Claudia Moore
Encyclopedia
Claudia Moore is a dance
r and choreographer
who resides in Toronto
, Canada
. She is the artistic director
of MOonhORsE dance theatre. Claudia Moore has been creating and performing movement for theatre, film, multi-disciplinary collaboration and her own dance theatre productions since the late 1970s.
Recent works include "Ever thus" (2006), "By night" (2004), "Casa" (2003), "On earth" (2002) and "Small midnight" (2001), co-choreographed by Moore and Tedd Robinson. "Box pieces", her first dance film, was commissioned by director Paul Carrière from Canada’s Bravo! art channel. Claudia’s work has been presented in Montreal
, Vancouver
, Halifax, Peterborough
, Buffalo
and New York
. Claudia also choreographed the film Exotica
by Atom Egoyan
.
at sixteen years old, touring Europe and the United States from 1971 to 1973. Her curiosity led her beyond classical ballet. She joined the Felix Blaska Company in France in 1973 and studied physical theatre with Lindsay Kemp
in London
. Returning to Canada, Claudia danced with the Contemporary Dance Theatre of Montreal
. In 1976 she joined the Toronto Dance Theatre and in 1980, became a founding member of Desrosiers Dance Theatre, performing major roles with those companies until 1987. She performed on video and on film, including "L'Oiseau de Feu" for CBC
Montreal and Leonard Cohen
's "I am a Hotel".
She also performed original works by Canadian choreographers including Serge Bennathan, Peter Chin
, Ginette Laurin, James Kudelka
, Lola MacLaughlin and Tedd Robinson.
. Since that time, she has created more than forty works, which have been performed in Paris
, Toronto
, Montreal
and Vancouver
.
Her work is character-driven and displays a personal style of dance-theatre, influenced by her studies with physical theatre artists Lindsay Kemp
, Yoshi Oida and Philippe Gaulier
. Her movement vocabulary is rich in gesture and finds expression in the entire body. Texts are often incorporated into the work, with sources ranging from Shakespeare to the original work of Claudia’s own cast. She also works closely with composers, musicians and designers to create in each project a hybrid of dance, theatre, music, performance art and visual design.
. Since its inception, the company has created an original body of dance theatre.
Moore's choreography is "body poetry", expressing the human condition with a startling physical imagination. Along with her gifted performers, she weaves movement from the whimsy, drama, and passion of life. MOonhORsE dance theatre encompasses a range of artistic endeavors including "Older and Reckless" - a performance series that features new work by senior dance artists and "Poetry in Space" - the company's professional development workshops. MOonhORsE dance theatre also commissions guest choreographers, co-produces dancefilm projects and contributes to the education of young people in the field of the performing arts.
- Claudia Moore at Verity; solos by Tedd Robinson; October 18, 2007
- Claudia Moore at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre; solos by Tedd Robinson and Carol Anderson; duet by Tedd Robinson with Rebekah Rimsay; June 2007
- Ever Thus, various; Moonhorse Dance Theatre; October 2006
- This Castle; various; Moonhorse Dance Theatre; October 2005
- Lady Macbeth solo from This Castle; Edgy Women Festival, Montreal; November 2005 the Hysteria Festival, Buddies in Bad Times and Nightwood Theatre November 2004
- By Night April 2004
- Lap Dogs and Other Restrictions, choreographer, Lola MacLaughlin, June 2003
- Three Women' (2000)
- Wishes (1998)
- Duality, Première Dance Theatre, February 1997
- Building Jerusalem, Theatre Centre, January 1997
- NorthEastSouthWest, by Peter Chin Dancemakers Studio, November 1996
- Horse on the Moon, DuMaurier Theatre Centre, February 1993
- Desrosiers Dance Theatre. 1980-1988
- Toronto Dance Theatre. 1976-1980.
- Contemporary Dance Theatre of Montreal. 1975.
- Listen to the Radio Pukka Orchestra. 1984.
- I Am A Hotel Leonard Cohen. CBC Toronto. 1983.
- I Want to be Alone Margaret Dragu. 1987.
- Lumière Rhombus/Desrosiers Dance Theatre. 1986.
- Nelligan Ann Ditchburn/Jurgen Lutz. 1984.
- This Castle The Theatre Centre, October 2005 – 70 mins.
- By Night Dancemakers Studio, April 2004 – 65 mins.
- CASA The Theatre Centre, June 2003 – 35 mins.
- On earth (Choreographer and performer) Theatre Centre, June 2002 - 60 mins.
- Small Midnight (Co-Choreographer with Tedd Robinson and performer) Artword Theatre, May 2001, Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College, September 2001 - 60 mins.
- Three Women (Choreographer and performer) Theatre Centre and Peterborough New Dance, February 2000- 50 mins.
- Wishes (Choreographer and performer) du Maurier Theatre Centre, February 1998- 65 mins.
- Dragon singing in my belly leads me to the darkest night Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Dec. 1995- 60 mins.
- Dying to be Sick, Pleiades Theatre (co-production Theatre Centre, Pleiades Theatre and National Arts Centre) Oct.2007
- Juliet (and Romeo) Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People October 2004
- Romeo and Juliet ShakespeareWorks June 2004
- Building Jerusalem (Choreographer and performer) Factory Theatre, January 2000
- Opium Carbone 14 Choreographer and performer, Theatre Festival of the Americas, Mtl. May 1989.
- Requiems for the Party Girl du Maurier Theatre Centre, October 1993
- The Alchemical Theatre of Hermes Trismegistos Union Station, July 1992
- On the Town, Shaw Festival, Spring/Summer 1992
“Reconstructing Sylvia” by Rebecca Todd, Eye magazine, January 27, 2000
“Ambitious wishes compelling theatre” by Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail
, February 13, 1998
“Claudia Moore makes shifts in her sensibilities” by Daryl Jung, Now Magazine
, February 5–11, 1998
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r and choreographer
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
who resides in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She is the artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of MOonhORsE dance theatre. Claudia Moore has been creating and performing movement for theatre, film, multi-disciplinary collaboration and her own dance theatre productions since the late 1970s.
Recent works include "Ever thus" (2006), "By night" (2004), "Casa" (2003), "On earth" (2002) and "Small midnight" (2001), co-choreographed by Moore and Tedd Robinson. "Box pieces", her first dance film, was commissioned by director Paul Carrière from Canada’s Bravo! art channel. Claudia’s work has been presented in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Halifax, Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Claudia also choreographed the film Exotica
Exotica
Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
by Atom Egoyan
Atom Egoyan
Atom Egoyan, OC is a critically acclaimed Armenian-Canadian stage director and film director. Egoyan made his career breakthrough with Exotica...
.
The dancer
Moore began ballet class with Stella Appelbaum at the Dance Arts Studio in Buffalo and fell in love with dancing. At age twelve, she became a student at the National Ballet School in Toronto. She began performing with the National Ballet of CanadaNational Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
at sixteen years old, touring Europe and the United States from 1971 to 1973. Her curiosity led her beyond classical ballet. She joined the Felix Blaska Company in France in 1973 and studied physical theatre with Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Returning to Canada, Claudia danced with the Contemporary Dance Theatre of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. In 1976 she joined the Toronto Dance Theatre and in 1980, became a founding member of Desrosiers Dance Theatre, performing major roles with those companies until 1987. She performed on video and on film, including "L'Oiseau de Feu" for CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Montreal and Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "I am a Hotel".
She also performed original works by Canadian choreographers including Serge Bennathan, Peter Chin
Peter Chin
Peter Chin may refer to:* Peter Chin , mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand*Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Malaysia; also the Member of Parliament for Miri, Sarawak...
, Ginette Laurin, James Kudelka
James Kudelka
James Kudelka, OC, , is a choreographer, dancer, and director. He was the artistic director for the National Ballet of Canada from 1996 to 2005, now serving as the National Ballet's artist in residence....
, Lola MacLaughlin and Tedd Robinson.
The choreographer
She choreographed her first work, "Chrysalis", in 1977 in a workshop at Toronto Dance TheatreToronto Dance Theatre
The Toronto Dance Theatre is a Canadian modern dance company based in Toronto, Ontario. Described by The Canadian Encyclopedia as "one of the foremost modern-dance companies in Canada", the company tours nationally and internationally and regularly performs at the Harbourfront Centre and Winchester...
. Since that time, she has created more than forty works, which have been performed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Her work is character-driven and displays a personal style of dance-theatre, influenced by her studies with physical theatre artists Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
, Yoshi Oida and Philippe Gaulier
Philippe Gaulier
Philippe Gaulier is founder of École Philippe Gaulier, a theatre school located in Sceaux, near Paris. He trained with Jacques Lecoq from 1965 - 67. Then became a teacher at École Jacques Lecoq from 1976 - 80. Gaulier is also a playwright and has worked as a clown and theatre director...
. Her movement vocabulary is rich in gesture and finds expression in the entire body. Texts are often incorporated into the work, with sources ranging from Shakespeare to the original work of Claudia’s own cast. She also works closely with composers, musicians and designers to create in each project a hybrid of dance, theatre, music, performance art and visual design.
MOonhORsE Dance Theatre
In 1996, she founded MOonhORsE dance theatre (“moon” for poetry, “horse” for physical) as a forum for the deepening of her choreographic language and the creation of contemporary danceContemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
. Since its inception, the company has created an original body of dance theatre.
Moore's choreography is "body poetry", expressing the human condition with a startling physical imagination. Along with her gifted performers, she weaves movement from the whimsy, drama, and passion of life. MOonhORsE dance theatre encompasses a range of artistic endeavors including "Older and Reckless" - a performance series that features new work by senior dance artists and "Poetry in Space" - the company's professional development workshops. MOonhORsE dance theatre also commissions guest choreographers, co-produces dancefilm projects and contributes to the education of young people in the field of the performing arts.
Awards
- Dora Award for the Best New Choreography with “wishes” in 1998.
- Jacqueline Lemieux Prize (Prix Jacqueline-Lemieux) for her work as choreographer and performer in 2001.
Stage
- Moore performs Morning Blues by Carol Anderson, York Faculty Show, Jan. 31, 2008- Claudia Moore at Verity; solos by Tedd Robinson; October 18, 2007
- Claudia Moore at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre; solos by Tedd Robinson and Carol Anderson; duet by Tedd Robinson with Rebekah Rimsay; June 2007
- Ever Thus, various; Moonhorse Dance Theatre; October 2006
- This Castle; various; Moonhorse Dance Theatre; October 2005
- Lady Macbeth solo from This Castle; Edgy Women Festival, Montreal; November 2005 the Hysteria Festival, Buddies in Bad Times and Nightwood Theatre November 2004
- By Night April 2004
- Lap Dogs and Other Restrictions, choreographer, Lola MacLaughlin, June 2003
- Three Women' (2000)
- Wishes (1998)
- Duality, Première Dance Theatre, February 1997
- Building Jerusalem, Theatre Centre, January 1997
- NorthEastSouthWest, by Peter Chin Dancemakers Studio, November 1996
- Horse on the Moon, DuMaurier Theatre Centre, February 1993
- Desrosiers Dance Theatre. 1980-1988
- Toronto Dance Theatre. 1976-1980.
- Contemporary Dance Theatre of Montreal. 1975.
Video lead roles
- Lovers in a Dangerous Time Bruce Cockburn. 1984.- Listen to the Radio Pukka Orchestra. 1984.
- I Am A Hotel Leonard Cohen. CBC Toronto. 1983.
Film
- Top of His Head Peter Mettler. 1987.- I Want to be Alone Margaret Dragu. 1987.
- Lumière Rhombus/Desrosiers Dance Theatre. 1986.
- Nelligan Ann Ditchburn/Jurgen Lutz. 1984.
Miscellaneous
- Ever Thus The Young Centre for the Performing Arts, September 2006 – 70 mins.- This Castle The Theatre Centre, October 2005 – 70 mins.
- By Night Dancemakers Studio, April 2004 – 65 mins.
- CASA The Theatre Centre, June 2003 – 35 mins.
- On earth (Choreographer and performer) Theatre Centre, June 2002 - 60 mins.
- Small Midnight (Co-Choreographer with Tedd Robinson and performer) Artword Theatre, May 2001, Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College, September 2001 - 60 mins.
- Three Women (Choreographer and performer) Theatre Centre and Peterborough New Dance, February 2000- 50 mins.
- Wishes (Choreographer and performer) du Maurier Theatre Centre, February 1998- 65 mins.
- Dragon singing in my belly leads me to the darkest night Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Dec. 1995- 60 mins.
Theatre
- The Snow Queen, Alon Nashman, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, December 2007- Dying to be Sick, Pleiades Theatre (co-production Theatre Centre, Pleiades Theatre and National Arts Centre) Oct.2007
- Juliet (and Romeo) Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People October 2004
- Romeo and Juliet ShakespeareWorks June 2004
- Building Jerusalem (Choreographer and performer) Factory Theatre, January 2000
- Opium Carbone 14 Choreographer and performer, Theatre Festival of the Americas, Mtl. May 1989.
Contemporary opera
- Facing South Tapestry New Opera – April 2003- Requiems for the Party Girl du Maurier Theatre Centre, October 1993
- The Alchemical Theatre of Hermes Trismegistos Union Station, July 1992
Music theatre
- Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Shaw Festival 1993- On the Town, Shaw Festival, Spring/Summer 1992
Resources
Christine Moynihan, Dance Umbrella of Ontario“Reconstructing Sylvia” by Rebecca Todd, Eye magazine, January 27, 2000
“Ambitious wishes compelling theatre” by Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
, February 13, 1998
“Claudia Moore makes shifts in her sensibilities” by Daryl Jung, Now Magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
, February 5–11, 1998
External links
- http://www.moonhorse.ca/index.php - company’s description and contact.
- http://www.danceumbrella.net/clients_moonhorse.htm - bio, repertoire, photos and press releases.