About Chris

Chris Aiken is an internationally recognized performer and teacher of dance improvisation performance and contact improvisation. He has performed and collaborated with many renowned dance artists including Steve Paxton, Kirstie Simson, Nancy Stark Smith, Peter Bingham, Andrew Harwood, Ray Chung and Angie Hauser, as well as musicians such as Mike Vargas, Peter Jones, Tigger Benford, Philip Hamilton and Andre Gribou.  Chris’ collaboration with Angie Hauser has toured nationally and internationally and been supported by numerous grants from the National Performance Network.  His work has evolved through ongoing investigations of poetics, design, and performance.  It is also grounded by years of research in the science of movement, perception and learning. Chris has received numerous awards for his artistic work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as commissions from the Walker Art Center, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Dance Theater Workshop and the National Performance Network. He is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Smith College and the Five College Dance Department.