New York City Ballet Names Justin Peck the Company's Resident Choreographer

Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief of New York City Ballet, announced today that choreographer and NYCB Soloist Justin Peck has been named the Company's Resident Choreographer, effective immediately. In this new capacity Peck will create two world premiere ballets for NYCB each year, in addition to continuing to dance with the Company. Peck will become only the second person to hold the title Resident Choreographer at NYCB; the first was Christopher Wheeldon, who had the position from 2001 to 2008.

For NYCB's 2014-15 season, Peck will create a new work for the Fall Gala on September 23, 2014, which will be set to a score by Ce?sar Franck; and will create a second new work, to a score by Aaron Copland, that will premiere on the Company's annual New Combinations evening on February 4, 2015.

Peck has choreographed six works for New York City Ballet in the past two years: In Creases (2012), Year of the Rabbit (2012), Paz de la Jolla (2013), Take-Offs and Landings (NYCB MOVES, 2013), Capricious Maneuvers (2013), and Everywhere We Go (2014).

Peck, who joined NYCB as a member of the corps de ballet in 2007, was promoted to Soloist in 2013. He made his first ballet in April 2009 for the Columbia Ballet Collaborative, which was a pas de deux titled A Teacup Plunge, featuring NYCB dancers Teresa Reichlen and Russell Janzen. In the fall of 2009, Peck participated in his first session at the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of NYCB, and for the Institute's 10th anniversary in November 2010, Peck created Tales of a Chinese Zodiac, a precursor to his 2012 collaboration with Sufjan Stevens, Year of the Rabbit. In 2011, Peck was the recipient of the Institute's first-ever year-long residency.

"When Justin participated in his first session at the New York Choreographic Institute, it was immediately evident that he had a special gift," said Martins. "Now after making six works for the Company in just two years, it is clear that he's ready for the next step, and I am thrilled that Justin will continue to nurture his choreographic voice as our Resident Choreographer."

"I feel tremendously fortunate to be brought on as Resident Choreographer at New York City Ballet, which has been my home as a dancer for quite some time," said Peck. "I look forward to the creative potential that is in store, as well as the opportunity to develop a more in-depth and ongoing relationship with the Company."

Peck, who was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Southern California, began training at The School of American Ballet, the official school of NYCB, in 2003, and became an apprentice with the Company in 2006. In addition to his choreographic work with NYCB, Peck has also created ballets for Miami City Ballet, LA Dance Project, The School of American Ballet, New York City Center's Fall for Dance Festival, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, the Nantucket Atheneum Dance Festival, and Skidmore College. In the coming months he will also create new works for Pacific Northwest Ballet and Miami City Ballet.

Peck is also the subject of the documentary film Ballet 422, which was directed by Jody Lee Lipes, and follows Peck as he creates New York City Ballet's 422nd new work, Paz de la Jolla, during the Company's 2013 winter season. The film, which premiered to critical and audience acclaim at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, was also screened at the 2014 Seattle International Film Festival earlier this year. Magnolia Pictures recently acquired the North American distribution rights for Ballet 422, with a theatrical release date planned for some time within the next year, details to be announced.

New York City Ballet's upcoming performances include a week-long residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center from July 8 through 12, where Peck's recent collaboration with composer Sufjan Stevens, Everywhere We Go, will be performed on July 9, 10, and 12. In addition, Peck's In Creases, to music by Philip Glass, will be performed by NYCB MOVES on August 8 and 9 at Dancers' Workshop in Jackson, Wyoming.

For more information on New York City Ballet visit nycballet.com.

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Photo Credit: Paul Kolnik