Joffrey Ballet Announces 2022 Winning Works Choreographers
The Joffrey Academy of Dance has announced the recipients of the 12th annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition: Audrey Ipapo Baran, Joffrey Company Artist Edson Barbosa, Taylor Carrasco, and Derick McKoy. This announcement follows a national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications, which began in June. The choreographers’ world premiere works will be showcased by the dancers of the Joffrey Studio Company and the Joffrey Academy Trainee Program in four performances at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago from March 18 – 20, 2022.
The Winning Works choreographic competition was created to recognize talented and emerging ALAANA choreographers and to provide them with a platform to showcase their original and innovative work. The winning choreographers are awarded a $5,000 stipend and are given the opportunity to seek guidance from The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet Ashley Wheater MBE and Abbott Academy Director Raymond Rodriguez.
“We are proud to announce this year’s winners of the Winning Works choreographic competition, another exceptional group of artists that are sure to bring innovative ideas to the stage,” said Wheater. “I am incredibly excited to once again shine a spotlight on the best and brightest in the field, especially now as we return to live performances.”
“The pandemic taught us to adapt in the face of ambiguity and uncertainty,” added Greg Cameron, Joffrey’s President & CEO. “Last year, we were forced to cancel our Winning Works performances, only to find a new audience in the form of our virtual Joffrey Studio Series, which presented all of last year’s Winning Works performances to viewers in more than 20 counties. We are thrilled to do so once again in 2022, while also returning to live performances. Once again, Winning Works is shaping the future of dance.”
“Winning Works remains one of the most relevant and impactful endeavors of the Joffrey and the Joffrey Academy,” added Rodriguez. “Artists from around the world continue to show immense interest and our audience continues to grow. It is a source of great pride for all of us, and I look forward to much more as we come up with new ways to share the work of these diverse artists in a hybrid model that involves in-person performances and digital.”
To learn more about the 2022 class of choreographers, visit joffrey.org/winningworks. Winning Works will be presented in four performances at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Edlis Neeson Theater (220 E. Chicago Avenue) Friday, March 18 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, March 19 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 pm, Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 pm. Tickets for Winning Works are $30 and currently on sale for purchase at joffrey.org/winningworks. The world premiere works will be available to view digitally following the in-person performances. Streaming dates will be announced at a later date.
