Garrett Ammon

Artistic Director

Garrett Ammon began his tenure as Artistic Director of Ballet Nouveau Colorado in 2007. Since that time, BNC has garnered national attention and praise for its innovative work, including being named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2009. Recently, Garrett was named one of Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s Livingston Fellows for 2011.

Over the past four years, Garrett’s choreography has become a signature part of BNC’s artistic identity. A prolific choreographer, Garrett’s distinctive work has been praised by audiences and critics. He has forged a deep collaborative relationship with Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Michael J. Henry. Together they have created When the Power Goes Out (2009) and the multi- media, evening length production Intersection (2009). Garrett’s passion for collaboration has also led him to work closely with Chip Walton to create Curious Theatre’s award winning production of Sarah Ruhl’s play, Eurydice. More recently, Garrett created a new work, Carry On, in collaboration with Colorado band Paper Bird, that featured choreography to original new music performed live on the stage with the dancers. Carry On premiered to sold out houses in February 2011. And in April 2011, he created Vagabond Hill, a collaboration with Colorado singer/songwriter Jesse Manley.

Garrett received his early ballet training with Kim Swimmer, as well as Ballet Etudes (Mesa, Ariz.) and City Ballet of San Diego. He went on to complete his formal studies with Houston Ballet Academy under the tutelage of Clara Cravey, Steve Brule and Ben Stevenson. In 1996, Garrett joined Houston Ballet for two seasons. He went on to dance with Oregon Ballet Theatre before joining Ballet Memphis in 1999. Garrett also toured to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Vail International Dance Festival and Wolf Trap for three summers as a founding member of Trey McIntyre Project. During his dance career, Garrett performed leading roles in world premieres by McIntyre, Julia Adam, Mark Godden, Lila York and Stevenson, as well as principal roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Bebe Miller, Septime Webre and Donald Byrd.

Garrett was also the founding director of interiorworks, a celebrated dancer-produced show of new work by Ballet Memphis artists. He has received multiple awards, including an Individual Artist Fellowship from Tennessee Arts Commission (2007).