Christopher Bruce Flashcards
Who was Christopher Bruce?
He was a British dancer and choreographer.
What was Bruce’s early dance training?
He trained with Ballet Rambert when he was 13 years old.(1958)
When did he first start to dance?
Began to study tap and ballet at age 11,1956 because his father believed it would help strengthen Bruce’s legs after suffering from polio.
What are Bruce’s stylistic features?
Fuses of dance style,poltical themes, minimal set, explores the ideas of universal themes, use of ballet and graham technique.
How did Norman Morrice influence Bruce?
Whilst Morrice was artistic director for Rambert, brought it choreographers to produce workshops that trained in graham e.g. glen Tetley, after the ford foundation grant in 1962 he said the change needs to happened so her brought over graham technique to ballet Rambert where this influenced modern into Bruce’s style. Morrice also has a theme of showing universal themes based on humanity.
Where can you see Norman Morrice’s influences in Bruce’s work?
-Ghost Dances 1981=political themes universal themes based on humanity with the oppression of Chile.
-Swansong 1987=universal themes with the costume.
How did Glen Tetley influence Bruce?
Tetley was a American Ballet and modern choreographer trained by graham, fused ballet and modern dance together create a new way of looking at dance. Morrice brought him over as a choreographer and showed fusion of dance style and worked with Bruce e.g. 1967 Preriot Lunaire.
Where can you see Glen Tetley’s influences in Bruce’s work?
-swansong 1987=fusion of dance styles e.g. ballet modern and ballroom in tea for two also use of tap.
-Rooster 1991=forms of social dances fuses with modern and ballet aswell.
How did Martha Graham influence Bruce?
Martha Graham was an American dancer and created the graham technique=spiral,release,contraction of the torso effortful and floorwork. Bruce took use of floor work, flexed feet,contaction,spirals and use of parrel. Morrice after ford foundation grant introduced modern, when Tetley comes over he fuses modern in his pieces when choreographing for Bruce.
Where can you see Martha Graham influences in Bruce’s work?
-swansong 1987=last solo contraction to chair at the start.
-cruel garden 1977=mourners section contacting and releasing on the floor in a circle.
-Ghost dances 1981=effortful Plie hands in front.
How did Marie Rambert influence Bruce?
Bruce trained at Ballet Rambert intense training and many performances-strong ballet influence. When Marie Rambert was at Ballet Ruses took the influence of everything having a purpose.
Where can you see Marie Rambert influences in Bruce’s work?
-Ghost Dances 1981=set shows location which is also part of intentions of the work. Also use of ballet technique e.g. attitude and arm wiggle
-Sargent’s early dream 1984=the set helps link to the intention migration.
How did Anna Sokolow influence Bruce?
She danced at the Martha Graham Dance Company and produced socially aware political themes also used popular music. She became guest choreographer for Rambert in 1967 and 1970,her choreographing was seen and exposed by Bruce.
Where can you see Anna Sokolow influences in Bruce’s work?
-Rooster 1991=popular music e.g. rolling stones
-Ghost Dances 1981=Political theme oppression of Chile.
