Christopher Gillis
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Christopher Gillis (February 26, 1951–August 7, 1993) was an important Canadian male dancer and
choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...
and member of the
Paul Taylor Dance Company Paul Taylor Dance Company is a modern dance company, formed by dancer and choreographer Paul Taylor (1930—2018). The modern dance company is based in New York, New York and was founded in 1954. Taylor originally performed in the companies of M ...
in New York City.


Early life and career

Christopher Gillis was born on February 26, 1951, in Montreal, Quebec. He was the son of Gene Gillis, a US Olympic skier, and Rhona Wurtele, a Canadian Olympic skier who competed in the
1948 Winter Olympics The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games (; ; ; ) and commonly known as St. Moritz 1948 (; ), were a winter multi-sport event held from 30 January to 8 February 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the ...
along with her twin sister Rhoda. His sister,
Margie Gillis Margie Gillis (born July 9, 1953) is a Canadians, Canadian dancer and choreographer. Gillis has been creating original works of modern dance for over thirty-five years. Her repertoire includes more than one hundred pieces, which she performs as ...
, is also a dancer and choreographer; they were dance partners from childhood and collaborated on numerous shows. His brother,
Jere Gillis Jere Alan Gillis (born January 18, 1957) is an American-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player, actor and stuntman. Background Gillis was born in Bend, Oregon and raised in Montreal, the son of skier Gene Gillis (a member of the A ...
, played professional hockey from 1977 to 1987 for the
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
,
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
,
Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...
,
Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
, and the
Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
. Gillis studied with
Finis Jhung Finis Jhung (born May 27, 1937) is an American ballet dancer, dance company founder and dance teacher. Early life Jhung was born on May 27, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His multiracial heritage includes Korean, Scottish and English ancestors. The ...
, with Paul Taylor and with choreographers
May O'Donnell May O'Donnell (May 1, 1906 – February 1, 2004) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Born in Sacramento, California, May O'Donnell studied dance in San Francisco with Estelle Reed and performed in Reed's company before moving to New ...
and Norman Walker. He performed with
José Limón José Arcadio Limón (January 12, 1908 – December 2, 1972) was a dancer and choreographer from Mexico and who developed what is now known as 'Limón technique'. In the 1940s, he founded the José Limón Dance Company (now the Limón Dan ...
's company. He joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1976 in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. He lived and worked in New York for the next seventeen years. He was designated Taylor's heir-apparent. His works have been performed by the Paul Taylor company, the White Oak Dance Project and the Fairfax Ballet. He died on August 7, 1993 in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, from
AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
complications at the age of 42.


Works


As choreographer

*Ne Me Quitte Pas 1993 *Landscape 1993 *Ghost Stories (around 1985?) *Andalusian Green 1992 *Icarus At Night 1991 *Curbs & Corridors 1990 *Luvs Alphabet 1989 *Spell It Out 1988 *Paean 1987 *VeRS La Glace 1986 *Thin Ice 1982


As dancer

*Fact and Fancy 3 Epitaphs & All / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1991 *Of Bright & Blue Birds & the Gala Sun 1990 *The Sorcerer's Sofa / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1989 *Minikin Fair / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1989 *Speaking in Tongues / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1988 *Danbury Mix / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1988 *Counterswarm / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1988 *Brandenburgs / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1988 *Syzygy / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1987 *Kith and Kin / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1987 *A Musical Offering / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1986 *Ab Ovo Usque Ad Mala (From Soup to Nuts) / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1986 *Roses / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1985 *Byzantium / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1984 *Equinox / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1983 *Snow White / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1983 *Sunset / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1983 *Mecuric Tidings / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1982 *Lost, Found and Lost / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1981 *House of Cards / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1981 *Arden Court / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1981 *Le Sacre du Printemps (the Rehearsal) / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1980 *Profiles / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1979 *Nightshade / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1979 *Diggity / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1978 *Airs / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1978 *Aphrodisiamania / choreographed by Paul Taylor 1977 *Dust / choreographed by Paul Taylor) 1977 *Images / choreographed by Paul Taylor) 1977 *Polaris / choreographed by Paul Taylor) 1976 *Cloven Kingdom / choreographed by Paul Taylor) 1976


Film

*Eye on Dance, Produced by: Celia Ipiotis. Documentary/Interview with Margie and Christopher Gillis, ARC Videodance NY 1990


References


Further reading

He is mentioned in the books: *''Moving Words: Re-Writing Dance'', by Gary Morris *''Beyond Shame: Reclaiming the Abandoned History of Radical Gay Sexuality'', by Patrick Moore *''The American Dance Festival'', by Jack Anderson


External links


Memorial service


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillis, Christopher 1951 births 1993 deaths 20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people AIDS-related deaths in New York (state) Canadian contemporary dancers Canadian choreographers Canadian LGBTQ dancers Canadian gay entertainers Canadian gay artists Canadian male dancers Entertainers from Montreal Gay dancers Modern dancers