Christine McMillan portrait
  • Ballet Program Head, School Of Dance
  • Associate Professor (Lecturer), School Of Dance
801-587-3742

Creative Research

  • "Here we are/We are here" - A contemporary ballet piece on pointe for 5 dancers exploring the concept that not only is each moment is a new moment but also proactively owning it. The piece starts with a sense of vigilance, along with fierceness and a drive to move forward. This transitions into a trio embodying the figurative and literal support we get from one another. The final section furthers the journey of the dancers into a sense of confidence, camaraderie, and joy. Performed by students at the University of Utah. It was also selected for upcoming adjudicated concerts in ACDA’s Northwest Conference March 2023. Choreography, completed 10/29/2022.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HgtsgvK3Lc
  • "…can be acute or gradual " - A piece for 6 dancers exploring the idea of trying to maintain and sustain something when the support eventually gives way. Performed by students at the University of Utah. Choreography, completed 02/26/2022.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9ZAGMo_o74
  • Choreographed site specific work for 5 dancers performed both on the campus of the University of Utah and for "Bootanical" at the Red Butte Botanical Gardens. Choreography, completed 10/2020.
  • "Shift & Flux" - A piece for 6 dancers focusing on the idea that change is the only thing we can be sure of in life. Juxtaposition of individual movement was used to reflect the individuality of experience but also the reality that we are always relating to others in some form. Performed at the Marriott Center for Dance. Choreography, in progress 10/2020.
  • "At This Moment" - a commissioned piece for 14 dancers for artÉmotion’s Choreographic Workshop reflecting on the sense of lightness experienced pre-pandemic, the shift into feeling isolated, and the build of energy that brings people into the streets. For this project a screen dance was created incorporating site specific elements. Choreography, completed 07/2020.
  • "...Or Should I" - a piece for 9 dancers exploring the idea of feeling like you can never keep up juxtaposed against the need for a significant pause. Performed March 2020 at the Marriott Center for Dance. Choreography, completed 03/2020.
  • Choreography for 12 dancers in the Ballet Program performed at the Marriott Center for Dance in October 2018. Choreography, completed 10/2018.
    https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/308912676
  • Rehearsal Assistant for re-staging Luc Vanier's choreography on University of Utah students in the School of Dance for performances at the Marriott Center for Dance Other, completed 10/2017.
  • Performance of choreography by Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance at the Jack Crystal Theater in New York City. Performance, completed 06/2017.
  • Performed as a dancer at The Metropolitan Opera in many operas including Carmen (choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon), Aida, (choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky), and The Magic Flute (choreographed by Mark Dendy and directed by Julie Taymor). Performance, completed 04/2017.

Presentations

  • My choreography was performed by 3 students in the Ballet Program in the School of Dance at Sugar Space in Salt Lake City, UT. This performance offered a professional performing opportunity to the 3 students. Presentation, Presented, 02/09/2019.
  • Presented "Yield, Push, Reach, Pull in Yoga" at the 6th Annual Somatic Dance Conference at William and Hobart Smith College. This was a yoga session incorporating research in somatics investigating the Developmental Cycle and it's application to movement to increase total body connectivity. Presentation, Presented, 07/2018.