We developed a model which allows to take into account both shape deformation parameters and cluster degrees of freedom. The important ingredient of the model is the dinuclear system concept in which the wave function of the nucleus is treated as a superposition of a mononucleus and two-cluster configurations. The model is applied to describe the properties of alternating rotational bands in 222,224,226,228 Ra. The spin-dependences of the parity splitting and of the reduced matrix elements of E1 transitions between the members of alternating parity bands are calculated and compared with experimental data.