The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet is seeking emerging artists to submit applications for the Grainger Academy's Sixteenth Annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition. A mission-driven, access-oriented initiative, Winning Works upholds The Joffrey Ballet's core values of Joffrey for All, providing opportunities for everyone, regardless of background, to experience, support, and participate in dance. The goal of the award is to recognize talented, emerging choreographers whose unique perspectives will inspire creativity in the form of original works of dance. Through Winning Works, the Joffrey aims to broaden access for artists who have been historically excluded from the art form and empower those who embody its values to shape the future of dance. The application deadline is July 31, 2025.
The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet in ‘LUISI’ Photo by Katie Miller.
The five winning choreographers will be awarded a $5,000 stipend, given a minimum of 30 rehearsal hours, and travel and accommodations for the duration of their residency. The choreographic work must be original and developed by the applicant. The finished piece must be at least 10 minutes long (a maximum of 12 minutes) and include a cast of at least 10 dancers.
Four of the choreographers will set their piece on the members of the Joffrey Studio Company, the Ballet Trainee Program, and the Contemporary Ballet Trainee Program, and a selected fifth, Chicago-based emerging choreographer will set their piece on the students of the Conservatory Program. The selected choreographers will also have the opportunity to seek guidance from Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, and Abbott Academy Director Suzanne Lopez. Additional details can be found in the application.
The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works program will be presented in nine performances at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Joffrey’s hosting partner, at MCA’s Edlis Neeson Theater, 220 E. Chicago Avenue, in March 2026.
The full online application form is available at joffrey.org/winningworks. Questions can be emailed to winningworks@joffrey.org.
To apply, interested choreographers must submit an online application form, including:
- Video clip containing two or more choreography excerpts (please include original sound/music), along with a brief written description. Each choreography excerpt should not exceed 5 minutes. Submitted excerpts must include a work containing at least eight dancers in the piece. In-studio rehearsal footage is also encouraged. Excerpts may be combined into one video or submitted in separate video clips.
- A letter of intent (500-1,000 words) describing your interest in the competition and the kind of work you will create.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three References
About the Joffrey Studio Company
The Joffrey Studio Company is the premier level of training at the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet. This tuition-free program offers students numerous benefits, including housing, stipends, and additional support. Studio Company members work closely with The Joffrey Ballet company, having the opportunity to take Company class and be considered for Joffrey Ballet productions. These students demonstrate exceptional promise in the field of ballet, receiving training to expand their technique and artistry while gaining a unique insight into the life of a professional dancer.
About the Ballet Trainee Program
The Grainger Academy’s Ballet Trainee Program, led by Oğulcan Borova, Head of Studio Company and Ballet Trainee Program, is a full-time, one-to-two-year program for students preparing for a professional dance career. Through meticulous training, Ballet Trainees focus on artistic excellence, rehearsing, and performing classical and contemporary works from The Joffrey Ballet’s extensive repertoire, as well as works by world-renowned choreographers.
About the Contemporary Ballet Trainee Program
The Grainger Academy’s Contemporary Ballet Trainee Program is a full-time, one-to-two-year program preparing students for a career in concert dance. Through a rigorous and holistic training model, dancers focus on classical ballet, contemporary techniques, West African dance, and modern dance.
About the Conservatory Program
The Grainger Academy’s Conservatory Program is for students ages 14–18 years old who are seeking an intense daytime training program that allows for outside independent academic study. The program’s unique curriculum is designed to prepare students for the rigorous demands of a Trainee program. The Conservatory Program will also lay the foundation for a successful career in professional dance or in other fields by developing artistry, creativity, discipline, and confidence.
About The Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 70 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.
Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.
The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2025-2026 Winning Works Sponsor, Pritzker Foundation. The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet also acknowledges our Season Partner Athletico, official provider of physical therapy for The Joffrey Ballet.
About the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet
Founded in 2010, the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet provides students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds with a world-class education built on a foundation of classical ballet.
Based in the heart of Chicago’s theater district, the 20,000-square-foot Exelon Education Center at Joffrey Tower, home to the Academy, boasts four state-of-the-art studios and facilities. In 2021, The Joffrey Ballet acquired two more state-of-the-art studios in the South Loop of Chicago. In addition, the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet received the Boeing Game Changer Award in recognition of its efforts to make dance accessible to everyone.
The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet, located in Chicago, Illinois, is the only school that follows the organizational mission, training syllabi, and artistic vision of The Joffrey Ballet. No other program, including those holding the Joffrey name, is sanctioned by The Joffrey Ballet.
For more information on the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org/graingeracademy.