Christopher Bruce (1945-)
Biography:
Dancer with Ballet Rambert 1963-1980, 1983, 1986; Associate Director of Ballet Rambert 1975-1979; Associate Choreographer of Ballet Rambert (later Rambert Dance Company) 1980-1994; Artistic Director of Rambert Dance Company 1994-2002; guest artist with Rambert Dance Company in 2000.
Christopher Bruce trained at the Ballet Rambert School before joining the company as a dancer in 1963. He served as Associate Director before becoming Associate Choreographer. In 1994 he became Artistic Director and 'relaunched' the company (which had been without an artistic director since the departure of Richard Alston in 1992). Bruce has created 30 dance works for Rambert as well as restaging works made for other companies. Several of his dances were created to celebrate the Rambert company's anniversaries: 'Girl with a Straw Hat' (50th), 'Ceremonies' (60th), 'Quicksilver' (70th) and 'Grinning in Your Face' (75th).
Bruce has choreographed for Tanz Forum, Batsheva Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, English National Ballet (where he was Associate Choreographer 1989-1998), Houston Ballet (where he was Resident Choreographer 1989-1998 and subsequently Associate Choreographer) and the Royal Ballet, among others.
His awards include the Evening Standard Award, 1974 and 1997; Prix Italia (for Television production of 'Cruel Garden'), 1982; International Theatre Institute Award for Excellence in International Dance, 1993; De Valois Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dance at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards, 2003; Rheinische Post Theater Oscar for 'An Evening of Work by Christopher Bruce' at Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, 2004; Best Choreography, Critics' Circle Award, 2009. Christopher Bruce was awarded a CBE in 1998; Honorary Doctor of Art from De Montfort University, 2000; Honorary Doctor of Letters from University of Exeter, 2001; Honorary Life Membership of Amnesty International, 2002; Honorary Visting Professor, Exeter University, 2009.
Bruce's oral history interview for the Rambert Archive is available at http://www.rambert.org.uk/explore/rambert-archive/rambert-voices
Christopher Bruce trained at the Ballet Rambert School before joining the company as a dancer in 1963. He served as Associate Director before becoming Associate Choreographer. In 1994 he became Artistic Director and 'relaunched' the company (which had been without an artistic director since the departure of Richard Alston in 1992). Bruce has created 30 dance works for Rambert as well as restaging works made for other companies. Several of his dances were created to celebrate the Rambert company's anniversaries: 'Girl with a Straw Hat' (50th), 'Ceremonies' (60th), 'Quicksilver' (70th) and 'Grinning in Your Face' (75th).
Bruce has choreographed for Tanz Forum, Batsheva Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, English National Ballet (where he was Associate Choreographer 1989-1998), Houston Ballet (where he was Resident Choreographer 1989-1998 and subsequently Associate Choreographer) and the Royal Ballet, among others.
His awards include the Evening Standard Award, 1974 and 1997; Prix Italia (for Television production of 'Cruel Garden'), 1982; International Theatre Institute Award for Excellence in International Dance, 1993; De Valois Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dance at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards, 2003; Rheinische Post Theater Oscar for 'An Evening of Work by Christopher Bruce' at Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, 2004; Best Choreography, Critics' Circle Award, 2009. Christopher Bruce was awarded a CBE in 1998; Honorary Doctor of Art from De Montfort University, 2000; Honorary Doctor of Letters from University of Exeter, 2001; Honorary Life Membership of Amnesty International, 2002; Honorary Visting Professor, Exeter University, 2009.
Bruce's oral history interview for the Rambert Archive is available at http://www.rambert.org.uk/explore/rambert-archive/rambert-voices
Archive catalogue:
DS/UK/16
Works
Performances
Date ↿⇂ | Dance Work ↿⇂ | Role ↿⇂ | Venue ↿⇂ |
---|---|---|---|
17 Jun 1964 Matinee |
Sweet Dancer* | Friend | New Theatre, Oxford |
13 Jul 1964 Evening |
Laiderette | Guest | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
23 Jun 1965 Evening |
The Realms of Choice* | Dancer | Coventry Theatre |
27 Jan 1966 Evening |
Diversities* | Ragtime | Richmond Theatre, London |
12 May 1966 Evening |
Singular Moves* | Dancer | King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth |
28 Nov 1966 Evening |
Time Base* | 4.16 | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
28 Nov 1966 Evening |
Laiderette | Guest/Pierrot | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
1 Dec 1966 Evening |
Numéros | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
1 Dec 1966 Evening |
Diversities | Ragtime | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
26 Jan 1967 Evening |
Pierrot Lunaire* | Pierrot | Richmond Theatre, London |
12 Jun 1967 Evening |
Hazard * | The Unattainable | Theatre Royal, Bath |
12 Jun 1967 Evening |
Hazard * | The Choice | Theatre Royal, Bath |
12 Jun 1967 Evening |
Hazard * | Battle | Theatre Royal, Bath |
12 Jun 1967 Evening |
Hazard * | Cosmos and Ego | Theatre Royal, Bath |
25 Jul 1967 Evening |
Inochi* | One of Three Young Men | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
13 Nov 1967 Evening |
Freefall* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
20 Nov 1967 Evening |
Ziggurat* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
25 Jan 1968 Evening |
Hazard | The Choice | Richmond Theatre, London |
25 Jan 1968 Evening |
Hazard | Battle | Richmond Theatre, London |
25 Jan 1968 Evening |
Hazard | Cosmos and Ego | Richmond Theatre, London |
25 Jan 1968 Evening |
Hazard | The Unattainable | Richmond Theatre, London |
14 Feb 1968 Evening |
Ziggurat | Dancer | Phoenix Theatre, London |
14 Feb 1968 Evening |
Tic-Tack* | Dancer | Phoenix Theatre, London |
16 May 1968 Evening |
1 - 2 - 3* | One | Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham |
15 Jul 1968 Evening |
The Act* | His Dummy | Arts Theatre Cambridge |
21 Nov 1968 Evening |
Embrace Tiger and Return to Mountain* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
28 Nov 1969 Evening |
Blind-Sight* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
28 Mar 1970 Evening |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
28 Mar 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow* | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
30 Mar 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
31 Mar 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
1 Apr 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
2 Apr 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
3 Apr 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
3 Apr 1970 Evening |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
4 Apr 1970 Evening |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
4 Apr 1970 Matinee |
Bertram Batell's Sideshow | One of The Brothers Zucchini | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
14 May 1970 Evening |
Opus '65* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
21 May 1970 Evening |
Four According* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
6 May 1971 Evening |
That is the Show* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
10 May 1971 Evening |
Metaflow* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
9 Mar 1972 Evening |
''for those who die as cattle'' * | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
9 Mar 1972 Evening |
Theme and Variations * | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
9 Mar 1972 Evening |
Sonata for Two * | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
15 Mar 1972 Evening |
Stop-Over * | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
29 Jun 1972 Evening |
Pattern for an Escalator* | Dancer | Crucible Theatre, Sheffield |
17 Apr 1973 Evening |
Interim 3 | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
17 Apr 1973 Evening |
Les Saltimbanques* | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
17 Apr 1973 Evening |
''for these who die as cattle'' | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
17 Apr 1973 Evening |
Interim 2 | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
17 Apr 1973 Evening |
Stop-Over | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
17 Apr 1973 Evening |
Interim 1 | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
21 Apr 1973 Evening |
Pattern for an Escalator | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
21 Apr 1973 Evening |
Cantate* | Dancer | Young Vic Theatre, London |
18 Sep 1973 Evening |
tutti-frutti* | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
17 Apr 1974 Evening |
Weekend* | Dancer | The Round House, London |
7 Nov 1974 Evening |
Sake* | Dancer | Northcott Theatre, Exeter |
19 Jun 1975 Evening |
Ziggurat | Dancer | Teatro La Fenice, Venice, Italy |
19 Jun 1975 Evening |
Table* | Dancer | Teatro La Fenice, Venice, Italy |
4 Mar 1976 Evening |
Pierrot Lunaire | Pierrot | Nuffield Theatre, Southampton |
6 Mar 1976 Evening |
Pierrot Lunaire | Pierrot | Nuffield Theatre, Southampton |
15 Jun 1976 Evening |
Pierrot Lunaire | Pierrot | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
25 Mar 1977 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Dancer | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon |
26 Mar 1977 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Dancer | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon |
2 Apr 1977 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Dancer | Theatre Royal, Glasgow |
5 Jul 1977 Evening |
Cruel Garden* | The Poet | The Round House, London |
31 Jan 1978 Evening |
Praeludium* | Dancer | Opera Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester |
3 May 1979 Evening |
The Tempest* | Prospero | Rokokotheater, Schwetzingen, Germany |
5 May 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Rokokotheater, Schwetzingen, Germany |
6 May 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Rokokotheater, Schwetzingen, Germany |
29 Jun 1979 Evening |
Celebration* | Dancer | The Arts Centre, Christ's Hospital, Horsham |
3 Jul 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
4 Jul 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
5 Jul 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
6 Jul 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
7 Jul 1979 Evening |
The Tempest | Prospero | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
11 Jun 1986 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Waiter | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
21 Nov 2000 Evening |
Moonshine* | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
24 Nov 2000 Evening |
Moonshine | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
25 Nov 2000 Evening |
Moonshine | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
18 Apr 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Norwich |
19 Apr 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Norwich |
20 Apr 2002 Matinee |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Norwich |
20 Apr 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Norwich |
23 Apr 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne |
24 Apr 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne |
14 May 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
17 May 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
18 May 2002 Matinee |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
18 May 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
25 Sep 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | The Lowry, Salford, Manchester |
26 Sep 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | The Lowry, Salford, Manchester |
16 Oct 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury |
18 Oct 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury |
27 Nov 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Plymouth |
28 Nov 2002 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | The Director | Theatre Royal, Plymouth |