Justin Peck

Justin Peck (born September 8, 1987) is an American choreographer and dancer associated with New York City Ballet.

In July 2014, he was appointed as Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet. He is the second person in the history of the institution to hold this title.^[1]

Early life

Peck was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in San Diego, CA. He began tap dancing when he was 9 years old, after seeing a performance of Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk. When Peck was 13, he witnessed a performance of American Ballet Theatre in Giselle, which inspired him to begin training in the ballet form.

Career

At 15 years old, Peck moved to New York City to attend the School of American Ballet. In 2006, When he was 18 years old, he was invited by Peter Martins to join the New York City Ballet as an apprentice.^[2] In June 2007, he was promoted to corps de ballet. In February 2013, he was promoted to Soloist.^[3] At New York City Ballet, Peck has danced extensive repertoire, performing in existing and new works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Benjamin Millepied, Alexei Ratmansky, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, and Christopher Wheeldon.

In 2008, Peck choreographed his first ballet. He has since created over 25 works, for companies such as New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet,^[4] Miami City Ballet,^[5] LA Dance Project,^[6] and Paris Opera Ballet.

Peck has worked with composers Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner (the National), Steve Reich, Philip Glass. He has also collaborated with visual artists Shepard Fairey, Marcel Dzama, Sterling Ruby, Karl Jensen; and fashion designers Humberto Leon (Opening Ceremony, Kenzo), Mary Katrantzou, and Prabal Gurung.

He is often brought in to contribute to the fashion world, working with Vogue Magazine, Harpers Bazaar, Nowness, Vogue China, Vogue Australia, Dujour Magazine,^[7] New York Magazine, and others.

The New York Times has proclaimed that "Mr. Peck has quickly become the most eminent choreographer of ballet in the United States,"^[8] and that "young Mr. Peck can do anything he wants with choreography: a virtuoso of the form."^[9]

Awards

In 2015, Peck's Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes received a Bessie Award for Outstanding Production. ^[10]

In 2013, Peck's Year of the Rabbit was nomination for the Benois De La Danse.^[11]

In 2016, Peck's Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes was nomination for the Benois De La Danse.

Select Works

• Year of the Rabbit (2012) - New York City Ballet
• In Creases (2012) - New York City Ballet
• Paz De La Jolla (2013) - New York City Ballet
• Chutes and Ladders (2013) - Miami City Ballet
• Capricious Maneuvers (2013) - New York City Ballet
• Murder Ballades (2013) - LA Dance Project
• Everywhere We Go (2014) - New York City Ballet
• Belles-Lettres (2014) - New York City Ballet
• Debonair (2014) - Pacific Northwest Ballet
• Helix (2014) - LA Dance Project
• Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes (2015) - New York City Ballet
• Heatscape (2015) - Miami City Ballet
• New Blood (2015) - New York City Ballet
• The Most Incredible Thing (2016) - New York City Ballet
• In the Countenance of Kings (2016) - San Francisco Ballet
• Entre chien et loup (2016) - Paris Opera Ballet

References