Jorden Morris
Jorden Morris is an Alberta-born, internationally renowned ballet choreographer and director. He trained at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts and Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Morris Began his career with the RWB after graduating, and quickly rose to the rank of principal dancer, performing lead roles in both classical and contemporary works. After retiring from his career on stage, Morris studied choreography and theater arts at New York University, as well as early French choreography from Claude Bessy and Serge Golovine of the Paris Opera.
Jorden premiered his first work in 1999, a one-act interpretation of Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. He choreographed three works in 2000, one for the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, that would go on to be performed at the Birmingham Arts Festival. Morris was also commissioned by the RWB to choreograph two pieces for Queen Elizabeth II during her Canadian visit that year, which were broadcast nationally by the CBC.
Morris then expanded his career by taking the position of Ballet Master and assistant to the Director at Boston Ballet. He rose to the rank of Chief Ballet Master and was the interim Director for the 2001 season. After returning to Canada as Associate School Director for the RWB, Jorden was commissioned to create his first full-length work Peter Pan. This production became the biggest box office in the RWB’s history, until it was surpassed three years later by his next full-length ballet, Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet. Jorden has also choreographed for the Genie and Gemini awards which were broadcast nationally and featured dancers from The National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.