MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Ballet has been awarded a Fellowship Initiative Grant from the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of New York City Ballet, to support the development of new choreography in a studio setting. The choreographer will be Petr Zahradnícek.

Peter Martins, Founder and Artistic Director of the Institute, states: ‘The Fellowship is meant to help ballet companies to create an environment in which a choreographer can develop ideas without the pressure of stage production. The Institute is committed to classical choreographers who will be creating works for the future.’

“I am delighted Petr will have this wonderful opportunity to explore his creative ideas and develop his craft as a choreographer” said Michael Pink, artistic director for the Milwaukee Ballet.

Zahradnícek was born in the Moravian capital of Brno, Czech Republic. He graduated in 1993 from the Brno Dance Conservatoire and joined the National Theater in Prague.  In 1996, Zahradnícek moved to Germany where he danced with such companies as Theater Vorpommern, Salzburg Ballet and Stadttheater Würzburg.  In the United States, he has performed with Gleich Contemporary Dances in New York City and danced with the Colorado Ballet for three seasons.

Zahradnícek has also choreographed pieces for the Milwaukee Ballet’s Pabst Series, Gathering on the Green and the Milwaukee Ballet School. The 2007-2008 season will be his fifth with the Milwaukee Ballet.

Milwaukee Ballet
Founded in 1970, the Milwaukee Ballet Company strives to inspire its audiences to think within and beyond traditional ballet through the presentation of quality performances and the implementation of educational opportunities. With an annual operating budget of just under $5 million, the Milwaukee Ballet Company presents more than 40 performances to 70,000 people each year. Stephen Mills’ “Hamlet” will open the season November 1-4, 2007. For more information about the Milwaukee Ballet or to receive a season brochure, call (414) 902-2103.

Information about the Milwaukee Ballet’s 2007–2008 season may also be obtained online at www.milwaukeeballet.org.