SMB College Group Performing Arts Alumnus, Christopher Tendai, has been shortlisted for a Black British Theatre Award for Best Choreography/Movement Director for his work in Turbine Theatre’s ‘Closer to Heaven’.
Christopher choreographed the show for the theatre and his work was met with amazing reviews, Lauren Russel from Beyond the Curtain wrote ‘Christopher Tendai’s choreography is outstanding and seamless from start to finish.’
Christopher studied Performing Arts with SMB College Group from 2009 to 2011. After leaving the College, Christopher went on to have a successful career spanning both Musical Theatre and the commercial world. He has worked on a range of impressive shows including Hamilton, Matilda, West Side Story, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Christopher is currently in rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar as he is going on tour across Australia with the show as Associate Choreographer. He is also co-choreographing Cake: The Marie Antionette Playlist with Drew McOnie, Olivier Award winning Artistic Director and Choreographer.
About his time at the College, Christopher said, “I studied at SMB College Group back in 2009 to 2011. Studying here broadened my perspective of musical theatre and the industry and it allowed me to creatively develop my practice, which I utilised through going to drama school and still to today in my own dance company and working on the west end.
My college lecturers especially gave me the confidence to take this on as a real career and it gave me the tools to take into drama school.”
Christopher continues to come back to the College to help inspire and teach the next generation of Performers. Last year CTC Dance Company, which was founded by Christopher in 2017, worked with SMB College Group’s 3rd year BA Performing Arts students on a brand-new exciting dance theatre show, ‘The Human Condition’, exploring identity and what it means to be human.
If you are interested in studying Performing Arts with SMB College Group, visit our website to sign up for our IGNITE Performing Arts Open Day in November! - SMB College Group