Founded in 2010 by acclaimed choreographer and director Troy Schumacher, arts nonprofit BalletCollective asks not what ballet is, but what it can be—partnering with both established and emerging art makers and thought leaders in a deeply collaborative, original process to make forward-thinking ballet-based works.
BalletCollective exclusively performs original, commissioned work and has partnered with a roster of 330+ acclaimed artists, architects, authors, choreographers, composers, musicians, designers, and dancers (“The Collective”) to make 20+ works to date, including two-full length pieces, The Nutcracker at Wethersfield and The Night Falls.
BalletCollective’s work has been presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Joyce Theater, NYU Skirball Center, Guggenheim Works & Process, PEAK Performances, Guggenheim Bilbao, Vail Dance Festival, the Fire Island Dance Festival, and the Savannah Music Festival and has been featured in in The New York Times, New York Magazine, the New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Cosmopolitan, T Magazine, and CR Fashion Book, among others.
A COLLECTIVE APPROACH
TO BALLET
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To create and perform forward-thinking works of art that reflect the world we live in, BalletCollective commissions emerging and established art makers and thought leaders to collaborate closely using an original process that inspires ballet-based works.
BalletCollective exclusively performs commissioned, collaborative work that reimagines ballet for 21st century audiences.
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To produce, through collaboration, new forms of authentic and accessible artistic expression, emotionally engaging audiences and providing artists the environment and opportunities for breakthrough.
THE COLLECTIVE ARTISTS
A group of 330+ intrepid artists, choreographers, composers, performers, and designers.
By its nature, BalletCollective consists of a rotating group of artists and collaborators. With each new collective new ideas, new challenges, and ultimately, new forms of expression emerge.
THE CHOREOGRAPHERS Bryn Cohn | Houston Thomas | Gabrielle Lamb | Omar Román de Jesús | Preston Chamblee | Troy Schumacher THE COMPOSERS Alex Somers | Amanda Lawrence | Augusta Read Thomas | Caleb Burhans | Darian Donovan Thomas | David Moss | Ellis Ludwig-Leone | Jonathan Bingham | Judd Greenstein | Julianna Barwick | Mark Dancigers | Nathan Langston | Nick Jaina | Paul Moravec | Phong Tran | Robert Honstein | The Westerlies THE SOURCE ARTISTS Carey McHugh Poet | Carlos Arnaiz Architect | Cynthia Zarin Poet | Dafy Hagai Photographer | David Salle Painter | Doug Fitch Visual Artist | George Steinmetz Photojournalist | James Ramsey Architect | Jordan Bennett Visual Artist | Karen Russell Writer | Kathrin Linkersdorff Visual Artist | Ken Liu Writer | Mario Gooden Architect | Olafur Eliasson Visual Artist | Paul Maffi Photographer | Samantha Leigh Game Designer | Trevor Paglen Visual Artist | Zaria Forman Visual Artist THE DANCERS Aarón Sanz | Adriana Pierce | Alessio Crognale | Alexa Maxwell | Amari Frazier | Andrew Veyette | Anthony Huxley | Ashley Hod | Ashley Laracey | Ashly Isaacs | Ava Sautter | Brendon Chan | Cainan Weber | Christopher Grant | Claire Kretzschmar | Claire Von Enck | Dabria Aguilar | Daniel Applebaum | David Gabriel | David Prottas | Davide Riccardo | Devin Alberda | Dominika Afanasenkov | Elise Monson | Eliza Blutt | Emilie Gerrity | Emma Von Enck | Erica Pereira | Forrest Hersey | Gabriella Domini | Graham Feeny | Haley Winegarden | Harrison Coll | Iman Barnes | India Bradley | Indiana Woodward | Isabella LaFreniere | Jacqueline Bologna | Jada German | Jade Diouf | Jared Angle | Jeanette Delgado | John Selya | Jonathan Fahoury | Joshuan Vázquez | Jovani Furlan | Juliet Doherty | Julio Bragado-Young | Justin Peck | Kaitlyn Gilliland | Katarina Smith | Kellie Drobnick | Kennedy Targosz | KJ Takahashi | Kloe Walker | Kristen Segin | Lauren King | Lauren Lovette | Laurie Kanyok | Leslie Andrea Williams | Lorenzo Pagano | Lydia Wellington | Maia Schechter | Malorie Lundgren | Marika Anderson | Mary Elizabeth Sell | Mary Thomas MacKinnon | Marzia Memoli | Maxwell Simoes | Meagan Mann | Megan LeCrone | Michael Sean Breeden | Mimi Staker | Mira Nadon | Miriam Miller | Nazear Brown | Nicole Ashley Morris | Olivia Boisson | Preston Chamblee | Rachel Hutsell | Ralph Ippolito | Raven Joseph | Reed Tankersley | Rilee Nyborg | Samuel Greenberg | Sara Mearns | Sasonah Huttenbach | Savannah Durham | Sean Suozzi | Sebastian Villarini-Velez | Shelby Mann | Stephen Hanna | Tatiana Nuñez | Taylor Stanley | Teresa Reichlen | Tyler Angle | Unity Phelan | Wil Geary | Zoe Katherine Liebold THE DESIGNERS Abigail Hoke-Brady | Aimée Hunt | Alyssa Macaluso | Amith Chandrashaker | Andrea Fella | Ben Rawson | Brandon Stirling Baker | Brendon Randall-Meyers | Dana Haynes | Ehlie Luna | Elizabeth Mayhew | Garth MacAleavy | Giorgio Baravalle | Hannah Tran | Harold Garcia V | Haydée Morales | Hope Youngblood Heck | Jason Ardizzone-West | Jeff Doherty | John Cuff | Karen Young | Katrina Peterson | Kenny Duecker | Kusum Lynn | Lauren Starobin | Marc Happel | Melinette Rodriguez | Michael Pangilinan | Michelle Reneau | Molly Marie Ganster | Roderick Murray | Sara Nesbitt | Sergio Mora-Diaz | Shannon Chou | Sharone Malka | Suki Tsujimoto | Tyler McDiarmid | Victoria Bek | Vivian Chuang THE MUSICIANS Addison Maye-Saxon | Akira Ishiguro | Alex Sopp | Alexander Dobson | Alexander Fortes | Alexander Greenbaum | Allen Tate | Amy Tan | Andie Tanning Springer | Andrew Clausen | Andrew Koeppe | Angela Yam | Anna Urrey | Ariana Kim | Ben Russell | Beth Myers | Blair McMillen | Caitlin Sullivan | Caleb van der Swaagh | Caleigh Drane | Caroline Shaw | Catherine Brookman | Chelsea Lane | Chelsea Starbuck Smith | Chloe Rowlands | Christina Courtin | Claire Wellin | Clare Monfredo | Clarice Jensen | Colin Jacobsen | Conor Hanick | Courtney San Martin | Daniel Schlosberg | David Merino | David Stevens | Deborah Wong | Eleri Ward | Eliza Bagg | Emily Daggett Smith | Geoffrey Deemer | Gillian Gallagher | Gleb Kanasevich | Halldór Smárason | Hannah Levinson | Hannis Brown | Helen Campo | Ian Sullivan | Ilene Pabon | Irène Han | Isabel Gleicher | Iva Casián-Lakoš | Jane Cords-O'Hara | Jennifer Liu | Jeremy Smith | Jonathan Woody | Jordan Bak | Kallie Ciechomski | Karen Dekker | Karen Ouzounian | Kari Landry | Karl Kramer | Karl Larson | Kathryn McCreary | Katie Scheele | Keats Dieffenbach | Kirsten Volness | Kristi Helberg | Kristina Teuschler | Laura Lutzke | Lauren Cauley | Ledah Finck | Logan Coale | Marcel Sokalski | Maria Jeffers | Mario Gotoh | Matt Landry | Meg Zervoulis | Michael P. Atkinson | Mila Henry | Miranda Sielaff | Nadia Sirota | Najette Swain | Nanae Iwata | Naomi Woo | Nate Mayland | Nicolee Kuester | Olivia Puckett | Phong Tran | Rebecca Anderson | Riley Mulherkar | Ryan Reynolds | Sarah Thomas | Sarah Zun | Shmuel Katz | Sophia Kessinger | Stephen Rodes Chen | Steven Beck | Tariq Al-Sabir | Tim Gocklin | Timo Andres | Todd Palmer | Vanessa Upson THE PHOTOGRAPHERS Breanna Johnson | Brendon Cook | Bon Duke | Cherylynn Tshushima | Christian Haas | Christopher Duggan | Christopher Starbody | Cole Wilson | Dahlia Kimberly Dennison | Ekua King | Emiliano Granado | Erin Baiano | Ian Rutter | Kathryn Wirsing | Kyle Froman | Marcelo Gomes | Maria Baranova | Matthew Murphy | Meyrem Bulucek | Mona Kuhn | Nic Petry | Philip Nix | Rachel Klein | Samantha Casolari | Sara Schwab | Steven Pisano | Whitney Browne
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THE CHOREOGRAPHERS Bryn Cohn | Houston Thomas | Gabrielle Lamb | Omar Román de Jesús | Preston Chamblee | Troy Schumacher THE COMPOSERS Alex Somers | Amanda Lawrence | Augusta Read Thomas | Caleb Burhans | Darian Donovan Thomas | David Moss | Ellis Ludwig-Leone | Jonathan Bingham | Judd Greenstein | Julianna Barwick | Mark Dancigers | Nathan Langston | Nick Jaina | Paul Moravec | Phong Tran | Robert Honstein | The Westerlies THE SOURCE ARTISTS Carey McHugh Poet | Carlos Arnaiz Architect | Cynthia Zarin Poet | Dafy Hagai Photographer | David Salle Painter | Doug Fitch Visual Artist | George Steinmetz Photojournalist | James Ramsey Architect | Jordan Bennett Visual Artist | Karen Russell Writer | Kathrin Linkersdorff Visual Artist | Ken Liu Writer | Mario Gooden Architect | Olafur Eliasson Visual Artist | Paul Maffi Photographer | Samantha Leigh Game Designer | Trevor Paglen Visual Artist | Zaria Forman Visual Artist THE DANCERS Aarón Sanz | Adriana Pierce | Alessio Crognale | Alexa Maxwell | Amari Frazier | Andrew Veyette | Anthony Huxley | Ashley Hod | Ashley Laracey | Ashly Isaacs | Ava Sautter | Brendon Chan | Cainan Weber | Christopher Grant | Claire Kretzschmar | Claire Von Enck | Dabria Aguilar | Daniel Applebaum | David Gabriel | David Prottas | Davide Riccardo | Devin Alberda | Dominika Afanasenkov | Elise Monson | Eliza Blutt | Emilie Gerrity | Emma Von Enck | Erica Pereira | Forrest Hersey | Gabriella Domini | Graham Feeny | Haley Winegarden | Harrison Coll | Iman Barnes | India Bradley | Indiana Woodward | Isabella LaFreniere | Jacqueline Bologna | Jada German | Jade Diouf | Jared Angle | Jeanette Delgado | John Selya | Jonathan Fahoury | Joshuan Vázquez | Jovani Furlan | Juliet Doherty | Julio Bragado-Young | Justin Peck | Kaitlyn Gilliland | Katarina Smith | Kellie Drobnick | Kennedy Targosz | KJ Takahashi | Kloe Walker | Kristen Segin | Lauren King | Lauren Lovette | Laurie Kanyok | Leslie Andrea Williams | Lorenzo Pagano | Lydia Wellington | Maia Schechter | Malorie Lundgren | Marika Anderson | Mary Elizabeth Sell | Mary Thomas MacKinnon | Marzia Memoli | Maxwell Simoes | Meagan Mann | Megan LeCrone | Michael Sean Breeden | Mimi Staker | Mira Nadon | Miriam Miller | Nazear Brown | Nicole Ashley Morris | Olivia Boisson | Preston Chamblee | Rachel Hutsell | Ralph Ippolito | Raven Joseph | Reed Tankersley | Rilee Nyborg | Samuel Greenberg | Sara Mearns | Sasonah Huttenbach | Savannah Durham | Sean Suozzi | Sebastian Villarini-Velez | Shelby Mann | Stephen Hanna | Tatiana Nuñez | Taylor Stanley | Teresa Reichlen | Tyler Angle | Unity Phelan | Wil Geary | Zoe Katherine Liebold THE DESIGNERS Abigail Hoke-Brady | Aimée Hunt | Alyssa Macaluso | Amith Chandrashaker | Andrea Fella | Ben Rawson | Brandon Stirling Baker | Brendon Randall-Meyers | Dana Haynes | Ehlie Luna | Elizabeth Mayhew | Garth MacAleavy | Giorgio Baravalle | Hannah Tran | Harold Garcia V | Haydée Morales | Hope Youngblood Heck | Jason Ardizzone-West | Jeff Doherty | John Cuff | Karen Young | Katrina Peterson | Kenny Duecker | Kusum Lynn | Lauren Starobin | Marc Happel | Melinette Rodriguez | Michael Pangilinan | Michelle Reneau | Molly Marie Ganster | Roderick Murray | Sara Nesbitt | Sergio Mora-Diaz | Shannon Chou | Sharone Malka | Suki Tsujimoto | Tyler McDiarmid | Victoria Bek | Vivian Chuang THE MUSICIANS Addison Maye-Saxon | Akira Ishiguro | Alex Sopp | Alexander Dobson | Alexander Fortes | Alexander Greenbaum | Allen Tate | Amy Tan | Andie Tanning Springer | Andrew Clausen | Andrew Koeppe | Angela Yam | Anna Urrey | Ariana Kim | Ben Russell | Beth Myers | Blair McMillen | Caitlin Sullivan | Caleb van der Swaagh | Caleigh Drane | Caroline Shaw | Catherine Brookman | Chelsea Lane | Chelsea Starbuck Smith | Chloe Rowlands | Christina Courtin | Claire Wellin | Clare Monfredo | Clarice Jensen | Colin Jacobsen | Conor Hanick | Courtney San Martin | Daniel Schlosberg | David Merino | David Stevens | Deborah Wong | Eleri Ward | Eliza Bagg | Emily Daggett Smith | Geoffrey Deemer | Gillian Gallagher | Gleb Kanasevich | Halldór Smárason | Hannah Levinson | Hannis Brown | Helen Campo | Ian Sullivan | Ilene Pabon | Irène Han | Isabel Gleicher | Iva Casián-Lakoš | Jane Cords-O'Hara | Jennifer Liu | Jeremy Smith | Jonathan Woody | Jordan Bak | Kallie Ciechomski | Karen Dekker | Karen Ouzounian | Kari Landry | Karl Kramer | Karl Larson | Kathryn McCreary | Katie Scheele | Keats Dieffenbach | Kirsten Volness | Kristi Helberg | Kristina Teuschler | Laura Lutzke | Lauren Cauley | Ledah Finck | Logan Coale | Marcel Sokalski | Maria Jeffers | Mario Gotoh | Matt Landry | Meg Zervoulis | Michael P. Atkinson | Mila Henry | Miranda Sielaff | Nadia Sirota | Najette Swain | Nanae Iwata | Naomi Woo | Nate Mayland | Nicolee Kuester | Olivia Puckett | Phong Tran | Rebecca Anderson | Riley Mulherkar | Ryan Reynolds | Sarah Thomas | Sarah Zun | Shmuel Katz | Sophia Kessinger | Stephen Rodes Chen | Steven Beck | Tariq Al-Sabir | Tim Gocklin | Timo Andres | Todd Palmer | Vanessa Upson THE PHOTOGRAPHERS Breanna Johnson | Brendon Cook | Bon Duke | Cherylynn Tshushima | Christian Haas | Christopher Duggan | Christopher Starbody | Cole Wilson | Dahlia Kimberly Dennison | Ekua King | Emiliano Granado | Erin Baiano | Ian Rutter | Kathryn Wirsing | Kyle Froman | Marcelo Gomes | Maria Baranova | Matthew Murphy | Meyrem Bulucek | Mona Kuhn | Nic Petry | Philip Nix | Rachel Klein | Samantha Casolari | Sara Schwab | Steven Pisano | Whitney Browne 〰️
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Alysa Pires | Bryn Cohn | Chloe Crenshaw | Houston Thomas | Gabrielle Lamb | Omar Román de Jesús | Preston Chamblee | Troy Schumacher
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Alex Somers | Amanda Lawrence | Augusta Read Thomas | Caleb Burhans | Darian Donovan Thomas | David Moss | Ellis Ludwig-Leone | Jonathan Bingham | Judd Greenstein | Julianna Barwick | Mark Dancigers | Nathan Langston | Nick Jaina | Paul Moravec | Phong Tran | Robert Honstein | The Westerlies
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Carey McHugh Poet | Carlos Arnaiz Architect | Cynthia Zarin Poet | Dafy Hagai Photographer | David Salle Painter | Doug Fitch Visual Artist | George Steinmetz Photojournalist | James Ramsey Architect | Jordan Bennett Visual Artist | Karen Russell Writer | Kathrin Linkersdorff Visual Artist | Ken Liu Writer | Mario Gooden Architect | Olafur Eliasson Visual Artist | Paul Maffi Photographer | Samantha Leigh Game Designer | Trevor Paglen Visual Artist | Zaria Forman Visual Artist
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Aarón Sanz | Adriana Pierce | Alessio Crognale | Alexa Maxwell | Amari Frazier | Andrew Veyette | Anthony Huxley | Ashley Hod | Ashley Laracey | Ashly Isaacs | Ava Sautter | Brendon Chan | Cainan Weber | Christopher Grant | Claire Kretzschmar | Claire Von Enck | Dabria Aguilar | Daniel Applebaum | David Gabriel | David Prottas | Davide Riccardo | Devin Alberda | Dominika Afanasenkov | Elise Monson | Eliza Blutt | Emilie Gerrity | Emma Von Enck | Erica Pereira | Forrest Hersey | Gabriella Domini | Graham Feeny | Haley Winegarden | Harrison Coll | Iman Barnes | India Bradley | Indiana Woodward | Isabella LaFreniere | Jacqueline Bologna | Jada German | Jade Diouf | Jared Angle | Jeanette Delgado | John Selya | Jonathan Fahoury | Joshuan Vázquez | Jovani Furlan | Juliet Doherty | Julio Bragado-Young | Justin Peck | Kaitlyn Gilliland | Katarina Smith | Kellie Drobnick | Kennedy Targosz | KJ Takahashi | Kloe Walker | Kristen Segin | Lauren King | Lauren Lovette | Laurie Kanyok | Leslie Andrea Williams | Lorenzo Pagano | Lydia Wellington | Maia Schechter | Malorie Lundgren | Marika Anderson | Mary Elizabeth Sell | Mary Thomas MacKinnon | Marzia Memoli | Maxwell Simoes | Meagan Mann | Megan LeCrone | Michael Sean Breeden | Mimi Staker | Mira Nadon | Miriam Miller | Nazear Brown | Nicole Ashley Morris | Olivia Boisson | Preston Chamblee | Rachel Hutsell | Ralph Ippolito | Raven Joseph | Reed Tankersley | Rilee Nyborg | Samuel Greenberg | Sara Mearns | Sasonah Huttenbach | Savannah Durham | Sean Suozzi | Sebastian Villarini-Velez | Shelby Mann | Stephen Hanna | Tatiana Nuñez | Taylor Stanley | Teresa Reichlen | Tyler Angle | Unity Phelan | Wil Geary | Zoe Katherine Liebold
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Abigail Hoke-Brady | Aimée Hunt | Alyssa Macaluso | Amith Chandrashaker | Andrea Fella | Ben Rawson | Brandon Stirling Baker | Brendon Randall-Meyers | Dana Haynes | Ehlie Luna | Elizabeth Mayhew | Garth MacAleavy | Giorgio Baravalle | Hannah Tran | Harold Garcia V | Haydée Morales | Hope Youngblood Heck | Jason Ardizzone-West | Jeff Doherty | John Cuff | Karen Young | Katrina Peterson | Kenny Duecker | Kusum Lynn | Lauren Starobin | Marc Happel | Melinette Rodriguez | Michael Pangilinan | Michelle Reneau | Molly Marie Ganster | Roderick Murray | Sara Nesbitt | Sergio Mora-Diaz | Shannon Chou | Sharone Malka | Suki Tsujimoto | Tyler McDiarmid | Victoria Bek | Vivian Chuang
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Addison Maye-Saxon | Akira Ishiguro | Alex Sopp | Alexander Dobson | Alexander Fortes | Alexander Greenbaum | Allen Tate | Amy Tan | Andie Tanning Springer | Andrew Clausen | Andrew Koeppe | Angela Yam | Anna Urrey | Ariana Kim | Ben Russell | Beth Myers | Blair McMillen | Caitlin Sullivan | Caleb van der Swaagh | Caleigh Drane | Caroline Shaw | Catherine Brookman | Chelsea Lane | Chelsea Starbuck Smith | Chloe Rowlands | Christina Courtin | Claire Wellin | Clare Monfredo | Clarice Jensen | Colin Jacobsen | Conor Hanick | Courtney San Martin | Daniel Schlosberg | David Merino | David Stevens | Deborah Wong | Eleri Ward | Eliza Bagg | Emily Daggett Smith | Geoffrey Deemer | Gillian Gallagher | Gleb Kanasevich | Halldór Smárason | Hannah Levinson | Hannis Brown | Helen Campo | Ian Sullivan | Ilene Pabon | Irène Han | Isabel Gleicher | Iva Casián-Lakoš | Jane Cords-O'Hara | Jennifer Liu | Jeremy Smith | Jonathan Woody | Jordan Bak | Kallie Ciechomski | Karen Dekker | Karen Ouzounian | Kari Landry | Karl Kramer | Karl Larson | Kathryn McCreary | Katie Scheele | Keats Dieffenbach | Kirsten Volness | Kristi Helberg | Kristina Teuschler | Laura Lutzke | Lauren Cauley | Ledah Finck | Logan Coale | Marcel Sokalski | Maria Jeffers | Mario Gotoh | Matt Landry | Meg Zervoulis | Michael P. Atkinson | Mila Henry | Miranda Sielaff | Nadia Sirota | Najette Swain | Nanae Iwata | Naomi Woo | Nate Mayland | Nicolee Kuester | Olivia Puckett | Phong Tran | Rebecca Anderson | Riley Mulherkar | Ryan Reynolds | Sarah Thomas | Sarah Zun | Shmuel Katz | Sophia Kessinger | Stephen Rodes Chen | Steven Beck | Tariq Al-Sabir | Tim Gocklin | Timo Andres | Todd Palmer | Vanessa Upson
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Breanna Johnson | Brendon Cook | Bon Duke | Cherylynn Tshushima | Christian Haas | Christopher Duggan | Christopher Starbody | Cole Wilson | Dahlia Kimberly Dennison | Ekua King | Emiliano Granado | Erin Baiano | Ian Rutter | Kathryn Wirsing | Kyle Froman | Marcelo Gomes | Maria Baranova | Matthew Murphy | Meyrem Bulucek | Mona Kuhn | Nic Petry | Philip Nix | Rachel Klein | Samantha Casolari | Sara Schwab | Steven Pisano | Whitney Browne
THE BALLETCOLLECTIVE PROCESS
BalletCollective’s core activities surround commissioning and producing work created using a signature collaborative process developed by our founder, Troy Schumacher. The BalletCollective Process connects artists on a holistic level before they embark on a creative journey that leads them to new places, and oftentimes, creative breakthroughs.
Our choreographers are selected through an annual open application, The Commission for Developing Choreographers. Choreographers at all career stages are encouraged to apply.
BalletCollective assists each choreographer research composers, encouraging them to identify an artist at the forefront of their genre whose perspective and experiences differ from their own. Choreographer and composer are then guided to commission a piece of “Source Art” from any non-performative thought leader or creator.
Each year, Schumacher in his role as Artistic Director builds the season around a curatorial phrase based on a social concept. To begin the Process, the collective artists then enter a collective dialogue about
the season’s social concept
their approach to art-making
their world views
their work and ways of working
This dialogue leads to the collective ideation of the original Source Art and is continued as score and steps are refined. Each BalletCollective commission bears a unique collaborative mark, and could only have be produced by artists collaborating via The BalletCollective Process.
THE PROCESS CHANGES YOU
Riley Mulherkar, co-founder of The Westerlies, composers & performers, The Past Delivers (2024)
“The collaboration process was a unique one for
The Westerlies. Troy [Schumacher] and Jordan [Bennett] opened our minds to new ways of working and resulted in a product that would not have existed if not for the process we went through together.”
Jonathan Bingham, composer, InterBlack Exit (2024)