The dark, sexy moves of the inhabitants of Cabaret's Kit Kat Club have won Javier De Frutos the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer.
Caracas-born De Frutos could be said to have been the perfect candidate to choreograph Rufus Norris's edgy production of Cabaret, which has been running at the Lyric since 10 October 2006. He trained in London and New York, and became notorious in the 1990s for his propensity for dancing in the nude.
De Frutos was delighted and surprised to win the award, saying: "All the competition is fierce. I was not expecting it. This is my first musical." He was equally delighted for Sheila Hancock, who picked up the Best Supporting Performance In A Musical award for her role in the show. "Sheila got it, oh my God! We’re doing really well so I’m very happy!"
The choreographer's distinctive, controversial style led to him being asked to choreograph for other companies, and he has had success with productions including Milagros, his powerful Rite of Spring for New Zealand Ballet, Time Out Live Award winner Sour Milk for CandoCo, and Elsa Canasta, for Rambert. He is currently the Artistic Director of Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre, one of Britain’s leading contemporary dance companies.
JFC
