IN THE SPOT LIGHT CHRISTIE SULLIVAN

The former Bruce Wood dancer reflects on life as a dancer + a teacher...

DCNT: Tell us a little about your family background.

CS: I grew up and trained right here in Dallas, Texas. I have two brothers, four nieces and nephews, and three cute little dogs. My son, Danny, is a freshman in the Dance Conservatory at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and is a member of Choreo Records Tap Company. One of my nieces has begun dancing as well. I couldn’t be prouder!

DCNT: Where did you receive your dance training and what or who had the greatest impression on you?

CS: My initial training was at Ballet Dallas, Hockaday School, and Brookhaven College. My BFA in Dance Performance is from Southern Methodist University, and in 2020, I earned a Masters in Education: Dance Teaching from the

University of Bath/Royal Academy of Dance. I attribute much of my teaching career to my two mentors, Mary Lois Sweatt and Beth Wortley. Both of these women were instrumental to my career and love of teaching dance. They helped me understand teaching strategies and logistics, but more importantly they helped me shape my overall teaching philosophy. The principles of integrity, commitment, and a connection to self have shaped all aspects of my professional dance career. My goal is for my students to not only gain technical skills but to explore their own creativity and delight in the joys of movement.

DCNT: You were with Bruce Wood for nine seasons and then transitioned to rehearsal director. Why did you leave the company and how did it feel watching the newer dancers perform?

CS: In my heart I never left the company! I performed with Bruce’s Fort Worth company for nine seasons until the company closed. Once he started his projects in Dallas, I jumped at the opportunity to work again with Bruce as Rehearsal Director. At the time, I was already a part of the Dance faculty at Hockaday, so I was unable to work with the company beyond those first two seasons. Whenever possible, I love being able to connect with the current dancers and share my knowledge of Bruce’s repertoire.

Last spring, I was honored to re-stage Bruce’s Rite of Spring on the current company for their June concert. This piece had only been performed once prior in 2002, and seeing this piece back on stage was extremely rewarding. All of Bruce’s choreography is intense and powerful, but in my opinion this is his most exceptional work. I felt a tremendous responsibility to provide the dancers with as much information as possible about Bruce’s intention and direction that he gave while creating this piece. The Bruce Wood Dance dancers had limitless commitment to the process. I know Bruce would have been pleased with their performance, and I was deeply moved knowing that I was able to pass on this work to the next generation of Bruce’s dancers.

DCNT: What are you doing now?

CS: I am the Director of Dance and the Middle School Fine Arts Coordinator at The Hockaday School. I have been teaching at Hockaday since 2007 and choreograph two dance concerts and two musical productions each year. I also teach ballet classes at the Mary Lois School of Dance in Desoto, Texas. Mary Lois Sweatt gave me my first teaching position in 1997, and I am proud to now be teaching alongside some of my former students.

DCNT: When it comes to teaching dance, what do you think have been your greatest accomplishments?

CS: What I love most about teaching is witnessing how movement can be trans-formative for a student’s self-confidence and self-awareness. For me, the greatest gift is when a student discovers the joy of dance and performance. Dance is healing, dance is joy. This is what I want to pass along to my students.

DCNT: Any big plans for the future?

CS: I am especially excited for Hockaday Dance to continue our partnership with Dance Council’s A Chance 2 Dance program. Since we began this spring, our dancers have been excited to have the opportunity to work with the young students and see firsthand how dance can impact their community. I am thrilled that Hockaday Dance can be a part of this program as it continues to grow!