Justin Peck is a rising star in the world of ballet, currently working with the New York City Ballet as both a dancer and choreographer. After three well received world premieres and numerous principal roles with the NYCB, Peck is gaining notoriety as a fresh voice within the tradition of classical ballet. He first began to explore choreography through the NYCB affiliated New York Choreographic Institute, and was subsequently appointed as the Choreographer-in-Residency of the NYCI for the 2011-12 season.
Biography and Major Works
Justin Peck grew up in San Diego, CA, and was "raised amidst a culture of beach-bum surfers and the straight-and-narrows of suburban living". He began studying dance at 13, and subsequently moved to New York to study at the School of American Ballet at age 15. After three years at SAB, at the age of 18, he accepted an invitation from Ballet Master-in-chief Peter Martins to join the New York City Ballet. After serving as an apprentice in 2006 and joining the corps de ballet in 2007, Justin was promoted to soloist in February 2013.
After experimenting with choreography beginning in 2009, Justin made his NYCB debut with In Creases in 2012, set to music by Phillip Glass. He immediately followed it with Year of the Rabbit, set to the Sufjan Stevens album Enjoy Your Rabbit, arranged for string orchestra. His third work with the NYCB in a six month period, Paz de La Jolla, set to music by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu's Sinfonietta La Jolla premiered on January 31st, 2013.
Yeah of the Rabbit (2012)
Paz de La Jolla (2013)
Style and Process
While clearly talented, Justin is still developing his choreographic voice. He describes his style as very classically based, working within the vocabulary and tradition of classical ballet. In an interview with Timeout New York he says that "My choreography is very classically based. I like graceful and elegant partnering that gives an illusion of ease instead of emphasizing difficulty". He goes on to discuss how he wants to avoid being contemporary or trendy, instead subtlety altering the classical language. His movements are often fast and energetic, emphasizing his belief that "ballet dancers are among the greatest living athletes", and make full use of the corps de ballet of NYCB, not just the soloists.
Justin's process, like that of the NYCB and George Balanchine, is fueled by the music. Says Peck: "I think that music is the greatest pleasure in the world and my vision as a choreographer is to expand upon that notion and show people this through movement". His vision is driven by his musical choice, not an inner monologue or theme. An adequate pianist, Peck begins his process by working through the score, translating counts and sketching formations. His use of the corps is democratic, giving an equal role to principals and corps and involving large groups, casting aside some of the formulaic methods of classical ballet. If given the choice to use 2 dancers or 20, he would pick 20.
Peck wants to continue to pursue dancing, and was just promoted to soloist with the NYCB, signaling a continued relationship with the company. He has expressed a hesitancy to choreograph elsewhere, citing the collaborative atmosphere and mutual language that he has developed at NYCB. As an institution, NYCB has much more to offer him as a dancer and choreographer. He does not find the globe trotting freelance choreographer role enticing, and even expressed a fear of working with companies that do not dance as fast or quick as the group he is used to working with.
Justin Peck & Sufjan Stevens - Year of the Rabbit
Works
2013:
PAZ de LA JOLLA
music by Bohuslav Martinu
2012:
YADDO SHADOW
music by Nico Muhly
music by Sufjan Stevens
DISTRACTIONS
music by Alexander Rosenblatt
IN CREASES
music by Philip Glass
FURIANT
music by Antonín Dvořák
MISE-EN-PLACE
music by Conrad Winslow
2011:
7 (FOR SEVEN)
music by Dmitri Shostakovich
THE ENORMOUS ROOM
music by Felix Mendelssohn
2010:
TALES OF A CHINESE ZODIAC
music by Sufjan Stevens
'ENJOY YOUR RABBIT' PAS DE DEUX
music by Sufjan Stevens
2009:
QUINTET
music by Felix Mendelssohn
A TEACUP PLUNGE
music by Joby Talbot
Works Cited
Gottlieb, Robert. "It Was a Very Good Year: Justin Peck's Banner Year of the Rabbit Restore's One's Faith in City Ballet." The New York Observer. 16 October 2012.
Kourlas, Gia. "Distinct Paths, Same Destination." The New York Times. 22 February 2013.
Kourlas, Gia. "Justin Peck choreographs another dance for New York City Ballet." Time Out New York. 18 January 2013.
La Rocco, Claudia. "Creating a Tradition All His Own." The New York Times. 27 July 2012.
Milzoff, Rebecca. "Sufjan Stevens's Ballet Lessons." 23 September 2012.
Peck, Justin. Vimeo Catalogue. Retrieved 24 February 2013. http://vimeo.com/justinpeck
Rogoff, Jay. "Enter Justin Peck - By Leaps and Bounds." The New York Times. 28 September 2012.
Seibert, Brian. "A Choreographer Emerges, Assisted by the Chinese Zodiac." The New York Times. 7 October, 2012.
Tobias, Tobi. "Making it New." Arts Journal. 6 October 2012.
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