Ballet Works Project

The Ballet Works Project embraces all of James Sewell Ballet’s creation and acquisition activities, whether for research and development or for finished stage performance.

The company presents two new ballets by Artistic Director James Sewell each season, many of them commissioned by other organizations.

We also have presented ballets by George Balanchine, Christian Burns, Hernando Cortez, Sally Rousse, Penelope Freeh, Wynn Fricke, Jennifer Hart, and Lou Fancher.

The company sponsors an annual choreographic workshop that brings its dancers together with new and established choreographers.

Twenty two choreographers have participated in workshops: Chris Aiken, Stéphane André, Burns, Cortez, Fancher, Freeh, Fricke, Jesse Hammel, Hart, Lise Houlton, Benjamin Johnson, Morris Johnson, Matthew Keefe, Justin Leaf, Nicolas Lincoln, John Munger, Rousse, Patrick Scully, Robin Stiehm, Deborah Thayer, Morgan Thorson, and Cathy Young.

In 2006, JSB's workshop teamed with the American Composers Forum to present Music In Motion, a pilot program that gathered 80 Minnesota choreographers and composers in a series of three workshops. Commissions for new dances and compositions were awarded to two teams of choreographers and composers.

The choreographic workshops have received generous support from the Jerome Foundation since 1994.