Christopher Hampson
Choreographer




About Me | Review Quotes | Where to See my Work | More Hampson | Contact




Birthplace
Manchester, UK

Training
Royal Ballet School

Previous affiliations
Danced with English National Ballet 1992-1999
Ballet Master for City Ballet of London 1999-2000
Assistant Director for Princess Margaret Gala at Sadler’s Wells
Assistant Director for Dame Beryl Grey’s Gala at Sadler’s Wells
Director for Raymond Gubbay’s Strauss Gala

Created work for
English National Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, National Theatre Prague, Wayne Sleep, City Ballet of London, Royal Festival Hall (A Christmas Carol), English National Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School, Royal Academy of Dance

Most recent commissions
Cinderella for Royal New Zealand Ballet
Three Dialogues for The Royal Ballet School
Giselle for the National Theatre Prague
Sinfonietta Giocosa for Atlanta Ballet

Awards
Barclays Theatre Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Dance” (Double Concerto) 2002
Critics' Circle National Dance Award, Best Classical Choreography (Double Concerto) 2002
Nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award (Romeo and Juliet) 2005

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Review Quotes


Cinderella

“A masterpiece...it combines the quintessential elements of expressive story-telling, lovely choreography and stunning sets.”
Francesca Horsley, NZ Listener

“If you are looking for magic, you will find it here...a breathtaking Cinderella that will enchant audiences lucky enough to see it.”
Ann Hunt, Sunday Star-Times.


Sinfonietta Giocosa

“In Sinfonietta Giocosa Mr. Hampson fulfilled his promise and then some…A masterly new choreographic voice”
Gia Kourlas, New York Times

“Christopher Hampson’s Sinfonietta Giacosa to Martinu, is seriously stylish...Hampson’s special gift is a natural ability to weave a corps de ballet through music like an extra line in the score; utterly charming.”
Jeffery Taylor, Sunday Express

“Starting and ending with the full ensemble in formal patterns, Hampson goes on to set one dancer after another in solos, duets or trios, so inventive and often unexpected that successively we are led to think of each one as the lead. A truly exhilarating performance is the outcome...”
John Percival, The Stage

“Hampson’s choreography for a large ensemble in Sinfonietta Giocosa is clean-lined, nimble and demanding of stamina...”
David Dougill, Sunday Times

“Set to compelling Martinu, this sharply designed piece is a stylish and carefully crafted visualisation of the Czech composer's lush modernity...”
Mark Monahan, The Telegraph

“Everything about Hampson’s piece is right - [his] choreography is of bright, sparkling, incessant speed which the dancers attack with élan...”
Ian Palmer, Ballet.co Magazine

Sinfonietta Giocosa, which opens the program, is so high energy and requires such technical finesse as to be positively scary at times. Sassy chic meets grand ballet --- seamlessly”
Susan Elliott, Atlanta Journal


Double Concerto

“Hampson’s Double Concerto is a resoundingly pleasing ballet, oozing confidence and stylish glamour”
Ismene Brown, The Telegraph

“Hampson’s sensational new work for English National Ballet…a creative double whammy, visually ravishing, choreographically packed with wit and inventive human architecture.”
Stephanie Ferguson, The Guardian

“It takes guts and vision to organise a large ensemble work to such a boldly varied yet compact composition. Hampson’s writing has a full-speed-ahead polish that can seem explosive.”
Donald Hutera, The Times

“Hampson’s spectacular Double Concerto…is a winner.”
Jan Parry, The Observer

“…a triumph of imagination and energy. Hampson takes a large ensemble and launches it into a dazzling display of classical dance…”
Debra Craine, The Times


Nutcracker

“I've come round to this entertainingly irrational production”
Jan Parry, The Observer

“Hampson creates attractive formations for flurrying snowflakes and jackfrosts…The divertissement dances are inventive…including the show stopping Arabian dance…”
David Dougill, The Sunday Times

“This is an unusually jolly Nutcracker - designer Gerald Scarfe led the concept with Christopher Hampson as choreographer and between them they have given the characters and the plot wit…a totally original look. If asked for a one-word summing up, it would have to be ‘fun’.
John Percival, The Times


Perpetuum Mobile

“Hampson’s ballet… is sparked by the precision and flamboyant display of the classical language…Decorated with attractive touches and matching the energetic dynamic of the music, Perpetuum Mobile is a happy ballet”
Debra Craine, The Times

Dolin would have been proud of Christopher Hampson…who has become perhaps Britain’s best classical choreographer today. Perpetuum Mobile, is inspired by a Bach violin concerto to an exceptionally lively suite of dances for five women and four men, led with great panache…”
John Percival, The Stage


Romeo and Juliet

“If this were the only Romeo and Juliet I ever saw, I’d die happy.”
Jenny Gilbert, The Independent

“Hampson choreographs, completing his transformation from promising new-comer to established young creator. A magical and moving moment”
John Percival, The Independent

“Hampson’s Romeo and Juliet is a vivid, imaginative account of Prokofiev’s score.”
Jan Parry, The Observer

“[Hampson] unwraps it with finesse – filling the stage with bold strokes of colour and pizzazz one minute, delicate romance the next.”
Kelly Apter, The Scotsman

“Hampson has done them proud…he’s given the main players attractive, intelligent moves, crafted some splendidly lively, characterful ensembles and replacing a carnival parade with a wedding is inspired.”
Mary Brennan, The Herald

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Where to see my work

January-March 2007
STRAUSS GALA
UK tour
Raymond Gubbay
www.raymondgubbay.co.uk

February 7, March 7, 8, 14, 15 2007
GISELLE
National Theatre, Prague, Czech Republic
www.narodni-divadlo.cz

February 20 - 21 2007
SINFONIETTA GIOCOSA
Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe, UK
English National Ballet
www.ballet.org.uk

February 28 - March 1 2007
SINFONIETTA GIOCOSA
Regent, Stoke On Trent, UK
English National Ballet
www.ballet.org.uk

March 6 - 7 2007
SINFONIETTA GIOCOSA
Sadler's Wells, London, UK
English National Ballet
www.ballet.org.uk

March 30 - 31 2007
SINFONIETTA GIOCOSA
Richmond Theatre, London, UK
English National Ballet
www.ballet.org.uk

14 July 2007
NEW CHRISTOPHER HAMPSON
Royal Opera House, London, UK
www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk

August 31 - September 8 2007
CINDERELLA
St. James Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

September 11 - 12 2007
CINDERELLA
Civic Theatre, Invercargill, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

September 15 - 16 2007
CINDERELLA
Regent Theatre, Dunedin, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

September 19 - 22 2007
CINDERELLA
Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

September 25 - 26 2007
CINDERELLA
Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

September 29 - 30 2007
CINDERELLA
Hawke's Bay Opera House, Hastings, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

October 4 - 5 2007
CINDERELLA
Founders Theatre, Hamilton, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

October 10 - 14 2007
CINDERELLA
Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

December 2007
STRAUSS GALA
Barbican, London, UK (and then 30 date UK tour)
Raymond Gubbay
www.raymondgubbay.co.uk

December 2007
NUTCRACKER
Coliseum, London, UK
English National Ballet
www.ballet.org.uk

September 2008
ROMEO AND JULIET
St. James Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Ballet
www.nzballet.org.nz

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Contact:
chris at chistopherhampson d0t c0m

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