Cristina Bucci has been a dynamic force in the arts community for over two decades, leaving an indelible mark as a choreographer, performer, educator, producer, and mentor, and recently received the prestigious 2023 Jacqueline Lemieux Prize for her exceptional contributions to dance in Canada. Born in Malta and a first-generation Italian immigrant to Canada, she is grateful to reside and work on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mes (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, in so-called Vancouver, Canada.

Cristina’s career has spanned the globe, affording her the unique opportunity to contribute to a myriad of diverse projects. Her commissions have taken her to renowned institutions such as Lamondance Company (Canada), Dancing on the Edge (Canada), Yarita Yu Ballet (Japan), International Dance Seminar (Brazil), and KMA Dance/Orchestra (Japan). She has danced works by Tentacle Tribe, Alexandra Spiceya Landé, RubberLegz, Vee Ms Vee (Val Ho), performed with Avant Garde Dance (UK) and participated in esteemed festivals, including the Vancouver International Dance Festival, CypheFest International Dance Festival (Yukon), Guelph Dance Festival (Ontario), Seattle International Dance Festival (US), Dance in Vancouver, Indian Summer Festival, Blend Animation Festival, Vancouver Street Dance Festival, and Bass Coast Music Festival. Her talent has also been showcased in film and TV projects such as Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Riverdale, Lululemon, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, and Null.

In 2014, Cristina co-founded OURO Collective to advance the public’s appreciation of street dance culture, united around pushing the boundaries of how street dance-based works are created and presented. Alongside OURO, she has co-created over ten works and received Dance Victoria’s Chrystal Dance Prize to collaborate with Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit to produce a short film and full- length dance work entitled 7y98D. The short film premiered on NOWNESS and has been screened at film festivals: Lago (Italy), Mignolo (USA), Cinedans (NL), TANZAHOi (Germany), and Greensboro (USA). OURO’s aesthetic is also seen in the Lululemon x Team Canada 2022 Winter Olympic campaign.

In 2019, Cristina received the choreography award at the New York Youth America Grand Prix Finals alongside choreographic partner Maiko Miyauchi, who has also worked on projects for CBC Arts, Jayda G, Translink, Destroyer, JJ Adrian, and TRACE International Dance Intensive. Later that year, Cristina received the Diamonds in the Rough Crew 10th anniversary: Women of Honor Award for contributing to Vancouver’s street dance community.

As a dedicated educator, Cristina has spearheaded numerous outreach and youth initiatives, leaving a lasting impact on the next generation of artists. She served as the assistant director of the hip hop/funk dance training program SOULdiers, collaborated with Kidsafe, Share Dance (New Works), Power of Dance (The Dance Centre), and is a board member of community space, Bridge and Enrich Lives Society. Her outreach programming has reached across the Pacific Northwest and Japan, and she has developed dancer wellness workshops as a registered holistic nutritionist. Her seminars have been presented over one hundred times for various programs and schools, including Goh Ballet Academy, Vancouver Ballet Society (Spring Seminar), Harbour Dance Centre, Ballet Bloch Canada, Dancer Transition Resource Centre, Vanleena Dance Academy and The Happening Dance Company, among

others. In the early mornings, she finds time to coach and work with the ice dancers from the Champs International Skating Centre of BC.

Looking ahead, Cristina is embarking on a new chapter in her career, focusing on developing her repertoire as a solo artist. She is currently working on a new solo piece, Sisu, and a group dance project, Project Inizi. Sisu has been accepted to the 2024 Small Plates Choreography Festival in New York and the group piece is set to premiere in Vancouver in 2025. This new direction in her career allows her to fully explore her artistic potential, drawing from her extensive training in street styles, jazz and contemporary dance. Her aim is to create captivating, accessible, and theatrical performances that embody the diversity and experiences she has gained throughout her career.

Photo credit: Teppei Tanabe