Winning Works 2026

WHERE: MCA Chicago

WHEN: March 13-22, 2026

We are thrilled to announce the five winners of the 2026 Winning Works Choreographic Competition: Fran Diaz, Julia Feldman, DaYoung Jung, Daniel Ojeda, and Alexandra Schooling. Each will choreograph an original work created for the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet Conservatory, Trainees, and Joffrey Studio Company.

"Each year, I'm drawn to choreographers whose work evokes a genuine artistic and emotional response; qualities I know will resonate just as powerfully for our audiences," says Abbott Academy Director Suzanne Lopez. "This year's cohort offers an especially inspiring mix of perspectives, including three talented women—a first for Winning Works. I can already envision how Fran, Julia, DaYoung, Daniel, and Alexandra's ideas will challenge and expand our dancers' artistry and versatility, preparing them for the demands of professional careers while advancing their creative collaboration. It's the kind of growth that makes this program so rewarding for everyone involved."

Lopez adds, "Winning Works continues to be a platform where emerging choreographers and rising artists meet at the intersection of innovation and opportunity. These creative exchanges not only shape our students as artists but also as leaders, reflecting the Joffrey's broader commitment to fostering new voices and cultivating a more dynamic, inclusive future for dance."