Though he has chosen to spend most of the last decade concentrating on his work in theatre, opera and television, Pelzig began his choreographic career in the ballet world.
"The happiest news in Boston dance in 1995 was the hiring of Daniel Pelzig as resident choreographer at the Boston Ballet."
The Boston Globe
"Not a single moment that doesn't surprise, delight and stir the soul."
The Boston Herald
After receiving grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1990 and 1991, and numerous fellowships from the Carlisle Project to support his ballet work, he was invited to become resident choreographer for Joffrey II Dancers. In 1994 he won the gold medal at the Boston International Choreography Competition with his ballet Cantabile and was subsequently invited by Bruce Marks to become resident choreographer at the Boston Ballet.
"Pelzig seems to have the makings of the kind of choreographer capable of making an entire repertoire."
Boston TAB
"The guy can do just about anything."
The Boston Phoenix
In his seven-year association with Boston Ballet, he served four years as resident choreographer. Known as a natural storyteller, he began his residency by choreographing a wildly successful comic ballet, The Princess and the Pea. His design collaborators for that ballet were Michael Anania, sets; Mariann Verheyen, costumes; and Brian MacDevitt, lights.
"The smartest, funniest new comic ballet to come along in ages."
Bay Windows
"I'd just like to see it as often as possible."
The Boston Phoenix
While in Boston, he choreographed nearly a dozen ballets including an enormously successful revision of Act I of The Nutcracker, a full length Romeo and Juliet, and Nine Lives: The Songs of Lyle Lovett (featured in the Boston Ballet 50-year retrospective, here). He is most proud of his collaborations with some of theatre and opera's most prestigious and creative designers, including Martin Pakledinaz, James F. Ingalls, Santo Loquasto, Robert Brill and Paul Tazewell. In addition, cellist Yo-Yo Ma accompanied his ballet, Resurrection, at its world premiere. Over the years, Pelzig has restaged several of these ballets for Tulsa Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. He continues to create ballets for conservatories and colleges throughout the U.S., most recently at Boston Conservatory.
"That the Boston Ballet and someone like Daniel Pelzig would see something in my music is just very exciting."
Lyle Lovett
Pelzig received additional major grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts in 1996 and the National Endowment for the Arts in 2000. |
