Peter Quanz
Encyclopedia
Peter Quanz is a Canadian choreographer.
Quanz, who was born in Kitchener
, Ontario
, Canada
, says he knew he wanted to be a choreographer at the age of nine. His parents, both school teachers, enrolled him in ballet
classes. Quanz attended the Integrated Arts Program at Eastwood Collegiate Institute
for three years, before attending the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
School, from which he graduated in 1999. During his time in Winnipeg, Quanz was mentored by the late Dr. Arnold Spohr
, CC.. Upon graduation, Quanz was awarded the Judy and Henny Jurriëns Choreographic Fellowship which afforded him a period to study ballet repertory, observing diverse choreographers and companies in Europe. From 2000 to 2002 Quanz worked as a member of the Stuttgart Ballet
, an opportunity which enabled Quanz to continue his studies on the art form. During this time, Quanz was also supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and a Chalmers Performing Arts Grant.
Quanz began his choreographic career by creating piece for young choreographers’ evenings, such as Fast Forward (Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Noverre (Stuttgart Ballet
), the New York Choreographic Institute (New York City Ballet
), and Cascades (National Ballet of Canada
). Quanz’s pieces in these workshops attracted considerable attention from critics and helping Quanz launch his career.
In 2003, Quanz created SpringScape for the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Two years later, March 12, 2005, Quanz premiered his first full-length ballet, Charlie’s Cruise, for Ballett Chemnitz to rave reviews. Later that year, Quanz was the recipient of the Clifford E. Lee Award, for which he created Quantz by Quanz, a piece that was reconceived in 2009 for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He also created Kaleidoscope for the American Ballet Theatre
, Quanz’s first tutu
ballet. This piece was reworked for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
in 2008. On July 7, 2007 Quanz created Aria Suspended for the legendary Kirov Ballet of the Mariinsky Theatre
, becoming the first Canadian to choreography for the company. The following year, Quanz was commissioned by Pennsylvania Ballet
, creating Jupiter Symphony.
Q Dance
Quanz’s redeveloped his style in 2009 with In Tandem, a work set to Steve Reich
’s Pulitzer Prize
-winning score Double Sextet
. In Tandem was commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum
, Works & Process
workshop and Quanz used dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Quanz’s experience creating this piece led to the formation of Q Dance / Quanz Danse which was launched in the spring of 2010.
Quanz continued this style with his piece Luminous commissioned by Hong Kong Ballet
and research and developed during Quanz’s time with the National Choreographers Initiative
. Quanz returned to his classical roots for the creation of Le Papillon, National Ballet of Cuba. A 90th birthday gift for Alicia Alonso
.
Quanz, who was born in Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
, says he knew he wanted to be a choreographer at the age of nine. His parents, both school teachers, enrolled him in ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
classes. Quanz attended the Integrated Arts Program at Eastwood Collegiate Institute
Eastwood Collegiate Institute
Eastwood Collegiate Institute is a public high school located at 760 Weber Street East in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1956. The school teams are known as the "Rebels". Eastwood is known for its Provincially ranked soccer teams, as well as its Integrated Arts Program...
for three years, before attending the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
School, from which he graduated in 1999. During his time in Winnipeg, Quanz was mentored by the late Dr. Arnold Spohr
Arnold Spohr
Arnold Theodore Spohr, was a Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer, and artistic director.Spohr was born in Rhein, Saskatchewan...
, CC.. Upon graduation, Quanz was awarded the Judy and Henny Jurriëns Choreographic Fellowship which afforded him a period to study ballet repertory, observing diverse choreographers and companies in Europe. From 2000 to 2002 Quanz worked as a member of the Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet was the first major German ballet company. It rose to fame in the 1960s under Artistic Director John Cranko. The company, which is renowned for presentations of full-length narrative ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Eugene Onegin, The Taming of the Shrew, John Neumeier's Die...
, an opportunity which enabled Quanz to continue his studies on the art form. During this time, Quanz was also supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and a Chalmers Performing Arts Grant.
Quanz began his choreographic career by creating piece for young choreographers’ evenings, such as Fast Forward (Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Noverre (Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet was the first major German ballet company. It rose to fame in the 1960s under Artistic Director John Cranko. The company, which is renowned for presentations of full-length narrative ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Eugene Onegin, The Taming of the Shrew, John Neumeier's Die...
), the New York Choreographic Institute (New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
), and Cascades (National Ballet of Canada
National 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...
). Quanz’s pieces in these workshops attracted considerable attention from critics and helping Quanz launch his career.
In 2003, Quanz created SpringScape for the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Two years later, March 12, 2005, Quanz premiered his first full-length ballet, Charlie’s Cruise, for Ballett Chemnitz to rave reviews. Later that year, Quanz was the recipient of the Clifford E. Lee Award, for which he created Quantz by Quanz, a piece that was reconceived in 2009 for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He also created Kaleidoscope for the American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
, Quanz’s first tutu
Tutu
Tutu may refer to:* Ballet tutu, a type of costume for ballet performances* Tutu , poisonous New Zealand plants of the genus Coriaria* Tutu , a 1986 album by Miles Davis* Tūtū, a composition by Liliuokalani of Hawaii...
ballet. This piece was reworked for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal is a Canadian ballet company based in Montreal, Quebec.It was founded in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff. Conductor and composer Michel Perrault served as the organization's first music director. In 2000, Gradimir Pankov became Artistic Director...
in 2008. On July 7, 2007 Quanz created Aria Suspended for the legendary Kirov Ballet of the Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
, becoming the first Canadian to choreography for the company. The following year, Quanz was commissioned by Pennsylvania Ballet
Pennsylvania Ballet
Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the leading ballet companies in the United States. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the company’s annual local season features six programs of classic favorites and new works, including the...
, creating Jupiter Symphony.
Q Dance
Quanz’s redeveloped his style in 2009 with In Tandem, a work set to Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
’s Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning score Double Sextet
Double Sextet
Double Sextet is a composition by Steve Reich scored for two sextets of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, vibraphone and piano. It won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Music, the first for the composer...
. In Tandem was commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim Museum may refer to:* The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, United States* The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy* The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain* The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in Las Vegas, United States...
, Works & Process
Works & Process
Works & Process at the Guggenheim is a performing-arts series at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Works & Process informs artistic creation through conversation and performance, and is presented in the Guggenheim’s Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Peter B...
workshop and Quanz used dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Quanz’s experience creating this piece led to the formation of Q Dance / Quanz Danse which was launched in the spring of 2010.
Quanz continued this style with his piece Luminous commissioned by Hong Kong Ballet
Hong Kong Ballet
The Hong Kong Ballet is Hong Kong's leading professional ballet company, and also the famous group for Classical Ballet, since it founded in 1979....
and research and developed during Quanz’s time with the National Choreographers Initiative
National Choreographers Initiative
National Choreographers Initiative is a non-profit dance organization based in Irvine, California, that promotes choreographers from all over the United States in their pursuits to develop the professional ballet world...
. Quanz returned to his classical roots for the creation of Le Papillon, National Ballet of Cuba. A 90th birthday gift for Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso Martínez is the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer. Her company became the Ballet de Cuba in 1955....
.