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IDENTIFICATION AND BIO: A noted modern dancer and choreographer of more than 20 works, Christopher Gillis was born to two Olympic skiiers in Canada. He began dance training in 1972 with modern dance choreographers May O'Donnell and Norman Walker. He continued his training with Paul Taylor, Finis Jhung, and Cindi Green, and he officially joined the Paul Taylor Company in 1976. His major roles with Taylor included the detective in Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rehearsal), as well as leads in Profiles, Arden Court, and Speaking Tongues. He also danced with the O'Donnell and José Limón companies while making frequent appearances with his sister Margie Gillis, for whom he also choreographed. He began making and showing his own dances in the early 1980s, contributing to the repertories of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project, the Repertory Dance Theater, and the Fairfax Ballet. He died from AIDS-related causes.
KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
Margie Gillis, sister and dancer
Hernando Cortez
HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
Margie Gillis with Christopher Gillis (1990)—videotaped in performance at Brooklyn Academy of Music Carey Plahyouse November 1990, by Character Generators/Video, during the Next Wave Festival; performed by Margie Gillis and Christopher Gillis; two 3/4 in. videocassettes; call number MGZIC 9-2625; works by Christopher Gillis including: Paean—music by Mozart; costumes by Ginger Blake; lighting adapted by Cernovitch; performed by Christopher Gillis. Vers la Glace—choreographed and performed by Margie Gillis and Christopher Gillis; collaborative choreography by James Kudelka; music by Eugene Friesen with David Rothenberg; costumes by Margie Gillis; lighting adapted by Cernovitch. Luvs Alfabete—choreography by Christopher Gillis; music by Dionne Warwick; costumes by Black; performed by Margie Gillis and Christopher Gillis. DIFFA Presents a Demand Performance (1993)—videotaped in performance at New York State Theater 18 October 1993, presented by the Design Industries Foundation for AIDS in collaboration with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; includes a performance of Christopher Gillis's Vers Champs-Elysees; music by Gabriel Fauré; costumes by Michael Kors; performed by Joao Mauricio, Ken Tosti, and others; second of four 3/4 in. videocassettes; call number MGZIC 9-4078.
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
MOVEMENT NOTATION
PRODUCTION MATERIALS
ORAL HISTORY:
PERSONAL PAPERS
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
LIST OR OVERVIEW OF WORKS
Three Solos (n.d.)—solo for C. Gillis; music by Hykes, Hassel, and others; premiere at L'Homme En Movement Festival, Tangent Dance Theater, Montreal Period Piece (1983)—duet for C. and M. Gillis; music by Couperin; premiere at Place Des Arts, Salle Maisoneuve, Montreal Thin Ice (1983)—duet for C. and M. Gillis; music by Ono; premiere at Salle Maisoneuve, Place Des Arts, Montreal Ghilgamesh (1984)—quartet for dancers from American Ballet Theater and Taylor company; music by Eno; premiere at Marymount Manhattan Theater, New York. Ghost Stories (1985)—for eleven dancers; music by Bartok; premiere at Riverside Church, New York. Duet (1985)—for eleven dancers; music by Villa Lobos; premiere at Riverside Church, New York. Labarynth (1985)—for eleven dancers; music by Hassel; premiere at Riverside Church, New York. Vers la Glace (1986)—duet for C. and M. Gillis; music by Freisen; premiere at Place Des Arts, Salle Maisoneuve, Montreal. Paean (1987)—solo for C. Gillis; music by Mozart; premiere at City Center Theater, New York. Luv's Alfabete (1987)—duet for C. and M. Gillis; music by Warwick; premiere at Place Des Arts, Salle Maisoneuve, Montreal. Phoenix (1988)—for Fairfax Ballet; music by Poulenc; premiere in Fairfax, Virginia. Homeward (1988)—for 12 dancers of the Paul Taylor Dance Company; music by Johnston; premiere at City Center Theater, New York. The Holberg Suite (1989)—for 18 dancers of the Fairfax Ballet; music by Grieg; premiere in Fairfax, Virginia. Curbs and Corridors (1990)—for 12 dancers of the Paul Taylor Dance Company; music by Seaver; premiere at City Center Theater, New York. Duet (1991)—for SUNY dance students; music by Brahms; premiere at SUNY Purchase. Icarus at Night (1991)—for 12 dancers of the Paul Taylor Dance Company; music by Brahms; premiere at City Center Theater, New York. Waltz Triste (1992)—for SUNY dance students; music by Sibelius; premiere at SUNY Purchase. Farewell (1992)—duet for C. and M. Gillis; music by Granados; premiere at Joyce Theater, New York. Andalusian Green (1992)—for 11 dancers of the Paul Taylor Dance Company; music by Granados; premiere at Joyce Theater, New York. In Nature's Realm (1992)—for 18 dancers of the Paul Taylor School; music by Dvorak; premiere at Paul Taylor Studios, New York. Landscape (1993)—solo for M. Gillis; music by Grieg; premiere at Joyce Theater, New York. Cow Girls (1993)—for SUNY dance students; music by Patsy Cline; premiere at SUNY Purchase.
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