The Company

Christopher Watson Dance Company (CWDC) is a diverse, multi-generational group of performing artists and choreographers. We’re celebrating our 33rd anniversary of presenting a wide array of abstract dance works that draw on a foundation of classic modern dance technique. Our company and guest choreographers employ improvisation and create dances in collaboration with the dancers. Musical scores range from Western classical and romantic pieces to contemporary music rooted in other cultures and popular music. We commission new original works and collaborate with musicians who provide live accompaniment. Through the years some of Christopher Watson’s dances have been inspired by paintings and musical compositions while others have explored a wide range of topics including the impact of the AIDs epidemic on individuals and their families, what “home” means to each of us, our resilience in the face of loss and grief and the intense and complicated experience of falling in love.

The Christopher Watson Dance Company (CWDC) was established to present the modern dance choreography of artistic director Christopher Watson. Our mission has expanded to include producing collaborative performances showcasing the diverse work of many individual choreographers, musicians, visual artists and dance companies. CWDC embraces the diverse and multigenerational composition of its artists whose ages range from 20-something to 70-something. Founded in California in 1991 and moved to Minnesota in 1994, this is the company’s 33rd season of performances.

The Christopher Watson Dance Company (CWDC) has expanded it's mission to include producing, collaborating and supporting 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

Ray Terrill Dance Group

Young Dance

Youth Dance Ensemble

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

Megan Bridges

MEGAN BRIDGES has been a member of CWDC since 2002 and has been privileged to also perform with Vox Medusa (Kristin Freya), Off-Leash Area (Jennifer Isles/Paul Herwig), Paneer Project (Kats Fukasawa), Kinetic Evolutions (Sarah LaRose-Holland), and Mills College Dance Rep Co. She has had the joy of performing the works of Paul Taylor, Mary Cochran, Robert Moses, Amy Slater, Jennifer Glaws, Cathy Wright, Jeffery Peterson, Galen Treuer, Gerry Girouard, Jennifer Mack, Bryan Gerber, and Jordan Klitzke. She received an MSN from Yale University in 2006 and is a full-scope Certified Nurse Midwife at Hennepin County Medical Center. She thanks her family and CW for their ongoing support and flexibility.

Sarah Hauss

SARAH HAUSS has taught at Gustavus on and off since 1994. She has been a professional choreographer and dancer based in the Twin Cities for 20 years. She holds a BA from University of Oregon and an MFA from University of Colorado-Boulder. Sarah is a licensed K-12 Dance Teacher as well. Over the years, she has received funding for her artistic work from the McKnight Foundation, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Jerome Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board. She enjoys teaching and learning. And she teaches Yoga and has three great kids.

Becky Heist

BECKY HEIST has been fortunate in finding opportunities to dance with four Minnesota- based dance companies following a 35-year stint directing and teaching in the Dance Program at Macalester College. In addition to choreographing for and dancing in Christopher Watson’s dance company she has worked with Young Dance, Off-Leash Area and Paula Mann. Her dance film, “Life Drawings,” was commissioned by Su Love and presented in a series of poetry readings. Retirement has brought new breath into her life through master yoga classes with Faye Berton and Colleen Dooley. Jinza Thayer keeps her dancing body afloat.

Sarah LaRose-Holland

SARAH LAROSE-HOLLAND is the Artistic Director of Kinetic Evolutions Dance Company, a modern/contemporary dance company formed in 2006 that performs virtuosic, dynamic and emotionally engaging work. Sarah began her dance career in Florida and has been part of the Minneapolis dance community since the mid-90s. She has performed with CWDC since 1996. She has worked with numerous dance companies and individual choreographers over the course of her career. In 2004, Sarah founded the Kinetic Kitchen & Kinetic Playground dance series presenting regional choreographers and dance schools. The Kinetic Kitchen dance series ran for 10 seasons. In recent years, Sarah has produced multiple collaboration performances with renowned jazz pianist Butch Thompson. She is currently on the Steering Committee for DanceMN & was a board member and curator at Patrick’s Cabaret. Sarah’s website is www.KineticEvolutions.yolasite.com.

Jennifer Mack

JENNIFER MACK is a freelance movement artist and in her 10th season with Christopher Watson Dance Company & 2nd with Kinetic Evolutions. She also teaches at Cultivate Dance Collective, Prima Classical Coaching, St. Paul Ballet, Lundstrrum Performing Arts and was the Ballet & Contemporary Program Director for Danceworks Performing Arts Center for the last 10 years. Most recently she danced in Dance Co's Dance Around MN, Honeywork/Berit Alghren's Cedarbacke and premiered a new piece at Sher Demeter's Rivers Edge and 16 Feet: Perceptions Noted. Before that she choreographed MN Opera's An Anonymous Lover, Flight, An Opera Theater's Lucretia, The Consul, danced in Honeywork/Hatch Dance's LDV, Off Leash Area's Mulier Dierem, Jess Forest's film for Right Here, Right Now Showcase and was awarded a Cowles Generating Room Residency (2020-21). Her previous credits span 23 years in the US and Europe with numerous companies, organizations and artists involving various styles/genres from films, commercials, music videos to musicals, operas, ballets & even dancing on the sides of buildings in climbing gear. Highlights include: locally with Aby Wolf, Alternative Motion Project, Collide Dance Theater, Continental Ballet, Deborah Thayer, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Jagged Moves, James Sewell Ballet, MN Opera, Live Action Set, Matt Marka, Rhythmically Speaking, St. Paul City Ballet, Yevhen Rosso, internationally with Dwight Rhoden, Jodi Melnick, Rosy Simas Dance Project, Szeged National Ballet, & commercially with Aveda, Cost Cutters and Sherwin Williams Paint. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from UW-Stevens Point where she received a Bukolt Scholarship and resides in Minneapolis with her fiancé' and their 10 year old daughter who both greatly influence and inspire her. So much thanks to family, friends and CWDC all around.

Lori Mercil

LORI MERCIL began her dance training with Vernon Russell in her native California, eventually earning her BFA in Dance from the University of Montana where she studied under the wise tutelage of Amy Ragsdale, as well as many wonderful guest artists, including Douglas Dunn, and Joe Goode. She earned summer scholarships for further study at the Martha Graham School in NYC, and Repertory Dance Theater in Salt Lake City, and has taught and/or performed ballet, jazz, modern, and creative movement in Montana, Oregon, Japan, and the Twin Cities. In addition to dancing with CWDC, Lori also dances with MotionArt, and has danced with Hauser Dance, Link Vostok , Marciano Silva dos Santos, Marylee Hardenbergh, Off-Leash Area, and
Una Setia. Lori has shown her own work at Hauser Dance, Kinetic Kitchen, Dances at the Lakes, Solstice River, Global Water Dances, and 16 Feet. Lori has danced with CWDC since 2011.

Catlin Murphy

CATLIN MURPHY is a native of Brooklyn, NY, and studied dance at the Alvin Ailey School from 2nd grade through high school. At Vassar College, she was a member of the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre and majored in computer science. Since moving to Minnesota to work at Target’s Technology Headquarters, she has performed in works by Non Edwards, Erinn Liebhard, Becky Heist, Sarah LaRose-Holland, Sarah Hauss, Jennifer Mack, Christopher Watson and Marciano Silva dos Santos.

Hai Dang Nguyen

HAI DANG NGUYEN graduated from The College of Wooster with a Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major and a Dance and Choreography minor. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics from the University of Minnesota, completed his training at Harvard Medical School, and returned to the University of Minnesota as an Assistant Professor. Hai Dang has shown his own choreography at the American College Dance Association, various venues in Minneapolis, and Urbanity Dance Company Next series in Boston. He danced
with Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion, Vimoksha Dance Company, Jasmine Dancers’ Company, and Weber Dance in Boston. In Minneapolis, he performed in works created by Danielle-Robinson Prater, Deborah Thayer, Cathy Wright, Matthew Smith, Julie Warder, and Jim Lieberthal. He is currently a company member of the Kinetic Evolutions Dance Company under the direction of Sarah LaRose-Holland. This is also Hai Dang's second season dancing with Christopher Watson Dance Company.

Leeah Schuhwerck

LEEAH SCHUHWERCK has enjoyed dancing since elementary school. She took that passion for dance to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and graduated in 2018 with a BA in Dance and a Fashion Studies minor. College expanded her excitement and knowledge of dance with training from Berit Ahlgren, Michel Kouakou, Carl Flink, Toni
Pierce-Sands, Karla Grotting, Penelope Freeh, and Tina Wallum. Leeah choreographed and performed in her senior seminar showcase life as well as Sarah Howes’ Doctorate Vocal Performance Recital. Between 2017-2022 Leeah taught jazz, ballet, creative movement, tap, tumbling, Pilates, and HIIT at multiple locations. Leeah joined the Christopher Watson Dance Company in 2022 and is grateful to be dancing in multiple pieces and assisting with costumes this season.

Anne-Marie Wittenberg

ANNE-MARIE WITTENBERG holds an MFA from the University of Michigan, and a BA from the College of the Holy Cross. A native of Boston, she danced with many of the area’s choreographers including Paula Hunter, Julie Ince Thompson and Daniel McCusker. She
has taught at Granite State Ballet, and worked at an independent school outside of Boston as both a dance and English teacher. While living in Rochester, MN Anne-Marie taught dance to children as well as adults, choreographed, and served on the advisory board of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council. She has also taught at St. Mary’s University and Winona State University. Anne-Marie has also had the pleasure of performing in an evening length work by Paula Mann. She currently lives in Saint Paul in a newly empty nest with her husband, Keith and looks forward to visits from her three adult sons.

company member
alumni

Leslie Anderson

Linda Bair

Giovanny Barrera

Hjordis Trygg Bjorklund

Eric Boone

Nathan Carlton

Kelsey Charlotte

Stephanie Dumain

Ron Fong

Gerry Girouard

Bryan Godbout

Heidi Draskoci Johnson

Jordan Klitzke

Sidney Lundell

Andrew J. Lupinek

Jason Misik

Megan Odell

Maria Ho Pittman

Stacy Pottinger

Colin Rusch

Bonnie Simoa

Una Setia

Amy Slater

Amy Smith

John Surber

Ray Terrill

Jesse Walker

Board of Directors

Raymond D. Terrill, President

Barbara Brown, Vice President

Jean W. Thiel, Board Member

Christopher Watson, Secretary/Treasurer

Matthew Thiel, 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

Jan Coughlin

Rosemary Cullinan
Michael Eastman

Sandy Grossman
Georgia Hamlin
Mary Hudler
Alison Neumann

Monique Regard
Kathleen Richardson
Sandy Weeks
Mary Wissenbach

the company

Christopher Watson

Company Members

company member alumni

Board of Directors

Board Member Alumni

Newsletter

company member
alumni