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the company

We believe modern dance and related art forms are integral and vital components of our healthy individual development as humans and of our evolving collective cultural life. Our mission is to provide high quality, meaningful dance experiences to people of all ages through training, audience education and performance. We focus on providing accessible activities based on the philosophy that concert dance is an art form that can engage all members of the community.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

The Christopher Watson Dance Company (CWDC) was established in 1991 to present the choreography of Artistic Director Christopher Watson. It's mission has expanded to include producing collaborative performances showcasing the work of many artists and companies, including:

Tina Anderson

Ballareteatro Dance Theatre

Baraka de Soleil

Kim Fowler

Robert Gardner

Brad and Cindy Garner

Gerry Girouard

Maria Gomez Tierney

Sarah Hauss

Becky Heist

Hijack

Carol Huncik

Kathleen Hurley

Matt Jensen

Sarah LaRose-Holland

Christine Maginnis

Paula Mann

Michael Monroe

Ana Morel

John Munger

Stacy Pottinger

Ragamala Music and Dance Theater

Doris Ressl

Jane Shockley

Bonnie Simoa

Amy Slater

Sterling Dance

Cynthia Stevens

Jesse Walker

Young Dance

Youth Dance Ensemble

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Christopher Watson

Artistic Director / Performer / Choreographer / Teacher / Presenter 

Christopher Watson was a member of the New Dance Ensemble of Minneapolis and has performed with the Chicago Moving Company, Harbinger Dance Company of Detroit, and Joanna Haigood's Zaccho company in San Francisco, dancing in works by Pearl Lang, David Gordon, Dan Wagoner, Linda Shapiro, Kathryn Posin, Doris Humphrey, and Margaret Jenkins, among others.

Christopher received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Coe College and a Master of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University prior to beginning his dance training. He began dance study at the Houston Ballet Academy and subsequently trained with the Chicago Moving Company and at the Merce Cunningham and Joffrey Ballet studios in New York. Christopher then received a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Michigan. From 1978-1982, he co-directed the Dance Theatre 2 Company and School in Ann Arbor, MI.

As associate director of American Inroads and Theater Artaud in San Francisco, he produced a wide range of dance, music, and theater events, including the concert premiere of John Adam's Opera Nixon in China, a concert version of Phillip Glass' Liquid Days with Linda Ronstadt, and the first annual Black Choreographers Moving showcase, as well as performances by noted artists Bebe Miller, Susan Marshall, Stephen Petronio, and the Kronos Quartet, among many others. He founded the Christopher Watson Dance Company in Sacramento, CA in 1991 after performing as an independent choreographer and dancer for several years. Mr. Watson returned to Minneapolis in the fall of 1994.

A former member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Dance Alliance, Christopher has served on committees and panels for the Michigan Dance Association, Dance Bay Area in San Francisco, and the Sacramento Area Dance Alliance. He has served as a consultant for local arts agencies and organizations including the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Currently he serves on the board of directors for Ressl Dance!

A distinguished teacher, Christopher has served as a guest artist at Eastern Michigan University, California State University Sacramento, University of California at Davis, University of Minnesota Duluth, the Sacramento Visual and Performing Arts High School, and the Pinole Valley Arts Magnet School in the San Francisco Bay area.

Mr. Watson's work has been supported through grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts, the New Works Program of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, the Jerome Foundation through the SpaceSpace Co-Project, the Linden Hills UCC Fund, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Lyndale Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis Arts Commission, the Minnesota Dance Alliance, and Mervyn's.

company members
Company Members
company member alumni

Leslie Anderson

Linda Bair

Hjordis Trygg Bjorklund

Eric Boone

Nathan Carlton

Stephanie Dumain

Ron Fong

Gerry Girouard

Bryan Godbout

Sarah Hauss

Sidney Lundell

Jason Misik

Megan Odell

Maria Ho Pittman

Stacy Pottinger

Colin Rusch

Bonnie Simoa

Una Setia

Amy Slater

Amy Smith

Ray Terrill

Jesse Walker

 Jordan Klitzke

Heidi Draskoci Johnson

Board of Directors

Jean W. Thiel, President​

Barbara Brown, Vice President

Christopher Watson, Secretary/Treasurer

Sandy Grossman, Board Member

Matthew Thiel, Board Member

Raymond D. Terrill, Board Member

Board Member Alumni

CWDC is thankful for the contributions made by former board members, all of whom have donated time and monetary support to CWDC throughout the years:


Hjordis Trygg Bjorklund
Dave Brown
Norma Burton
Michael Eastman
Georgia Hamlin
Mary Hudler
Alison Neumann
Kathleen Richardson
Sandy Weeks
Mary Wissenbach

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