6. He loves a refreshing twist.
Whether staging Cinderella in-the-round or reimagining the third act of Swan Lake as a cabaret-style dinner, Wheeldon has made a name for himself by putting a fresh spin on classic tales. His playful version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream reinvigorates Shakespeare’s masterpiece to create an “exquisitely beautiful” production (The New York Times).
7. You’ve probably seen his work before.
Wheeldon has created ballet sequences for feature films like Center Stage and The Sleeping Beauty, choreographed Broadway productions including Sweet Smell of Success and An American in Paris, and even collaborated on the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. That’s just a sliver of his impressive oeuvre.
8. His resume spans the globe.
Wheeldon has created works on nearly every major ballet company including the Bolshoi Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. He’s also served as principal guest choreographer for Boston Ballet, resident choreographer for New York City Ballet, and artistic associate for the Royal Ballet.
9. His accolades started early and are never-ending.
Wheeldon’s many awards span dance, film, and theater. His first major one was a coveted gold at the Prix de Lausanne competition at the age of 18 when he was dancing with the Royal Ballet in London. Now at 47, Wheeldon’s awards are primarily for his brilliant choreography. They include the Prix Benois de la Dans (Cinderella, Dutch National Ballet), a Tony Award (best choreography, An American in Paris), the Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center, multiple London Critics’ Circle Awards, and an Olivier Award. In 2016, Wheeldon was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and was made an Honorary Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was also the subject of an Emmy Award-winning documentary, "Strictly Bolshoi,” which followed Wheeldon as he became the first Englishman to be invited to create a new work for the Bolshoi Ballet.
10. He’s an outspoken advocate for the art form.
Wheeldon is determined to broaden ballet’s reach and cultivate the next generation of fans. "I want to help audiences get over the idea ballet has some mysterious code they can’t decipher,” he says (New York Magazine). The creative powerhouse is on a mission to make ballet more accessible for everyone with sensual, athletic choreography that shows that ballet can be “sexy” and “young.” Early in his career, he was known for wearing a tee-shirt that said “STOP BITCHING AND START A REVOLUTION.”