Jae Man Joo
Assistant Professor
Contact Information
- Office: 625J Lawrence Hall
- Phone: 412-392-6122
- Email: jjoo@pointpark.edu
Education
- B.F.A., Dance, Dankook University, Korea
Courses Taught
- Ballet Technique
- Pas de Deux
Background
Jae Man Joo is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and the recipient of the prestigious 2009 Princess Grace Award for Excellence in Choreography.
Hailing from Korea, Joo brought his unique artistic vision to the United States in 1996, where he served as the associate artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. As a former principal dancer at Ballet Hispanico and Complexions, he worked and performed with choreographers William Forsythe, Dwight Rhoden, Shen Wei, Igal Perry and Jessica Lang.
Joo was invited to create a new work for Jacob's Pillow in 2017 and 2019. He received the Best Individual Artist Award from the Bagnolet International Dance Festival in Paris, France. His artistic prowess has been recognized globally, with the 2021 and 2023 Korea Dance Critics Choice Awards and the 2022 prestigious Korea E-daily Cultural Grand Prize for his full-length evening ballet VITA. These accolades are a testament to his profound influence on the dance world. He has created more than seven different ballets for Complexions, which premiered at The Joyce Theater in New York.
In 2023, he premiered the full-evening ballet DIVINE for Gwangju City Ballet, Korea, and this work received the Best Dance Art Work of the Year.
In 2024, he premiered a new full-act ballet, When Time Stands Still, for Pittsburgh Ballet Theater at the Benedum Center with a live orchestra. He also premiered Eternal Variations for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, a new full-evening ballet for Korea Metropolitan Ballet Company for his rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the company's first full-evening ballet. Additionally, his revival work Flight, performed by American Ballet Theatre's Principal Dancer Herman Cornejo, was presented at the Joyce Theatre's UNITE Ballet Festival, created by Calvin Royal III.
Currently, Joo is a resident choreographer, ballet master and artist in residence for Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Original Choreography
- When Time Stands Still, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Benedum Center
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, Sejong Grand Theater, Korea
- Divine, Gwangju Culture & Art Center, South Korea
- Eternal Variations, Dallas Black Dance Theater
- Tears, CCB, The Joyce Theater
- Surface, CCB, The Joyce Theater
- Atmosphere, CCB, The Joyce Theater
- Flight, CCB, The Joyce Theater
- Recur, CCB, The Joyce Theater
- Goodnight, CCB, The Joyce Theater
- Circular, Alvin Ailey II
- Canvas, Jacob's Pillow Invitation (Inside/Out stage)
- Dive & Unfold, Jacob's Pillow Invitation (Inside/Out stage)
- Vita, Wise Ballet Theatre, South Korea
Awards
- Korea Best Dance Art of the Year, Korean Ballet Association, DIVINE, 2024
- Korea Best Dance Art Work of the Year, DIVINE, 2023
- E-Daily Korea Culture Award, VITA, 2022
- Princess Grace Award, Excellence in Choreography, 2009
- Best Artist Award, The Bagnolet International Dance Festival, Paris, France, 1996
In The News
- "Choreographer Jae Man Joo Joins Discusses When Time Stands Still for Pittsburgh Ballet Theater," PBT website, March 2024.
- "The Power of Love, Seoul Ballet Company, A Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal Room," Naver.com, August 2024.