What was Christopher Bruce influenced by?

What was Christopher Bruce influenced by?

Although ballet trained, he was also strongly influenced by the technique of Martha Graham, where movement has an earthy, grounded quality. His dance origins therefore go back to pioneers in both classical and contemporary dance.

How did Christopher Bruce influence contemporary dance?

Christopher Bruce had a strong artistic vision for Britain’s flagship contemporary dance company throughout the eight years that he was Artistic Director. Bruce also provided opportunities for young choreographers like Mark Baldwin, Jeremy James and Rambert dancer Didy Veldman to create new works for Rambert.

Why did Christopher Bruce create ghost dances?

Christopher Bruce’s 1981 work Ghost Dances is one of the most celebrated contemporary dance pieces of its generation. This masterpiece is an evocative tribute to the victims of political oppression in South America.

How did Christopher Bruce start dancing?

Christopher Bruce was born in England in 1945 and started studying dance at 11 years old. After studying at the Rambert School Christopher Bruce joined Rambert Ballet in 1963, where he quickly became the leading male dancer. Bruce appeared in works such as Don Quixote in 1964 and Coppelia in 1966.

How did Christopher Bruce train?

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. Bruce has created 30 dance works for Rambert as well as restaging works made for other companies.

Did Christopher Bruce have polio?

At school, Bruce wanted to be a footballer. His father persuaded him that ballet would help him at sports by strengthening his leg, which had been damaged when he contracted polio as an infant. After a few weeks, Bruce knew he’d found his calling.

What did Christopher Bruce train in?

Ballet Rambert School
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.

Is Ghost Dance illegal?

Some histories of these events still say so. The Bureau of Indian Affairs attempted to ban the Ghost Dance, also contributing to the idea that it had ended. But in fact the Ghost Dance ceremony continued to be performed into the early 20th century and some of the songs are preserved in the traditions of Indians today.

What was the stimulus of ghost dances?

The theme of Ghost Dances deals with political oppression and dictatorship in South America and Bruce’s choreography reflects this in an eloquent and moving way.

What did Christopher Bruce do for Rambert?

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).

What is the Martha Graham technique?

Graham technique is a modern dance movement style and pedagogy created by American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (1894–1991). Graham technique is based on the opposition between contraction and release, a concept based on the breathing cycle which has become a “trademark” of modern dance forms.

When did Christopher Bruce leave Rambert?

In 1979 Bruce left the Company to embark on a career as a freelance choreographer, although he still maintained a position with Ballet Rambert as Associate Choreographer.

What kind of dance did Christopher Bruce do?

Although ballet trained, he was also strongly influenced by the technique of Martha Graham, where movement has an earthy, grounded quality. His dance origins therefore go back to pioneers in both classical and contemporary dance.

When did Christopher Bruce join the Ballet Rambert?

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).

Why did Christopher Bruce want to be a footballer?

But one of his dances, Dream – made for for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad and inspired by memories of school sports days – is now available online from National Dance Company Wales to mark what would have been the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. At school, Bruce wanted to be a footballer.

Who was the Ghost Dancer in the silence by Christopher Bruce?

Li Cunxin, a Ghost Dancer in the Houston’s premiere in 1988 remembers, ‘from the very beginning, in the silence, the audience were fully with us. Christopher’s unique movement quality, the tension he creates captivated the audience. I related to the theme, what the story represented and I loved moving to that music.’