The Joffrey Ballet unveils 2026 ‘Winning Works’ choreographers

The Joffrey Ballet has announced the winners of its 2026 “Winning Works” choreographic competition: Fran Diaz, Julia Feldman, DaYoung Jung, Daniel Ojeda and Alexandra Schooling, the recipient of the Zach Lazar Winning Works Fellowship.

These five emerging choreographers will each create a new work for the Joffrey Conservatory, Trainee Program and Studio Company, debuting from March 13 to 22, 2026 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Edlis Neeson Theater.

Winning Works, now in its 16th year, serves as the Joffrey’s platform to support emerging choreographic voices and broaden the creative landscape of dance. This year marks the first time three women are included in the cohort, a development the academy described as “especially inspiring.”

Read more on Chicago Star:

• Cirque du Soleil's 'Twas the Night Before... returns for limited engagement
• The JoffreyNext Luncheon highlights the transformative power of dance
• Legacy lit: How Macy’s holiday decor honors Marshall Field's
• Playboy is back in print AND film and not playing it safe

The announcement comes on the heels of the recent performance of Matters of the Heart, an evening that paired Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings with the world premiere of Chanel DaSilva’s Wabash & You, herself a past Winning Works recipient from 2020. The program underscores the promise of innovation and the future of choreography that Winning Works aims to foster.

With the new cohort, the Joffrey underscores its commitment to expanding dancers’ artistry and versatility and to fostering inclusive leadership in the field of dance. The five works will not only entertain but will also reflect the evolving creative voices shaping the next generation of professional performers.

Single tickets and subscriptions for the 2025-26 season, including the March 2026 Winning Works performances, are available here.