Set inside the studios and stages of the New York City Ballet and its experimental hub, the New York Choreographic Institute, “Make Work” follows four contemporary choreographers as they create new work on the dancers of the New York City Ballet, pulling viewers directly into the creative engine of contemporary ballet. By revealing the raw, collaborative, and ever-evolving nature of choreography, the film asks a central question: how can ballet remain relevant in a contemporary world, and who will define its next chapter?
At its core, “Make Work” emphasizes that what audiences see is not a finished product, but part of an ongoing, iterative process. Rehearsals become laboratories where ideas are tested, refined, and sometimes discarded. The film captures this “unfolding” nature of choreography, an art form constantly in motion, shaped by collaboration between dancers and creators. Interwoven throughout are reflections from leading choreographers such as Alexei Ratmansky, Justin Peck, Pam Tanowitz, Kyle Abraham, Christopher Wheeldon, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Lar Lubovitch. They offer insight into their creative practices and grapple with the enduring influence of George Balanchine, whose legacy continues to shape the identity of the company and the evolution of ballet itself.
