Armitage, Karole (1954–)
Armitage, Karole (1954–)
American dancer. Born Mar 3, 1954, in Madison, Wisconsin; attended North Carolina School of the Arts; studied with Bill Evans at University of Utah, 1971–72, and at School of American Ballet and Harkness School of Dance.
Under Patricia Neary, made professional debut with Grand Théâtre de Genève (Geneva Opéra Ballet), Switzerland (1972–75); gained wide recognition while dancing in Merce Cunningham Dance Company (1976–80); made choreographic debut with Ne (1978); founded Armitage Dance Company (1980), based in NY, which became the Armitage Ballet (1986); continued choreographic career in Europe (1980s), where she worked in frequent collaboration with Charles Atlas in such works as Drastic Classicism (1981) and worked on numerous pieces with painter David Salle, including Mollino Room (1985); received Guggenheim fellowship (1986); wrote and directed film Hall of Mirrors (1992); works as freelance choreographer for various European countries; appointed artistic director of MaggioDanza, Florence, Italy (1996); has also choreographed for numerous music videos, including those of Madonna and Michael Jackson. Further works include −p = dH/dq (1985, renamed The Watteau Duets), with Salle, The Elizabethan Phrasing of the Late Albert Ayler (1986), Les Anges ternis (The Tarnished Angels, 1987), Duck Dances (1988), The Dog is Us (1994), Hovering at the Edge of Chaos (1994), Weather of Reality (1997), and Handel's Apollo e Dafne (1997).