Artist
Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Peter Wheeldon OBE (Yeovil, 22 March 1973) is an English ballet choreographer.
Wheeldon hails from Yeovil (county Somerset). As the son of an engineer and a physiotherapist, Wheeldon began training as a ballet dancer at the age of eight. Between the ages of 11 and 18, he attended the Royal Ballet School. In 1991, Wheeldon joined the Royal Ballet, London and that same year he won the gold medal in the Prix de Lausanne competition. In 1993, at the age of 19, Wheeldon moved to New York to join New York City Ballet. Wheeldon was appointed soloist in 1998.
He began choreographing for New York City Ballet in 1997, while continuing his career as a dancer. In 2000, he stopped dancing to concentrate on his choreography.
In 2001, Wheeldon became the house choreographer of New York City Ballet and its first house artist. He was productive in this role and choreographed multiple acclaimed works for the company, of which "Polyphonia" was the first. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented choreographer and various other leading ballet companies, such as San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and the Royal Ballet of London have commissioned works from him. By May 2003, Wheeldon had choreographed at least 23 works.
Wheeldon hails from Yeovil (county Somerset). As the son of an engineer and a physiotherapist, Wheeldon began training as a ballet dancer at the age of eight. Between the ages of 11 and 18, he attended the Royal Ballet School. In 1991, Wheeldon joined the Royal Ballet, London and that same year he won the gold medal in the Prix de Lausanne competition. In 1993, at the age of 19, Wheeldon moved to New York to join New York City Ballet. Wheeldon was appointed soloist in 1998.
He began choreographing for New York City Ballet in 1997, while continuing his career as a dancer. In 2000, he stopped dancing to concentrate on his choreography.
In 2001, Wheeldon became the house choreographer of New York City Ballet and its first house artist. He was productive in this role and choreographed multiple acclaimed works for the company, of which "Polyphonia" was the first. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented choreographer and various other leading ballet companies, such as San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and the Royal Ballet of London have commissioned works from him. By May 2003, Wheeldon had choreographed at least 23 works.
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