James Sewell, dancer

Minneapolis native James Sewell is the co-founder and artistic director of James Sewell Ballet. James studied at the School of American Ballet in New York, was a lead dancer with Feld Ballets/NY and has performed as a guest artist with the New York City Ballet, Zvi Gottheiner and Dancers, and Denishawn.  

Since 1982, James has choreographed more than 60 ballets, including 10 for which he composed the music; more than a dozen companies in the United States and Taiwan have performed his works. His commissions include The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, and he has worked on special projects for the New York City Ballet, Guthrie Theater, and many others.

James is the recipient of a Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship, a Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography from the Choo-San Goh & H. Robert Magee Foundation, and a McKnight Artist Fellowship for Choreography. He is a former trustee of Dance/USA and a former director of the American Composer’s Forum.

James most recently joined VocalEssence in September 2008 to celebrate its 40th Birthday in concert with Garrison Keillor at Orchestra Hall.