Performance Database

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
Archive catalogue: DS/UK/16

Works

Ancient Voices of Children
Christopher Bruce, 1975
Berlin Requiem
Christopher Bruce, 1982
Black Angels
Christopher Bruce, 1976
Ceremonies
Christopher Bruce, 1986
Concertino
Christopher Bruce, 1983
Crossing
Christopher Bruce, 1994
Cruel Garden
Christopher Bruce, 1977
Dancing Day
Christopher Bruce, 1981
Duets
Christopher Bruce, 1973
Echoes of a Night Sky
Christopher Bruce, 1976/1977
''for those who die as cattle''
Christopher Bruce, 1972
Four Scenes
Christopher Bruce, 1998
George Frideric
Christopher Bruce, 1969
Ghost Dances
Christopher Bruce, 1981
Girl with Straw Hat
Christopher Bruce, 1976
God's Plenty
Christopher Bruce, 1999
Grinning in Your Face
Christopher Bruce, 2001
Hurricane (A Pantomime)
Christopher Bruce, 2000/2001
Hush
Christopher Bruce, 2006/2009
Intimate Pages
Christopher Bruce, 1984
Land
Christopher Bruce, 1985/1993
Living Space
Christopher Bruce, 1969
Meeting Point
Christopher Bruce, 1995
Moonshine
Christopher Bruce, 1993/1996
Night with Waning Moon
Christopher Bruce, 1979
Preludes and Song
Christopher Bruce, 1980
Promenade
Christopher Bruce, 1976
Quicksilver
Christopher Bruce, 1996
Rooster
Christopher Bruce, 1991/1994
Sergeant Early's Dream
Christopher Bruce, 1984
Sidewalk
Christopher Bruce, 1979
A Steel Garden
Christopher Bruce, 2005
Stream
Christopher Bruce, 1996
Swansong
Christopher Bruce, 1987/1995
There was a Time
Christopher Bruce, 1973
Weekend
Christopher Bruce, 1974
Wings
Christopher Bruce, 1970/1971

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 		Laiderette Guest/Pierrot Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London
28 Nov 1966
Evening 		Time Base* 4.16 Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London
1 Dec 1966
Evening 		Diversities Ragtime Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London
1 Dec 1966
Evening 		Numéros Dancer Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London
26 Jan 1967
Evening 		Pierrot Lunaire* Pierrot Richmond Theatre, London
12 Jun 1967
Evening 		Hazard * Cosmos and Ego Theatre Royal, Bath
12 Jun 1967
Evening 		Hazard * The Choice Theatre Royal, Bath
12 Jun 1967
Evening 		Hazard * The Unattainable Theatre Royal, Bath
12 Jun 1967
Evening 		Hazard * Battle 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 Cosmos and Ego Richmond Theatre, London
25 Jan 1968
Evening 		Hazard The Choice Richmond Theatre, London
25 Jan 1968
Evening 		Hazard The Unattainable Richmond Theatre, London
25 Jan 1968
Evening 		Hazard Battle 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
Matinee 		Bertram Batell's Sideshow* One of The Brothers Zucchini Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London
28 Mar 1970
Evening 		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
Matinee 		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
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 		Theme and Variations * Dancer Young Vic Theatre, London
9 Mar 1972
Evening 		''for those who die as cattle'' * 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 		Les Saltimbanques* Dancer Young Vic Theatre, London
17 Apr 1973
Evening 		Stop-Over 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 3 Dancer Young Vic Theatre, London
17 Apr 1973
Evening 		Interim 2 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