Peter Walker (dancer)

Peter Walker (born 1992 or 1993)[1] is an American ballet dancer and choreographer. He joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) in 2012 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2022. He choreographed Ten in Seven (2016) and Dance Odyssey (2018) for NYCB, as well as the 2020 film I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

Peter Walker
Born1992 or 1993 (age 30–31)
NationalityAmerican
EducationSchool of American Ballet
Occupations
  • ballet dancer
  • choreographer
Years active2012–present
Career
Current groupNew York City Ballet

Early life and training

Walker was raised in Fort Myers, Florida.[1] He began learning tap dancing at age eight, before focusing on ballet after being convinced by his ballet teacher and former New York City Ballet principal dancer Melinda Roy.[1][2] He took part in School of American Ballet's summer program in 2006 and 2007, before entering the scholl full-time in 2007.[3] Whilst a student, he appeared in a ballet choreographed by Lauren Lovette.[4] In his last year at the school, he choreographed a pas de deux for the student workshop. One of the dancers slated to perform got injured, so Walker danced his part.[4]

Career

Walker became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in spring 2011,[3] and was invited to make a ballet for the New York Choreographic Institute in the summer.[2][4] The next year, while he was injured, he was invited to choreograph for the institute again.[4] He joined the company in fall 2012.[3] He was cast in several featured roles when he was still in the corps de ballet, including in Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Agon, Bigonzetti's Oltremare, for which he was cast at the last minute, and as Romeo in Martins' Romeo + Juliet.[2]

In 2015, Walker choreographed for the School of American Ballet's Winter Ball. He used a commission score by Thomas Kikta, a classical guitarist.[4] In 2016, he choreographed his first ballet for the NYCB Fashion Gala, entitled Ten in Seven, with Kikta again writing the score, and costumes designed by Jason Wu.[5] In 2018, Walker choreographed his second ballet for the NYCB, Dance Odyssey, to music from Oliver Davis's albums Fight and Dance.[6] In summer of that year, he choreographed in Munich for Bavarian State Opera's Young Choreographer program.[2]

In October 2018, Walker was promoted to soloist at the NYCB, as one of the first dancers promoted by the company's interim leadership, after Peter Martins' abrupt retirement.[7] As a soloist, he performed in Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,[8] Orpheus[9] and Kammermusik No. 2,[10] in Robbins' Dances at a Gathering,[11] in N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz,[12] Peck's Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes,[13] and Martins' Swan Lake, in which he portrayed Prince Siegfried.[14] He originated roles in Abraham's The Runaway (2018),[15] Liang's Lineage (2019)[16] and Roberts' Emanon — in Two Movements (2022).[17]

Walker choreographed a dream ballet sequence for Charlie Kaufman's 2020 film I'm Thinking of Ending Things.[18] The number was inspired by the musical Oklahoma! and performed by Unity Phelan and Ryan Steele.[18]

In 2022, Walker was promoted to principal dancer, following several veteran dancers' retirements.[1]

References
  1. Jacobs, Julia (February 26, 2022). "New York City Ballet Promotes Three Men to Principal Dancers". New York Times.
  2. Green, Harris (July 31, 2018). "New York City Ballet Corps Member Peter Walker Is Also a Rising Choreographer". Pointe.
  3. Tomeo, Marissa (February 27, 2022). "New York City Ballet Promotes Three Soloists to Principal Dancers". BriadwayWorld.
  4. Kourlas, Gia (March 9, 2015). "Peter Walker talks about new dance at the School of American Ballet". Time Out.
  5. Macaulay, Alastair (September 21, 2016). "Review: City Ballet's Gala Evening of Misses ... and a Lot of Skin". New York Times.
  6. "How Choreographer Peter Walker Crafted a Score for His New York City Ballet World Premiere". Playbill. February 2, 2018.
  7. Cooper, Michael (October 13, 2018). "City Ballet Replenishes Its Ranks, Depleted by Scandal". New York Times.
  8. Kourlas, Gia (March 2, 2022). "Winter Season at City Ballet: 'Now Is the Time for a New Generation'". New York Times.
  9. Seibert, Brian (January 23, 2019). "Review: At City Ballet, Taylor Stanley Is a God for Our Time". New York Times.
  10. Lin, Ivy (September 26, 2019). "Union Jack makes a welcome return to NYCB's repertoire". Bachtrack.
  11. Lin, Ivt (May 12, 2019). "NYCB's eclectic program worth the three hours". Bachtrack.
  12. Gallagher, Lauren (February 17, 2019). "New York City Ballet – Robbins bill: Interplay, In the Night, N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz – New York". DanceTabs.
  13. Harss, Marina (February 9, 2020). "New York City Ballet – Classic NYCB I including Haieff Divertimento & Episodes – New York". Dancetabs.
  14. Kourlas, Gia (February 25, 2020). "At New York City Ballet, Swans Use Grit to Find Glory". New York Times.
  15. Warren, Charmaine Patricia (October 25, 2018). "Kyle Abraham's 'The Runaway' for New York City Ballet". New York Amsterdam News.
  16. Lin, Ivy (October 3, 2019). "Fall season's new works fall short at NYCB". Bachtrack.
  17. Kourlas, Gia (February 4, 2022). "Review: City Ballet Gets a Modern Dance Fix". New York Times.
  18. Schrock, Madeline (September 5, 2020). "Inside Peter Walker's Dance Scene in I'm Thinking of Ending Things". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
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