Christian Holder facts for kids

Christian Holder (born June 18, 1949) was a talented artist from Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom. Like his father, Boscoe Holder, he did many creative things. He was a dancer, choreographer (someone who creates dances), actor, teacher, costume designer, writer, painter, and singer. He is best known as one of the most famous dancers of the Joffrey Ballet in the 1970s.

Christian Holder's Amazing Life

Christian Holder had a very interesting life filled with art and performance. He was born into a family of artists.

Growing Up in a Creative Family

Christian Holder was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1949. His parents, Boscoe Holder and Sheila Clarke Holder, were both professional dancers. His grandmother, Kathleen Davis, was a famous actress and radio personality. His uncle was the well-known actor Geoffrey Holder.

When Christian was a baby, his family moved to London. His father, Boscoe Holder, ran a dance group called Boscoe Holder and his Caribbean Dancers. Christian often performed with them when he was a child. He also appeared on British television and in plays.

Dancing for the Queen

When Christian was just four years old, he danced with his father's company. This was at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. By age seven, he started learning ballet. At age 11, he went to the Corona Academy Stage School. He even had a small role in a movie called Moby Dick in 1955.

Moving to New York City

In 1963, Christian got a special chance to study dance. He received a scholarship from Martha Graham, a very famous dancer. He went to her school in New York City. The next year, his parents sent him off to the United States.

Becoming a Star Dancer

Christian later joined the High School of Performing Arts in New York. There, he was noticed by Robert Joffrey, who led the Joffrey Ballet. Christian joined the Joffrey Ballet in 1966 and stayed until 1979. He became one of their most celebrated principal dancers.

He worked with many famous choreographers. These included Kurt Jooss, Leonid Massine, Jerome Robbins, Alvin Ailey, and Agnes De Mille. A magazine review in 1971 said he was "tremendously powerful and totally individual." It also said he "dominates the stage whenever he is given solo work to do."

From 1979 to 1981, he was a guest dancer with the San Francisco Opera. He danced in shows with famous singers like Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. He also helped create dances for operas like The Merry Widow and Aida. In 2006, he performed in Cinderella with the Joffrey Ballet.

A 2012 movie called Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance shows old videos of Christian Holder.

Beyond Dancing: Choreography and Design

Christian Holder also created his own ballets. He choreographed Weren't We Fools? for American Ballet Theatre. He also created Transcendence for Atlanta Ballet.

Besides dancing and choreographing, he designed costumes. He designed costumes for ballets like Toulouse-Lautrec. He also designed clothes for famous singers like Tina Turner and Ann Reinking. Christian also taught ballet at many places in New York City.

Returning to London

After many years in the United States, Christian Holder moved back to England. There, he continued his creative work. In 2010, his paintings and designs were shown in London. His father's work was also part of this exhibition.

He also worked on a theatre show called Verse of Fortune. This show was inspired by the French poet Baudelaire.

A New Chapter: Singing

In April 2015, Christian Holder started a new part of his career: singing! He performed his own cabaret show called "At Home and Abroad" in London. He sang his own songs and songs by famous composers. His show was very popular and sold out.

In May 2016, he performed another show called SUITE 60. A reviewer said he "succeeds in weaving a spell over his audience." The show combined live performance with videos.

In August 2016, Christian Holder spoke at the Victoria & Albert Museum. He talked about his life in performance in New York and London. In 2024, he published a special art book about his father, called Boscoe Holder: Travels in Rhythm, A life of Art and Dance.

Awards and Recognition

Christian Holder received several awards for his contributions to the arts.

• On April 7, 1991, Christian Holder, his father Boscoe Holder, and his uncle Geoffrey Holder received an award together. It was the first Drexel University Award for International Excellence in Philadelphia.
• In 1995, he received an award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts from Philadanco.