Since 1968
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CaliforniaBallet.org
CALIFORNIA BALLET COMPANY ANNOUNCES
The appointment of a new Associate Artistic Director
Jared Nelson
San Diego, CA – California Ballet Company announces the appointment of Jared Nelson as the new
Associate Artistic Director.
Mr. Nelson will focus on expanding CBC’s repertoire to include works of
current choreographers, assist in planning and acquiring productions, and
represent the company in the community. Mr. Nelson often chooses
innovative works that include live music, multiple dance genres and something
out of the ordinary to draw in a more diverse audience. Last season with
California Ballet he premiered new works: Ruled by Secrecy, and for California
Ballet’s inaugural presentation of Beer and Ballet, Work Song and Samson
et Dalila. Mr. Nelson also staged Septime Webre’s The Great Gatsby.
For California Ballet’s 49th Season he will restage his own ballet, Jump Jive, which will headline the
season opener at the Balboa Theatre, and create new works for CBC’s innovative program Beer &
Ballet. Mr. Nelson choreographed and premiered Jump Jive on the Sacramento Ballet when he was
19, and it currently holds the record for the longest standing ovation for that ballet company.
During California Ballet’s 49th Season, Mr. Nelson will also set Septime’s Webre’s Fluxuating
Hemlines (San Diego premiere) and Peter Pan (West Coast premiere).
CBC’s Founding Director, Maxine Mahon, commented on Jared’s appointment:
“He has already brought in new repertoire and is helping us connect with a
larger demographic in the community. I foresee that our collaboration will
bring the company to an exciting new standard. Jared’s fresh energy and
innovative ideas, along with his commitment to keeping the classics alive, will
help move California Ballet to its 50th Season and beyond.”
Regarding his new position, Mr. Nelson says that he wants to, “. . . stay true to California Ballet’s pure
classical technique, while bringing in exciting, outside-the-box programming to electrify new
audiences and new colleagues.” His vision is to, “. . . help make California Ballet a world class ballet
company.”
Over
About Jared Nelson:
Mr. Nelson joined California Ballet last season as a Guest Artist, Stager, Choreographer, and
Principal Dancer. Since his retirement from The Washington Ballet in 2015, he has been staging and
creating ballets for several companies around the country, both on his own and as an assistant for
former Washington Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre. During California Ballet’s 2015-2016 48th
Season, Mr. Nelson staged The Great Gatsby, choreographed three new ballets (Ruled by Secrecy,
Work Song, Samson et Delila), and assisted California Ballet artistic staff with the training of the
resident company of professional dancers.
Professional Dance Career:
Mr. Nelson was raised in Yuba City, California. He trained in many forms of dance and began dancing
professionally at the age of 14 with the Sacramento Music Circus. He joined The Sacramento Ballet
in 1991, where he rose through the ranks to Principal Dancer. Mr. Nelson had the honor of having
original works such as Hamlet, The Rite of Spring, A Street Car Named Desire and Bolero created for
him by Artistic Director Ron Cunningham. He has danced leads in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake,
George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son and many more ballets. In 2004 he began dancing for The Boston
Ballet and performed Lucentio in John Cranko’s Taming of the Shrew and William Forsythe’s In the
Middle, Somewhat Elevated. After joining The Washington Ballet in 2006, Mr. Nelson danced works
by Nacho Duato, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Choo-San Goh, and Antony Tudor. He has
danced lead roles in many of Septime Webre’s original works including The Great Gatsby, ALICE (in
Wonderland), Cinderella, and Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises. Upon his retirement from The
Washington Ballet in 2015, Mr. Nelson appeared as a regular Guest Artist with California Ballet
throughout the 2015-2016 48th Season, where he danced the title role in The Great Gatsby, the
Cavalier and Snow King in The Nutcracker, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, as well as appearing in his
own original works staged for California Ballet.
For more information on Jared Nelson’s appointment, please contact Joe Shumate at
[email protected] or (858) 560-5676 ext. 118.
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