Justin Peck

Peck was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in San Diego, California. He began tap dancing when he was nine years old, after seeing a performance of Bring in 'da Noise. When Peck was 13, he witnessed a performance of American Ballet Theatre in Giselle which inspired him to begin training in the ballet form.

At 15 years old, Peck moved to New York City to attend the School of American Ballet. In 2006, when he was 18 years old, he was invited by Peter Martins to join the New York City Ballet as an apprentice.[2] In June 2007, he was promoted to corps de ballet. In February 2013, he was promoted to soloist.[3] At New York City Ballet, Peck has danced extensive repertoire, performing in existing and new works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Benjamin Millepied, Alexei Ratmansky, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, and Christopher Wheeldon.

In 2008, Peck choreographed his first ballet. He has since created more than 25 works, for companies such as New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet,[4] Miami City Ballet,[5] LA Dance Project,[6] and Paris Opera Ballet.

Alastair Macaulay, the chief dance critic at The New York Times, described Peck in an article as "the third important choreographer to have emerged in classical ballet this century."[1] In 2014, Peck was named the New York City Ballet's Resident Choreographer, the youngest and only the second ever to hold the position.[7]

Peck is the focus of the 2014 Jody Lee Lipes documentary Ballet 422.[8]

Peck has worked with composers Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner (of the band The National), Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. He has also collaborated with visual artists Shepard Fairey, Marcel Dzama, Sterling Ruby, Karl Jensen; and fashion designers Humberto Leon (Opening Ceremony, Kenzo), Mary Katrantzou, and Prabal Gurung.

He has contributed to the fashion world, working with Vogue,[9] Harper's Bazaar,[10] Nowness,[11] Vogue China, Vogue Australia, DuJour magazine,[12] Vulture,[13] New York Magazine, and others.

The New York Times has proclaimed that "Mr. Peck has quickly become the most eminent choreographer of ballet in the United States,"[14] and that "young Mr. Peck can do anything he wants with choreography: a virtuoso of the form."[15]

Peck provided the choreography for the third Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel in 2018 at the Imperial Theatre.[16] Peck has received numerous award nominations for his work on the production including a Tony Award for Best Choreography.

Ballet 422 follows Peck's process of choreographing Paz de la Jolla for the New York City Ballet.[8]

In the film, Peck's process of creating the piece is followed, focusing on aspects such as choreography, staging, lighting, and costumes.[7][17] The movie was filmed and directed by Jody Lee Lipes, an American cinematographer known for his cinematography in the television show Girls and film Manchester by the Sea.[17][18]

• In 2013, Peck's Year of the Rabbit was a nomination for the Benois De La Danse.
• In 2015, Peck's Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes received a Bessie Award for Outstanding Production.[19] This work received a nomination for the Benois De La Danse in 2016.
• Peck was awarded the 2018 Tony Award for Best Choreography for Rodger's and Hammerstein's Carousel[20]
• Peck was awarded the 2018 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography for Rodger's and Hammerstein's Carousel
• Peck was awarded the 2018 Outer Critics Circle Award for Rodger's and Hammerstein's Carousel
• Peck was awarded the 2018 Ted Arison Young Arts Awards at the National Arts Awards.
• Peck received the Golden Plate from the Academy of Achievement in 2019.

• Year of the Rabbit (2012) – New York City Ballet
• In Creases (2012) – New York City Ballet
• Paz De La Jolla (2013) – New York City Ballet
• Chutes and Ladders (2013) – Miami City Ballet
• Capricious Maneuvers (2013) – New York City Ballet
• Murder Ballades (2013) – LA Dance Project
• Everywhere We Go (2014) – New York City Ballet
• Belles-Lettres (2014) – New York City Ballet
• Debonair (2014) – Pacific Northwest Ballet
• Helix (2014) – LA Dance Project
• Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes (2015) – New York City Ballet
• Heatscape (2015) – Miami City Ballet
• New Blood (2015) – New York City Ballet
• The Most Incredible Thing (2016) – New York City Ballet[21]
• In the Countenance of Kings (2016) – San Francisco Ballet
• Entre chien et loup (2016) – Paris Opera Ballet
• Scherzo Fantastique (2016) -New York City Ballet [22]
• The Dreamers (2016) – New York City Ballet
• The Times Are Racing (2017) – New York City Ballet
• The Decalogue (2017) - New York City Ballet
• Pulcinella Variations (2017) – New York City Ballet[23]
• Hurry Up We're Dreaming (2018) - San Francisco Ballet [24]
• Easy (2018) - New York City Ballet [25]
• Principia (2019) - New York City Ballet [26]
• Reflections (2019) - Houston Ballet [27]
• Bright (2019) - New York City Ballet [28]
• Muhly (2020) - New York City Ballet [29]