JOFFREY BALLET: THE NEXT MOVEMENT Introduces Five Rising Choreographers Helping to Redefine Ballet’s Future
Documentary Premieres Friday, September 18 on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app
ARLINGTON, VA; August 13, 2026 – PBS announced today the premiere of JOFFREY BALLET: THE NEXT MOVEMENT, a new documentary produced by Kartemquin Films that follows the winners of the 14th annual Joffrey Ballet’s Grainger Academy of Dance’s Winning Works program. This groundbreaking choreographic competition supports emerging artists in developing and debuting original work and broadens access for artists historically excluded from the art form. Often considered the pinnacle of collaborative artistry, ballet has not been equally accessible to all for generations, and JOFFREY BALLET: THE NEXT MOVEMENT traces the process of rewriting that legacy. The film premieres Friday, September 18, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app.
Over two pressure-filled weeks, the film shadows five choreographers from Brazil, India, Puerto Rico, Brooklyn, and Chicago as they race against the clock to transform personal stories into bold choreography.Each artist is at a pivotal moment in their career, entering the high-stakes world of choreography not just with ambition, but with everything to prove.
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Manoela Gonçalves arrives in Chicago at a personal crossroads, looking towards her future as a choreographer. Jainil Mehta, originally from Mumbai, brings fearless creativity to the studio, challenging gender expectations within the Indian community. Award-winning choreographer and educator Martha Nichols draws from a deeply rooted sense of identity instilled by her mother and grandmother. Xavier Núñez is facing the realities of a dancer’s limited stage life and seeking to expand his creative path. And for Houston Thomas, returning to Chicago carries emotional weight: once a student in the Joffrey Ballet’s…