Christopher House has played a leading role in Canadian dance since the early eighties. Kinetic brilliance, musical audacity, poetic mystery and beautiful craftsmanship are the hallmarks of his choreography. He has been Artistic Director of Toronto Dance Theatre since 1994.

Born and raised in St. Johns Newfoundland, Christopher House studied dance with such teachers as Elizabeth Langley, Nikki Cole, Alfredo Corvino, Gary Masters, Lawrence Rhodes, David Earle and Benjamin Harkarvy. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in political science in 1976, and from York University with a B.F.A. (Hons.) in 1979.
 

Mr. House first appeared with Toronto Dance Theatre in their anniversary season in 1978. He has also been featured as a guest artist with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and with Peggy Baker. Resident choreographer of TDT since 1981, he has created more than 40 works for the company. He has also choreographed for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Peggy Baker, Ballet British Columbia, the National Ballet of Canada and Lisbons Ballet Gulbenkian, among others.

Christopher House has taught as the guest of many organizations including Simon Fraser University, Université de Quebéc a Montréal, les Atéliers de danse moderne de Montréal, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, the National Ballet School, the Julliard School and the Rotterdam Dansacademie. He is currently a guest faculty member of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre.

His honours and awards include the Jean A. Chalmers Award in Choreography, two Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award, the Toronto International Festival Music/Dance Award and, most recently, the Choo San Goh Award for Choreography (1999).

Houses recent works include Nest, his critically acclaimed full-length work presented at Toronto's Harbourfront in February 2000, and Slippergarden, commissioned by the Brock Centre of the Arts. Upcoming projects include commissions from the Yukon Arts Centre and from Music Canada 2000, and a new collaboration with filmmaker Moze Mossanen.

Go Yet Turning Stay (1986)

World Premiere, Eric Harvie Theatre
July 17, 18 & 19, 1986

Choreography: Christopher House
Music: Igor Stravinsky LHistoire du Soldat (suite)

The 1986 Festival Dance Company 
in Go Yet Turning Stay.
Photo: Monte Greenshields