Heatscape

(2015)

Choreography

Justin Peck

Music

Bohuslav Martinů

26 minutes and 33 seconds

A sun-drenched burst of color and rhythm, Heatscape celebrates Miami’s iconic Wynwood Arts District in a dynamic collaboration between Tony-winning choreographer Justin Peck and street-art legend Shepard Fairey. Fairey’s bold, mandala-inspired backdrops frame dancers who weave symmetrical, mural-like patterns across the stage, mirroring the vibrancy of the city’s walls. Set to the propulsive sweep of Bohuslav Martinů’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the ballet radiates heat, energy, and the spirit of community—turning the stage into a living work of art.

Choreography

Justin Peck

Company Premiere

2015

Music

Bohuslav Martinů, Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra

Art Design

Shepard Fairey

Costume Design

Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung

Lighting Design

Brandon Stirling Baker

Justin Peck is a three-time Tony Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, and dancer, and currently serves as Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet—the second person in the company’s 75-year history to hold this title. He danced with New York City Ballet from 2006 to 2019, rising to soloist in 2013, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from Balanchine and Robbins to Tharp and Wheeldon.

Since turning his focus to choreography, Peck has created over 50 works presented worldwide, including at Lincoln Center, the Palais Garnier, Sydney Opera House, and Broadway. His pieces have been performed by leading companies such as Miami City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Australian Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Boston Ballet, Juilliard, and many more.

Peck has choreographed for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and the film Maestro with Bradley Cooper, and conceived, directed, and choreographed the Tony-winning Broadway productions of Carousel, Illinoise, and Buena Vista Social Club. His work has earned numerous honors, including three Tony Awards for Best Choreography, the Bessie Award for Outstanding Production, the National Arts Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, and the Chita Rivera Award.

Celebrated for his collaborations across dance, film, and theater, Peck has worked with artists including Sufjan Stevens, Shepard Fairey, Sofia Coppola, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Renee Fleming. Known for his energy, precision, and innovative storytelling, he continues to redefine what ballet can be.

A pioneering street artist and graphic designer, Shepard Fairey rose to prominence with his iconic OBEY campaign and the world-famous “Hope” poster created for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. His bold, politically charged imagery has been displayed everywhere from city walls to major museums, establishing him as one of the most influential visual artists of our time.

Drawing inspiration from Wynwood Walls, his massive mural sets the scene for Peck's Heatscape.

For me, this ballet is the outcome of taking some ingredients that don’t conventionally belong together, adding some heat, and seeing what sorts of flavors emerge.

Justin Peck, Choreographer