ALLISON CUMMINGS
Artistic Director
Claudia Moore, performer, curator and artistic director of Moonhorse Dance Theatre, has been a force on the Canadian dance scene since the late 70’s. She trained at the National Ballet School, graduating in the class of ’71, and performed for two seasons with the National Ballet of Canada, before moving into contemporary dance. A featured performer with the Toronto Dance Theatre, Claudia danced the work of company founders Patricia Beatty, David Earle and Peter Randazzo as well as the first works by Christopher House. In 1980, Claudia moved on to work with Robert Desrosiers, creating many unforgettable characters during seven years with Desrosiers Dance Theatre. Claudia established MOonhORsE Dance Theatre in 1996, as a home for her dance performance projects.
One of Canada’s most revered contemporary dancers, Claudia pursues her passion as an interpreter in commissioned works by acclaimed creators. These include Dances in a Small Room, choreographed by James Kudelka and Tedd Robinson for Moore and Dan Wild, and Escape Artist, an evening of solos created by Susanna Hood, Christopher House, Paul-André Fortier and Apolonia Velasquez and Ofilio Sinbadinho (Gadfly) to celebrate Claudia's 60th birthday. Moore also enjoys performing with Coleman Lemieux (From the House of Mirth) and Fujiwara Dance Inventions (Eunoia).
Claudia founded and curates Older & Reckless, a performance series renowned for its celebration of mature dance artists. Older & Reckless was featured at the 2016 Canada Dance Festival. Claudia is co-director with Karen Kaeja of Cloud 9 and produced two full evening programs featuring seasoned dancers in ensemble works by masterful creators. Moore has taught movement to both amateurs and professionals for over 30 years and mentors emerging artists in the field of dance. Claudia was a Resident Artist at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts from 2008-2010 and has received the Jacqueline Lemieux award for excellence in dance. The 2016-2017 season marked MOonhORsE Dance Theatre’s 20th anniversary.
PRESS
Claudia Moore’s Dance of Imagination
By Carol Anderson
Dance Collection Danse, Fall 2011 (pdf, page 19-24)
Toronto dance artist Claudia Moore celebrates 60th with solo show
By Michael Crabb, Toronto Star
Wednesday October 23, 2013
CLAUDIA MOORE
Founding Artistic Director
Allison Cummings is a performer/choreographer/art maker, who produces her artistic work under the umbrella name Sore for Punching You. Her work has been presented at venues and festivals across Canada since 1996 including The Theatre Centre, Hysteria, Edgy Women/Montreal, Toronto Dance Theatre’s ‘Four at the Winch’, SummerWorks, M:ST Performative Art Festival, 7a -11d, Canada Dance Festival, Fluid Festival, Moving Pictures Festival w/ Trinity Square Video, Older and Reckless, School of the Toronto Dance Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Porch View Dances, Bright Nights (Citadel et Cie) among others. Internationally her work has been presented in Accra, Ghana, and Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. She has self produced her own multidisciplinary full length works, Quiver ’02, Clutch ’06, Devouring Lions ’09, Final Savage Land ’13 and Exhale ’18 at various venues in Toronto. She is the recipient of multiple arts grants and awards including The John D. and Susan P. Diekman Fellowship, California 2012, Chalmers Professional Development 2010, The Toronto Emerging Artist Award in Dance 2000 and was shortlisted for the K.M Hunter Award 2006 and 2008.