Christopher Watson Dance Company

Celebrating our 32nd Season!

Another season and a new beginning!

We are preparing for our first formal concert since November 2019! It has been wonderful to be back rehearsing together in-person. Most of our rehearsals take place at the studios of the St. Paul Ballet on Fairview Avenue North, off University Avenue, in St. Paul. The studio is large, allowing us to “move big” and accommodate our expanded company of 16 dancers. Last spring we had an audition that attracted a great number of gifted performers. Following a challenging process of selecting who to add to the company, we chose six wonderful movers to join us: Romeo Cannady, Kendall Edstrom, Kaitlyn Hawkins, Hai Dang Nguyen, Leeah Schuhwerck, and Genevieve Waterbury. It’s exciting to have these energetic new company members.

Last season Becky Heist and I co-choreographed a new dance based on ours and our dancers’ experiences during the pandemic. We used the poem "Sideways" by Gregory Luce and the musical composition "Locked in Place" by George Hurd as catalysts for expressing what we'd been through during the pandemic. This past July the dance premiered at Dances on the Lakewalk in Duluth and was then performed in Dances at the Lake in Minneapolis. We’ll present “Sideways” again in our concert this coming February.

The February concert will be held at the newly renovated Luminary Arts Center (formerly the Guthrie Theater Lab) in the North Loop area of downtown Minneapolis. The Luminary is now owned by the Minnesota Opera. We performed in this extraordinary venue during the Minnesota Fringe Festival in August 2011 on a shared program with Jeffrey Peterson. The beautiful performance space has been upgraded to include an enlarged lobby, new seating for the audience and a sprung dance floor. 

In addition to me and Becky, choreographers Anne-Marie Wittenberg, Sarah LaRose-Holland, Sarah Hauss, Jennifer Mack, Genevieve Waterbury, Erin Thompson and Thern Anderson are contributing to the February program. Music used for the dances in the program ranges from new music by Kerry Muzzey to classics by J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Jimi Hendrix, Tina Turner, and Janis Joplin.

 Following the intense period of the pandemic, “re-entry”—into life and performance—is particularly poignant for me. During the height of the pandemic, I underwent a revolutionary form of bone marrow transplant for a recurrence of lymphoma. I am now cancer-free. I am truly blessed.

So much of what we all knew before Covid has changed in some way. For me, my whole world has been transformed as a result of my experience, in ways I am still struggling to understand. What I hope to convey in dance are the conflicting emotions and responses we've had to what we've experienced and the hope for a better, if altered, future.

 I am particularly proud of the strong relationships between the members of our multi-generational company. We are a nimble group of artists. Our art helps us respond to what we experience in the world and our strong ties keep us connected during the challenges we face. 

We count on contributions from our generous donors to continue our work. We thank you for your past support and invite you to contribute to our 2022/2023 season. 

Thank you and best wishes to you!

Christopher

COMPANY MEMBERS:

 Anne-Marie Wittenberg

Christopher Watson

Genevieve Waterbury

Leeah Schuhwerck

Hai Dang Nguyen

Lori Mercil

Jennifer Mack

Sarah LaRose-Holland

Catlin Henderson Murphy

Becky Heist

Kaitlyn Hawkins

Sarah Hauss

Gerry Girouard

Kendall Edstrom

Romeo Cannady

Megan Bridges

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

 Jean W. Thiel

Raymond D. Terrill

Sandy Grossman

Matthew Thiel

Barbara H. Brown

Christopher Watson

Website: christopherwatsondance.org

Email: cwdc1991@gmail.com

 Christopher Watson Dance Company is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization. Our federal tax ID is #68-0280745. Your gift to CWDC is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

***** Many thanks to Steve Peterson for the use of his beautiful photos. *****