Company Dancer Jim Nowakowski

Jim Nowakowski

JIM NOWAKOWSKI, received his formal ballet training at the Draper Center for Dance Education, Rochester, N.Y. In 2002, he joined the Rochester City Ballet as a company member, performing in their productions of The NutcrackerCinderella, and Firebird.

Mr. Nowakowski attended the Youth American Grand Prix Finals in 2002 where he was presented the Junior Grand Prix Prize. In 2004, he took home the Junior Men’s Gold and in 2007 was awarded the Senior Men’s Gold Award at the NYC Finals.  Mr. Nowakowski was a finalist at the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, (youngARTS Week) and was presented with the Gold Award in Dance from Mikhail Baryshnikov. He also was a Presidential Scholar of 2007 Nominee, as well as a Carnival Cruise Line youngARTS Winner in Dance.

In 2007 Mr. Nowakowski joined the Houston Ballet and rose to the rank of demi-soloist. His repertoire at Houston Ballet included many soloist and principal roles in Artistic Director Stanton Welch’s work, as well as works performed by other choreographers such as Ben Stevenson, Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine, Hans van Manen, Jiří Kylián, John NeumeierMark Morris, and Twyla Tharp.

In the summer of 2015 he competed on Fox’s television dance show, So You Think You Can Dance, and placed top three for stage dancers, and top six overall.  In 2015, Mr. Nowakowski was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch”.

He joined BalletMet in 2017.

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Video and images by Jennifer Zmuda