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GENESIS
Milwaukee Ballet’s biennial competition promises three brilliant world premieres from the industry’s most captivating up-and-coming choreographers. In just three weeks, each competitor will create a boundary-stretching new work in hopes of winning a coveted future commission.
Redefine your image of dance as you witness this unique performance, and make your mark by voting for the winner of “Audience Favorite.”
The Choreographers
Julia Feldman
A current Company Artist with Sacramento Ballet, Julia Feldman is also co-founder of Capital Dance Project. Since co-creating Sacramento Ballet's 2021 Nutcracker, Feldman has premiered several works for the Company and most recently for Sumin Contemporary Ballet.
Lauren Flower
A choreographer, dancer, and teacher, Lauren Flower is known for their innovative and impactful work. As a current company artist with Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT), Flower has developed multiple works for OBT's main company and for OBT2, the pre-professional program.
Loughlan Prior
An acclaimed New Zealand choreographer, Loughlan Prior is known for visually striking, narrative-rich work across stage and film. Prior is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Lo|Co Arts and was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2025.
About the Competition
Milwaukee Ballet’s biennial Genesis International Choreographic Competition returns to The Pabst Theater March 13-15 with premieres by three emerging choreographers. The winner will earn a contract to create a second new work with Milwaukee Ballet while audiences vote on who deserves the title of “Audience Favorite.”
The choreographers are challenged to create a new work using a cast of eight randomly selected Company Artists, four women and four men each. In just three weeks—a total of 90 rehearsal hours—each will create an original 20-minute piece to present at The Pabst Theater.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of esteemed industry experts alongside Milwaukee Ballet Artistic Director Michael Pink. Audiences have the opportunity to get in on the fun by voting for their favorite of the three pieces, the winner of which will receive a cash prize.
Past Genesis winners have all gone on to establish themselves as celebrated professionals, choreographing both nationally and internationally.