CTC DANCE COMPANY – SPARKING IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS THROUGH NARRATIVE MOVEMENT
CTC Dance Company (CTC) are renowned for creating and producing unique and versatile dance theatre productions which creatively explore and initiate important and controversial conversations about mental health awareness and identity within the 21st century. Our productions always involve a post-show discussion, creating a safe and open space for empathy, developing awareness, and providing a dialogue between communities within South London. Moreover, we also provide accessible and inclusive identity workshops, enabling aspiring creatives and performers from the LGTBQIA+ communities to produce authentic performances and express their identities through dance and movement therapy.
The company was founded in 2017 by Artistic Director and up-and-coming choreographer Christopher Tendai. Christopher has excellent experience, performing on the Westend as part of the original cast of Hamilton, West Side Story, and Cabaret, as well as choreographing and producing new shows and dance performances such as Wuthering Heights (the musical), Bare, The Natural History Museum Gala Events, and CTC’s Identity and iNk’d.
We pride our work and productions on the topics of Mental Health awareness and Gender diversity, championing diversity and inclusion within our company and chosen creative teams; therefore, we create deeply authentic movement pieces which convey meaningful stories, honestly depicting real-life experiences, journeys, and celebrations.
Our work to educate and promote awareness for mental health, gender diversity and identity within the workplace, promoting practices which we believe need to be mirrored and pioneered within all arts industry companies for equality and respect to be successfully embedded into social and working culture.
Thus far, we have successfully produced 2 pioneering productions which have showcased at Theatre Peckham, Turbine Theatre and Colchester as well as achieving the Tea Pot award at Edinburgh fringe festival (2019). We have received numerous reviews quoting our shows to be ‘reformulating Dance Theatre’ (The List), Therefore it has become our duty to develop our movement practice and continually promote inclusion, diversity, and accessibility to all.
Other Company Credits Include: Google, The London Palladium, Cadogan Hall, The Greatest Dancer (BBC), Kulture Projects, Zack Knight (Angel – 20 million views), and Sarika Gil.
CTC CØMPANY Credits
Christopher Tendai: The Founder
CHOREOGRAPHER | CREATIVE | MOTIVATIONALIST
Christopher Tendai started his training at the prestigious Urdang Academy in 2011 studying Professional Dance and Musical Theatre (BaHons). Christopher graduated in 2014 and since then has worked in both Musical Theatre and Commercial. (Hamilton, Matilda, West Side Story, In The Heights, Fleur East, Rita Ora, Strictly Come Dancing). Now, Christopher is an aspiring Theatre Choreographer, and Movement Director, who’s ready to deliver a unique and original approach for the new era of the Industry. Christophers most recent work was his award winning show: IDENTITY which showcased Off Westend at The Turbine Theatre in March 2020.
As a Motivationalist, Christopher aims to give back, motivate and Inspire the next generation of performers. He currently manages his very successful Course ‘Industry Ready’ with Graduate Success Credits in the Westend, International and Commercial. Christopher also works very closely with his Dance Company: CTC Dance Company.
“If you work hard enough, anything in life is achievable. I started my training in dance when I was 18. I knew there were others that had been dancing since they were 3. I knew it was hard but all I said to myself is ‘I need to get to their level in 3 years’. I spent every day in a studio, going over exercises, stretching and choreography. That passion and determination has made me the person I am today. I am now in the Westend, a new theatre choreographer and have my own Company. My aim in this life is to give back as much knowledge as I can to the next generation through, my new training program (The Training Course – Industry Ready), as well as become a well renowned Choreographer.”
Christopher Tendai on Taking Off The Mask | Identity, Turbine Theatre | Interview
Click the button below to read the full interview by Rewrite This Story.
Meet Our Amazing Sponsors
Arts Council England
National Lottery Project Grants is our open access programme for arts, museums and libraries projects. The fund supports thousands of individual artists, community and cultural organisations.
National Lottery Project Grants supports thousands of individual artists, community and cultural organisations. Until April 2021, the fund will focus on the needs of smaller independent organisations and individual practitioners.
Kira Rey
Lawyer, Actress and Writer
Kira Rey is a lawyer, actress (2019 ICAT graduate) and writer. She is passionate about mental health especially in men and young people and is the author of the blog www.thewidowedmillenial.com.
Kira is a super fan of Identity and the incredible creatives behind it and is honoured to be a part of a company making waves and bringing change.
Theatre Peckham
CTC Dance Company have been offered a residency at Theatre Peckham for 2020/2021. We are so excited to collaborate with such an inspirational Theatre with an Ethos of giving back to the community and to the next generation of young people.
CTC Official and Training members have been offered teaching work by Theatre Peckham’s school: Young & Talented, providing paid opportunities whilst are still coming out of the current pandemic.
“Theatre Peckham is an award-winning cultural venue for artistic excellence and social change. Through the power of theatre, we illuminate young voices, provide skills and opportunities, and platform excellent creatives who are locally focused with a national and international vision. Here at our South London home, we commit to producing new writing and performance focusing on young, culturally diverse talent.” – Theatre Peckham
“If you work hard enough, anything in life is achievable. I started my training in dance when I was 18, knowing there were others who had been dancing since they were 3. I knew it would be hard, but all I said to myself was: ‘I need to get to their level in 3 years’. So I spent every day in a studio, going over exercises, stretching and choreography. That passion and determination has made me the person I am today. I am now in the Westend, a new theatre choreographer and have my own Company. My aim in this life is to give back as much knowledge as I can to the next generation through my new training programme (CTC TRAINING PROGRAMME), as well as become a world renowned Choreographer.”
