Christopher Bruce

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.