Craig was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, 1977. At the age of six he started his first dance class with Marilyn deBurg School of dance in Bulls. After five years he moved on to study with Raewyn Trotter in Fielding for four years. Craig then intensified his studies of Ballet and modern dance with Gwenda Britten in Palmerston North until the age of 18. In 1995 at the end of his high school years he auditioned for the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) where he was consequently accepted into the three year course.
In 1996 and 97 he was the recipient of the Poul Gnatt Scholarships covering the fees for his first two years at the NZSD. Then in 1998 he was awarded the Anne Rowse Scholarship for Modern Dance for his final year.
In 1997 while in his second year at the NZSD he was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Ballet, for their season of 'La Fille Mal Gardee', where he danced as a corps de ballet member. This experience gave Craig the opportunity to realize a dream of working with a full time company and also realize that he was interested in a more integrated role inside the creation of dance. After his work with the ballet company he elected to major in contemporary dance for the remainder of his studies.
While in his third year, 1998, he was employed by Footnote Dance Company, one of New Zealand's only full time contemporary dance companies. While there he had the privilege of working with Jeremy Nelson and Michael Parmenter two of New Zealand's most recognized choreographers. He was utilized greatly by both choreographers and toured with the company throughout New Zealand as well as Performing in both Korea and in the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Australia.
During the May - June school holidays of 97 and 98 he worked with Paul Jenden's, Maclary Theatre Productions on 'A Dragon in a Wagon'. A children's show based on the popular children's books written by Lynley Dodds. Craig graduated from the NZSD at the end of 1998 with both a Certificate in Dance Performance (1997) and a Diploma in Dance Performance (1998). For his graduation performance Craig had the rare honour of having a solo, 'Rhapsody', created for him by Michael Parmenter and was one of three dancers in Douglas Wright's 'Knee Dance'.
Craig's first engagement out of university was with independent choreographer Lyne Pringle on her show 'Kilt 2'. Immediately following he performed with the Michael Parmenter Commotion Company in the epic dance opera 'Jerusalem'.
In July 1999 Craig moved to Sydney, Australia to work with Garry Stewart's Thwack Dance Company developing 'Plastic Space' and 'Birdbrain'. Garry then became the director of the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) where he invited Craig to join him as a company member. The first engagement for them both was 'Housedance' a performance on the side of the Sydney Opera House for the turn of the century celebrations. Craig was a member of ADT for two years. While there he had the privilege to tour extensively throughout Australia, the UK, Canada, Korea and New York. Not only did he work with Garry Stewart he had the opportunity to work with Kate Denborough, who created 'Misfit' a work premiering 'Power Skips' (stilt like contraptions with a mechanism that can propel you meters into the air, a German invention).
Craig had the opportunity to work with the other dancers in ADT on their own works in 'Ignition'. A concept still in practice at ADT. This gave Craig the chance to explore his own choreographic ideas creating a short work called 'Tetrad'. This received fantastic reviews in newspapers, radio and was given the critics choice award of most promising choreography in the 2001 Dance Australia magazine.
At the end of 2001 Craig moved back to New Zealand and worked with the Douglas Wright Dance Company on 'Inland' showcased in the 2002 New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. After the national tour of 'Inland' he moved to Tasmania to become a resident dancer with TasDance, under the directorship of Annie Greig. During his time at TasDance he had the opportunity to work with Some of Australia's most recognized choreographers and also some of Australia's exciting new comers, who include; Graeme Murphy, Leigh Warren, Neil Adams, Sue Healey, Anna Smith, Tanja Liedtke, Phillip Adams, Natalie Weir, Chrissie Parrott, Fiona Reilly, and Shaun Parker.
In 2003 Craig worked in New Zealand with Douglas Wright to develop a new solo. While there he worked with Raewyn Hill's Soapbox Productions on their season of 'Night', and was also involved in their 2004 season of 'Angels with Dirty Feet'. In May 2004 Craig had the opportunity to work with Gideon Obarzanek at Chunky Move, developing their season 'I Want to Dance Better at Parties'. At the end of 2004 Craig worked with the Sue Healey Company creating a new season 'Inevitable Scenarios'.
In 2005 Craig returned to TasDance to develop 'Divine Harmonies', which was nominated at the Australian Dance Awards for 'Outstanding Performance by a Company'. Craig was also nominated for 'Outstanding Performance by a Male' and performed a solo from the season at the awards ceremony.
Also in 2005 he toured 'Birdbrain' with the Australian Dance Theatre and 'Hard Yakka' with TasDance and was recognized internationally by being nominated for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
In 2006 Craig worked with the Sue Healey Company and Leigh Warren and Dancers. He returned to New Zealand to finish the development of Douglas Wright's 'Black Milk' featuring the solo created in 2003. 'Black Milk' toured throughout New Zealand, including a season in the Sydney Opera House.
Craig joined the Australian Dance Theatre as a senior artist for the 'HELD' tour through Japan, Europe and the UK, and in 2007 the Sydney and Adelaide seasons of 'Devolution'. Following he worked on Nigel Jamieson's Honour Bound as the Rehearsal Director, which included a tour to Vienna and Amsterdam.
He returned to ADT later that year for the tour of 'Devolution' to the world renowned Theatre de la Ville in Paris, and consequent tour of France.
In 2008 Craig returned to New Zealand to work with Michael Parmenter on his new work TENT where he won Best Male Performer, Tempo Festival in Auckland, New Zealand.
2009 saw Craig touring Tanja Liedtke's Twelfth Floor throughout the United Kindom and the creation of a 30 minute work on Sydney Dance Company. Pictures of a One-Night Stand is featured in SDC's New Breed Season which premiered in the Sydney Opera House's Spring Dance in September. That month also saw the premier of his second 30 minute work Caused to Happen on LINK Dance Company, Perth.
At the end of 2009 Craig toured Tanja Liedtke's Twelfth Floor to Germany and following took over management of Tanja's Construct throughout Israel and Canada.
2010 saw Craig try new avenues of dance where he worked as movement consultant, alongside director Sam Strong, at Belvior Street Theatre, Company B on their latest production of The Power of Yes. He co-directed a solo show Yellow is not Yellow on Binh Duy Ta and was a dancer for Gavin Webber during the Australia in Residence program at the Festspielhaus, St. Pölten.
Craig created Go Home Stay Home on the graduating students of the NZSD.
2011 was a busy year for Craig where he performed in Douglas Wright's RAPT, KAGE's Look Right Through Me and Shaun Parker & Company's Happy As Larry. He was also a founding member of the New Zealand Dance Company with an exciting launch season. Craig premiered two new works, Side to One his first full-length work with Lisa Griffiths as both creators and performers, to critical acclaim, and Awaken Absence a solo work on himself for the inaugural season of iOU.
2012 will begin with the development of the first full-length work on the New Zealand Dance Company where Craig will be a co-creator and dancer.
Over the past few years Craig has not only had the privilege of working with incredible choreographers he has also had the honour of working with sensationally talented dancers. Dancers who continue to inspire him, teach him and help him grow as a performer every day.
