Crystal Pite grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. Her dance training has included Pacific Dance Centre in Victoria, and summer programs at The Banff Centre and the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre. In 1988, she joined Ballet British Columbia in Vancouver. During her eight years as a dancer there, she performed in the works of many choreographers, including John Alleyne, Serge Bennathan, David Earle, Barry Ingham, and William Forsythe.

Pite's choreographic debut was in 1990, at Ballet British Columbia's first choreographic workshop. Since then, she has been commissioned to create new works for the Alberta

Ballet, Ballet Jörgen, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Ballet British Columbia, and several independent dance artists. In 1995 she was presented with the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award and was choreographer in residence at The Banff Centre. In 1996 she choreographed and danced solo material in two films: a short dance film entitled A Hollow Place, directed by Dan Sadler, commissioned by Bravo!; and the feature film One Night Stand, directed by Mike Figgis.

In August, 1996, Pite joined Ballett Frankfurt in Germany under the directorship of William Forsythe. She has contributed to Forsythe's new works, and continues to explore dance both as a performer and choreographer from within this stimulating and fascinating environment.

Current projects include a remount of Hopping the Twig, in collaboration with Canadian Sven Johansson, the creator of gravity-free ES dance, for Frankfurt Ballets emerging choreographers series.

Quest (1995)

World Premiere
Eric Harvie Theatre
August 2, 4, 6 9, 11 & 12, 1995

Choreography: Crystal Pite
Music: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Berlin Symphonies: Wq 179/H654 and Wq 178/H653
Lighting Design: Harry Frehner
Costume co-ordinator: Denise Barrett

Gordon Crowder and Tara Butler
dance in Quest.
Photo: Don Lee