JAE MAN JOO
Resident Choreographer/Ballet Master/Rehearsal Director
Jae Man Joo started his classical ballet training in Kwang-Ju, Korea, where he was born and raised. he studied classical ballet and both modern and traditional Korean dances. Joo joined Complexions in 1996, the same year he received the Best Individual Artist Award from the Bagnolet International Dance Festival in Paris, France. He was a principal dancer at both Complexions and Ballet Hispanico, and he has worked with famed choreographers such as Shen Wei, Zvi Gotheiner, Igal Perry, Jessica Lang, and Michel Elliman. From 2011 ~2018 He was appointed and served as an Associate Artistic Director for Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Joo is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award for excellence in choreography in 2009. He choreographed Sorrow (Frank Schubert), performed at the Dance Theater Workshop, and Duet (Jules Massenet), performed at the Korean Dance Museum. As a resident choreographer for Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Joo choreographed a number of pieces between 2007 and 2013, including Tears (Sergei Rachmaninoff), Surface (Claude Debussy), Atmosphere (J.S. Bach), Flight (J.S. Bach), and Recur (Max Richter, Valentin Silverstov), all of which premiered at the Joyce Theater in New York City.
In 2015, his pieces Beautiful Imperfection were commissioned by Marymount Manhattan College and also performed by the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. Joo Created a New work with the music of Vivaldi "Into the Light" For Ailey/Fordham in 2015. In 2016, he re-staged Into the Light for Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Ailey II, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s junior company commissioned his piece "Circular" in 2017.
In 2017, Joo was invited to create a contemporary piece for Jacob’s Pillow’s 85th anniversary season, in addition, he created a Fifteen-century Korean landscape painting inspired work Goodnight for Complexions’ 24th anniversary season, marking his sixth ballet for the company. In 2018 he reconstructed the revival "Into the Light" music of Vivaldi, Performed by Point Park Dance in Pittsburgh. In 2018 He Created a Brand New work "Intermezzo" for Wise Ballet Theater and premiered in Seoul, Korea. Additionally, In 2019 he has created a new work for Contemporary program at Jacob's Pillow.
The title "Dive & Unfold " premiered at the prestigious Pillow Inside/Out stage.
His Works perform at the New York Main stages and present all around the globe.