they toured again the company lost its ACE funding and swiftly folded. Something I fear we will see more of in 2011-12.
I saw him next in the company of Rufus Norris's production of Cabaret. He was with the show for eighteen months and I eventually saw the production twice during its long tour of the UK.
Alastair, who turns 30 this year, will next be seen at Sadlers Wells in March 2011 in the new full-length narrative ballet by the Pet Shop Boys and Matthew Dunster, choreographed by Javier de Frutos, based on Hans Christian Andersen's story The Most Incredible Thing.
