Choreographer and 2004 grantee Karole Armitage began her professional career in 1973 as a member of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Switzerland. She stayed in Europe and worked as a choreographer for nearly fifteen years because there was little support for her work in the U.S. Armitage had just returned to New York when she received her FCA award at age 50. With the support of FCA, Armitage was able to launch Armitage Gone! Dance, and complete the production of In this dream that dogs me. The work premiered at The Duke on 42nd Street and went onto receive enthusiastic reviews and was singled out as one of the New York Times “Best Dances of 2005.”
Since receiving her FCA grant, Armitage has maintained a full-time dance company, premiered many new dances and has worked consistently in opera, Broadway, ballet and modern dance. In 2007, she choreographed the Broadway musicals Passing Strange and Hair, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Her work has been presented by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Rambert Dance Company and White Oak Dance Project among other dance companies. In the spring of 2009, Armitage was awarded France’s most prestigious award, Commandur dans L’order des Arts et des Lettres.
