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The 2004 winner is Christopher Wheeldon
The nominations:
Alastair Marriott (Being and Having Been),
David Nixon (A Midsummer Night's Dream),
Christopher Wheeldon (Rush)
More information about each choreographer is given below:
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Alastair Marriott
(Royal Ballet)
Trained at Deal Dance Centre and the Royal Ballet School, Alastair Marriott joined the Royal Ballet in 1988 and was promoted to Soloist in 1996. He has choreographed Night Falls Fast (2001) Grey Garden (2002) and Prelude and Fugue (2003). Being and Having Been to Igor Markevitch’s revolutionary score L’Envoi d’Icare was premiered during the 2004 “Inspired by Diaghilev” season. The work, with its theme of flight and departure, stands out for its movement vocabulary, in which classical steps are seamlessly fused with pedestrian movement and a cheeky sense of parody, and for the witty designs by Adam Wiltshire.
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David Nixon
(Northern Ballet Theatre)
Since taking over as Artistic Director of Northern Ballet Theatre in August 2001, David Nixon has reinvigorated the company, raising technical standards. His full evening works, such as the entertaining A Midsummer Night’s Dream, continue the company’s dramatic tradition whilst containing a much great dance content. Born in Canada, he trained at the National Ballet School of Canada and progressed to the rank of principal with National Ballet of Canada before working with several European companies. He became first ballet master of Deutscher Oper Ballet in 1990 and was Artistic Director of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio for six years from 1994.
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Christopher Wheeldon
(San Francisco Ballet)
Resident choreographer of New York City Ballet since 2002, Christopher Wheeldon trained at The Royal Ballet School, joining The Royal Ballet in 1991, the year he won the Gold Medal at the Prix de Lausanne. In 1993 he joined NYCB and was promoted to soloist in 1998, retiring from dancing in 2000 to concentrate on choreography. A classical choreographer of originality, Wheeldon’s work is in great demand and can be seen in the repertories of companies around the world. He created the ballet sequence for the feature film Center Stage in 2000 and choreographed the Broadway show Sweet Smell of Success in 2002 and Tryst for the Royal Ballet. San Francisco Ballet premiered Rush at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival.
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Picture credits
Christopher Hampson © Bill Cooper,
Alastair Marriott © Royal Opera House,
David Nixon © HANSON,
Christopher Wheeldon © Holger Badekow.
All text is © copyright of the Critics' Circle / National Dance Awards. |
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