New York City Ballet announced today that Resident Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon will conclude his residency with the Company following the 2008 winter season.  He will make two more ballets for NYCB before that time, one during the 2007 spring season, and one during the 2008 winter season.

Mr. Wheeldon was appointed NYCB’s first-ever Resident Choreographer in July 2001.  He joined New York City Ballet in 1993 as a member of the corps de ballet, and was promoted to soloist in 1998.  He retired from dancing at the conclusion of the 2000 spring season to focus on his choreographic work, at which time he was named NYCB’s first-ever Artist in Residence.

In making the announcement, NYCB’s Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins said that while he was saddened by Mr. Wheeldon’s decision, he is thrilled with the choreographer’s contributions to the Company’s repertory, for which he has thus far created 13 works.

“From the moment Chris arrived at the Company in 1993, it was clear that he was not only a wonderful dancer, but a very gifted choreographer as well, and I am so pleased that he has made NYCB his home for the past 13 years.”

Mr. Martins added that the door is always open for Mr. Wheeldon to return and make works for the Company, and this does not represent an end to NYCB’s relationship with the choreographer.  “Chris will always be a part of the City Ballet family,” Mr. Martins said.

Mr. Wheeldon said his decision to conclude his residency was based on a desire to explore new directions in his own choreography, as well as new connections with dancers, artists, and audiences after more than 20 years of affiliation with two of the world’s major ballet companies.  The British-born Mr. Wheeldon enrolled at London’s Royal Ballet School at the age of 11 and danced with The Royal Ballet from 1991 to 1993 before joining NYCB.

“I have been given some incredible opportunities at City Ballet and I am very grateful for Peter’s support.  His belief in my talents and dedication to new work continue to be an inspiration,” said Mr. Wheeldon.  

“The unique ongoing partnership I was able to create as Resident Choreographer, along with the freedom to work with other major ballet companies, has been invaluable.  However, at this point in my career I now feel that it’s time to see what I can create for myself outside of the umbrella of a company with such a rich heritage and tradition as New York City Ballet.  Yet it is comforting to know that I will never entirely leave NYCB, as my works will continue to live on in the repertory.” he said. 

In addition to his work with New York City Ballet, Mr. Wheeldon has created ballets for such companies as The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Hamburg Ballet, and Colorado Ballet.  He also choreographed the 2002 Broadway musical Sweet Smell of Success and created dance sequences for the 2000 feature film Center Stage, both of which were directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Mr. Wheeldon is currently working on a new piece for The Royal Ballet, which will premiere on November 17 in London, and will then create his first work for the Bolshoi Ballet, which will premiere on February 14, 2007, in Moscow.

His next work for New York City Ballet, set to a commissioned score by NYCB’s Resident Composer Bright Sheng, will premiere during the Company’s 2007 spring season.