We are now accepting submissions for Genesis, the eleventh installment of our biennial choreographic competition. The production will be presented at the historic Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee, February 8-11, 2024.

THREE CHOREOGRAPHERS will be selected by Artistic Director Michael Pink to create a 20-minute work using eight Company dancers for a minimum of 75 hours of rehearsal time. Transportation to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, along with hotel lodging and daily per diem, will be provided.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000 plus a commission to create a new piece for Milwaukee Ballet at a mutually agreeable time. The other two choreographers will receive $3,000 each.

The winner of the “Audience Choice Award” will win an additional $500. 

Eligible choreographers must meet and/or agree to the following requirements.

• Must have prior experience creating work for a professional dance company.
• If residing outside the United States, one must have a passport and the ability to obtain travel authorization.
• All competition works must be new creations .
• Music must be pre-recorded and from the public domain or used with the composer’s permission without fees.
• Works can be augmented with simply constructed costumes from Milwaukee Ballet’s existing stock of contemporary and classical wardrobes.
• Choreographers agree that any works created for Genesis may be used by Milwaukee Ballet Company or the  Milwaukee Ballet II second company for three years without royalty payments, with works restaged by Milwaukee Ballet artistic staff. The choreographer will be notified of such use.

• Choreographers must submit a link to a choreographic reel that contains two excerpts of previous work no more than two years old. Video submission must not exceed 10 minutes total. YouTube or Vimeo is preferred.
• A written proposal and biography in English, and a headshot must accompany the entry.
• Questions can be sent to [email protected].

Entry Deadline: October 31, 2023
Notification: December 2023

2002
Laura Gorenstein Miller, USA
Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Denmark
John Utans, Australia (winner)

2007
Josef Hajzer, Hungary
Victor Plotnikov, Ukraine
Nelly van Bommel, France (winner)

2009
Maurice Causey, USA
Cameron McMillan, Australia
Timothy O’Donnell, Australia (winner)

2011
Mauro de Candia, Italy (winner)
Lucas Jervies, Australia
Edgar Zendejas, Mexico

2013
Lauren Edson, USA
James Gregg, USA
Gabrielle Lamb, USA  (winner)

2015
Garrett Smith, USA (winner)
Riccardo DiNigris, Italy
Matthew Tusa, Australia

2017
Enrico Morelli, Italy
Mariana Oliveira, Brazil
George Williamson, England (winner)

2019
Cass Mortimer Eipper, Australia
Aleix Mañé, Spain (winner)
Kenneth Tindall, Scotland

2022
Nadine Barton, USA
Price Suddarth, USA (winner)
DaYoung Jung, USA

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and founded in 1970, Milwaukee Ballet transforms lives and connects communities through inspiring performance, community engagement, education, and training. Milwaukee Ballet hosts an international company of 24 dancers and a second company of 20 dancers, and is one of the few dance organizations in the nation to maintain its own orchestra.

MICHAEL PINK, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Michael Pink is the longest-serving artistic director in the organization’s history. Since joining Milwaukee Ballet Company in 2002, he has since established himself as a prominent member of Milwaukee’s arts community, demonstrating his commitment to the future of dance through new work, education, and collaboration. In 2019, he hosted the grand opening of the state-of-the art headquarters, Baumgartner Center for Dance. His celebrated production of Peter Pan was broadcast nationally on PBS, and his Romeo & Juliet was broadcast in the state of Wisconsin.