{{Short description|English ballet dancer and choreographer}} {{distinguish|text=playwright and translator Christopher Hampton}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox dancer | name = Christopher Hampson | honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|3|31|df=y}} | birth_place = Middleton, Lancashire, England | occupation = choreographer, former ballet dancer | former_groups = English National Ballet }}
'''Christopher Hampson''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 31 March 1973) is an English ballet choreographer and director and former ballet dancer.<ref name="balletmasterclass1">{{cite web |url=http://balletmasterclass.com/teachers/christopher-hampson/ |title=Christopher Hampson | |publisher=Balletmasterclass.com |accessdate=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501063923/http://balletmasterclass.com/teachers/christopher-hampson/ |archive-date=1 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2012, Hampson succeeded Ashley Page as artistic director of Scottish Ballet,<ref name=SB>{{cite web|title=Christopher Hampson |url=http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/the-company/artistic-team.html |website=Scottish Ballet |accessdate=26 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026174631/http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/the-company/artistic-team.html |archivedate=26 October 2014 }}</ref> and was appointed CEO/Artistic Director in 2015.
He is a graduate of the Royal Ballet School,<ref>[http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk/Information/history.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206191440/http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk/Information/history.htm |date=6 December 2008 }}</ref> where he began his professional training at the age of 11.<ref name="ballet1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_08/feb08/interview_christopher_hampson.htm |title=Christopher Hampson, Choreographer, interview |publisher=Ballet.co.uk |accessdate=20 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216110110/http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_08/feb08/interview_christopher_hampson.htm |archivedate=16 February 2012 }}</ref> He danced professionally with the English National Ballet, reaching the rank of Soloist.<ref name="ballet1"/>
Hampson retired from dancing to pursue a career as a choreographer and director of ballets, and has since produced works for the Royal New Zealand Ballet,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/romeo-and-juliet-royal-new-zealand-ballet-touring-562848.html |title=Romeo and Juliet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, touring – Reviews, Theatre & Dance |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=9 May 2004 |accessdate=20 October 2011}}</ref> English National Ballet,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballet.org.uk/thenutcracker |title=Black & White | English National Ballet |publisher=Ballet.org.uk |accessdate=20 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012184528/http://www.ballet.org.uk/thenutcracker |archivedate=12 October 2011 }}</ref> Prague National Ballet<ref name="balletmasterclass1"/> and the Atlanta Ballet.<ref name="balletmasterclass1"/> He has also produced various works for vocational dance schools in the United Kingdom, including the Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst School for Dance and the London Studio Centre. He has also been a ballet master for the City Ballet of London.
He was named one of "25 to Watch" in 2003 by ''Dance Magazine''.<ref>{{cite web | title = 25 to watch | publisher = Dance Magazine | date = January 2003 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_1_77/ai_95910284/ | accessdate =27 February 2012}}</ref>
Hampson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to dance.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64082|supp=y|page=B9|date=17 June 2023}}</ref>
==Awards== *Barclays Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance *Critics' Circle National Dance Awards for Best Classical Choreography *Nominated for Best New Dance Production, Laurence Olivier Awards 2005
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.christopherhampson.com/ Official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hampson, Christopher}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at the Royal Ballet School Category:English male ballet dancers Category:English choreographers Category:British ballet choreographers Category:People from Middleton, Greater Manchester Category:National Dance Award winners Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire