Christopher Horsey (born 11 July 1972) is an Australian entertainer, director, choreographer and performing arts teacher.
Early life Horsey learnt to perform, teach and choreograph from his mother, Kay Horsey, who had a dance school for 26 years on the Gold Coast.Coastal Dance About Us, Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
Horsey began his tap dancing career as a pre-teen in 1984 by finishing in first place in the age 9 to 12 category of the Fred Astaire International Tap and Jazz Championship at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. At age 13 he appeared on the Australia television show Young Talent Time as their "Talent Discovery of the Week".Tap Dancing Resources, Retrieved 25 August 2018. At age 16 he performed in the "Ultimate Event" Frank Sinatra concert at Sanctuary Cove, Australia."Dance Life Biography", Retrieved 29 August 2018.
Career
Performer Horsey has performed onstage since 1989 in productions including 42nd Street (original Australian cast), Funny Girl, West Side Story, Chicago and Singin' in the Rain.
Horsey rose to fame in the early 1990s as an original cast member of Hot Shoe Shuffle, "The first Australian musical with an all-Australian cast to make it to the West End",Aussies tap into the West End by Judy Hughes Jan, 17, 1994 Retrieved 25 Aug 2018. in which he originated the role of "Tip", touring Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Queens Theatre in London. He continued working with Dein Perry, joining Tap Dogs on their North American tour which included six months at the Off-Broadway Union Square Theatre.BroadwayWorld Tap Dogs original cast list Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.Playbill Tour schedule pre NY Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.Playbill Tour schedule post NY Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
In 2000, he played the role of Angus in the Fox Searchlight Pictures film Bootmen alongside his friend and collaborator Adam Garcia,Dance Magazine interview Adam, Retrieved 25 Aug 2018. as well as Sam Worthington.
In 2007, Horsey portrayed Andy Lee in a limited showing of 42nd Street in Melbourne.The Age review Jim Murphy Retrieved 26 Aug 2018. In 2009, he played Lank Hawkins in Crazy For You.Ausstage, Retrieved 25 Aug 2018
In 2014, he plays the role of Benny Southstreet in Guys and DollsSimon Parris review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018. and that same year he played conman Rooster in Annie.Packemin website Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
Horsey has appeared in the independently produced Every Single Saturday at Glen Street TheatreSMH Theatre Review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018. and both choreographed and performed in Lifeforce,Stage Whispers, review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018. both written by Joanna Weinberg. In 2014, Horsey joined the cast of The Tap Pack for their Sydney season at the recently established Hayes Theatre in Potts Point and continued a small tour with the show until its debut in the Dunstan Playhouse at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2015.The Tap Pack, The Pack Retrieved 25 Aug 2018Adelaide Now review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
Horsey originated the role of Officer Peter Hammett and choreographed the New Musicals Australia production of The Detective's Handbook at the Hayes Theatre, directed by Jonathan Biggins.
Horsey has featured in five 'Neglected Musicals' shows, Girl Crazy, My Favorite Year, Seesaw, Nick & Nora and Lucky Stiff. Neglected Musicals are presented with scripts in hand, and with piano accompaniment after only a day's rehearsal.Neglected Musicals website Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
Horsey presented Arts Friday on Eastside Radio for 5 yearsEastside website Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
Performances 42nd Street Ensemble Hot Shoe Shuffle as 'Tip' (originated) West Side Story as 'Big Deal' Tap Dogs as '2IC' Chicago as 'Harry'/'The Jury' Singin' in the Rain as 'Sid Phillips' and first cover for 'Cosmo Brown' 42nd Street as 'Andy Lee' Crazy For You as 'Lank Hawkins' Guys and Dolls as 'Benny Southstreet' The Tap Pack as 'Marty' Kiss Me, Kate as 'Paul' The Detective's Handbook as 'Officer Peter Hammett' (originated)
Director/Choreographer Horsey is a 2017 Australian Dance Awards nominee in the 'Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre' category,ausdance website longlist Retrieved 27 Aug 2018. for his work on Swing on This, a show he has been directing and choreographing since its international debut at the 2014 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. The show stars Matt Lee, Ben Mingay, Luke Kennedy, Rob Mills and Michael Falzon. Swing on This is a collection of classic swing songs reworked with a more contemporary style, as well as more recent popular music arranged for an 18 piece big band.
Horsey was both choreographer and Resident Director for the 2016 Opera Queensland production of Kiss Me, Kate.Stage Whispers review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018
Horsey choreographed a new cabaret-style show, Everybody Loves Lucy, starring Elise McCannAussie Theatre Review Retrieved Sept 05, 2018. and choreographed Ruthless! at The Seymour Centre starring Katrina Retallick, Geraldine Turner, Margi De Feranti and Merideth O'Reilly on which he was also Resident Director.Arts Review Retrieved Sept 05, 2018
In 2012, Horsey choreographed the opening sequence of the Helpmann Awards at the Sydney Opera House featuring host Simon Burke and Genevieve Lemon, Trevor Ashley, Peter Carroll and corps de ballet dancer Montana Rubin from The Australian Ballet.
Horsey performed in and choreographed Adam Garcia's 2010 and 2011 judges performance on Got To Dance, a British dance competition that was broadcast on Sky 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.Adam Garcia exorcist interview Retrieved 26 Aug 2018. Horsey was commissioned by Northern Tap Company to create and choreograph a brand new Tap Dance show which he called Soundz Extraordinary for a one night only showing at The Civic Theatre in Barnsley (United Kingdom) on 24 September 2011.BBC online interview Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
Horsey choreographed 'Mickey's Christmas Big Band' show at Disneyland Paris and is resident choreographer for Carols in the Domain, broadcast on the Seven Network.
DateShowVenueDateShowVenue 2018 (27 Aug) Dance Boss Network Seven 2018 (10–11 July) The InBESTigators Gristmill (ABC/TV) 2018 (29–30 June) A Night at the Speakeasy Concert Hall, Opera House 2018 (15–17 Mar) Godspell Eternity Playhouse, Sydney 2018 (10 Mar) Swing on This Concert Hall, Opera House 2018 (7–19 Mar) Godspell Chapel Off Chapel, Melb 2018 (24 Feb – 8 Mar) The 39 Steps Cremorne Theatre, QPAC 2018 (14 Feb) Witches Joondalup Resort 2017 (17 Dec) Carols in the Domain Network Seven 2017 (Oct–Dec) Mickey's Christmas Big Band Disneyland Paris 2017 (25 July – 5 Aug) West Side Story Conservatorium Theatre, Bris 2017 (6–7 July) George Michael, Praying For Time Concert Hall, Opera House 2017 (16–17 June) Swing on This Perth Concert Hall 2017 (7 Jan) Swing on This Concert Hall, QPAC 2016 (18 Dec) Carols in the Domain Network Seven 2016 (14 Nov) Rob Guest Endowment Lyric Theatre, Sydney 2016 (12 Nov) Kiss Me, Kate Concert Hall, QPAC 2016 (19 June) Swing on This Theatre Royal, Sydney 2016 (21 Apr – 7 May) The Detective's Handbook Hayes Theatre, Sydney 2015 (10 Nov) Rob Guest Endowment The Capitol Theatre, Sydney 2015 (4–6 May) The Bugalugs Bum Thief Riverside Theatre, Parramatta 2015 (29 April – 2 May) The Bugalugs Bum Thief Glen Street Theatre 2015 (16–24 April) The Bugalugs Bum Thief Darling Quarter Theatre, Darling Harbour, Sydney 2015 (16 Feb) Swing on This Arts Centre, Gold Coast 2014 (4–6 June) Everybody Loves Lucy Hayes Theatre 2014 (12 Oct) Iconic A Cappella at the House The Studio, Sydney Opera House
Performing Arts Teacher Horsey teaches drama, musical theatre and tap dance.
He has taught and lectured at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Sydney Dance Company, Academy of Music & Performing Arts (AMPA), Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Excelsia College (formerly Wesley Institute), ED5 International and Brent Street School of Performing Arts.Qld Con website Godspell Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.AMPA website Our People Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.xlr8arts Home Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
Awards
First Place – Fred Astaire International Tap & Jazz Championship 1984
People's Choice Award, Short Sweet & Dance Festival 2007Arts Review Trent Kidd Retrieved 27 Aug 2018. for his Seinfeld inspired Tap show 3 Hits and a Miss
Australian Dance Awards nominee in the 'Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre' category, for his work on Swing on This 2017
Filmography Year Title Role Director 2005 The Adventures of Roman Pilgrim Roman Pilgrim Anny Slater 2001 Changi (miniseries) Shadow Dancer Kate Woods 2000 Bootmen Angus Dein Perry
Personal life
Horsey married Australian film, TV and stage actress Lucy Durack on Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth, Western Australia on 5 April 2014.Perth Now article Retrieved 27 Aug 2018. They have a daughter, Polly Gladys and son Theodore Lindsay.Perth Now article Linda Parri Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
References