Choreography from NYCB

On Justin Peck, Ballet 422, the NYCB. and how Balanchine influence is seen through current choreographers of the NYCB.

Performance of Justin Peck's first ballet for the NYCB

Ballet 422

Justin Peck, member of the NYCB since 2006, was commissioned to create the company's 422nd original ballet. He had a few months to both create and teach the piece while still being an active member in the corps de ballet for other pieces being showcased. The film shows the progression of time through Justin first being alone with the music and filming himself doing choreography on his phone, then teaching Tiler her solo piece, then teaching the pas de deux, then bringing the corps de ballet in, and finally rehearsals on stage. He spends minutes on just correcting one dancer's arms and making sure she is doing it exactly how he pictures. He teaches as Balanchine did where when a dancer says something just will not work or doesn't feel correct to take their suggestion or change a tiny piece in order to accommodate the dancer. While a step might've been changed the original and new are almost indistinguishable. There is scene during stage rehearsals where Justin addresses the orchestra to show his appreciation while explaining that his whole process revolves around the music, he wishes to show the complexities of the orchestra, and stressing the need for it to be high energy. When the performance of his piece finishes Justin takes a bow then goes to his dressing room to get ready to perform in the next piece of the night.

Justin Peck's Paz de la Jolla performed by the National Ballet of Canada

Balanchine Forever

Justin Peck's choreography shows blatantly that he was trained at the NYCB and their choreographic institute. The performance and piece can only be described as Balanchine with the costumes, lack of set, complicated arms, and extremely fast (and scary) choreography. Justin Peck has created 25 original ballets for three four different companies and has been performed by others as well. Balanchine's influence is still seen in many modern day choreographers' works. If the rest of Justin Peck's works current and future showcase everything he learned at the NYCB choreographic institute it is clear Balanchine's style of ballets will continue to be showcase and continue to be experimented with.