CHARLES "CHUCK"

FLANDERS (1951-1987)

Originally from Texas, Chuck Flanders was active in the Canadian dance scene in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a member of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers prior to joining Toronto Dance Theatre in 1976. With TDT he performed numerous principal roles from the repertoire and as a dancer in new works helped to create many original roles. Off stage, he was flamboyantly “out” and while not prolific as a choreographer, a number of works reflected ruminations on his own sexuality – uncommon practice at the time. In 1982, he produced and performed “Behind the Screen”, a collection of his solo works, at the Winchester Street Theatre in Toronto. After each dance, he retreated behind a free-standing, onstage screen where, visible from the neck up, he delivered a monologue while changing into his costume for the next piece.

Photo Credit (above): Charles Flander’s in David Earle’s Emozioni (1980)