Talking Shop

Abstract

Justin Peck, Benjamin Millepied, and Troy Schumacher are all current or former New York City Ballet dancers who have established prominent choreographic careers. In the interviews presented in this chapter, they talk about their initial introductions to dance, their early dance training, their desire to begin to choreograph, their formative influences, their choreographic processes, and how they have been shaped by a “City Ballet” training and an immersion in its repertory. They also discuss the challenges of juggling the roles of dancer and choreographer, music as a primary source of inspiration, and whether they are interested in experimentation with ballet’s parameters.