Jorden Morris

Artistic Director – Orlando Ballet

After retiring from the stage as a principal dancer, Jorden began to study teaching and explore choreography at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He then attended New York University studying dance and theatre arts. Jorden trained with Claude Bessy and Serge Golovine from the Paris Opera, studying early French choreography and pedagogy. He also studied teaching with Russian masters Sergei Berejnoi and Tatiana Terekhova while at Boston Ballet. Jorden was the associate school director for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and is in constant demand as a guest teacher and ballet master throughout North America.

Jorden accepted a position on the artistic staff of Boston Ballet in 2000 and rose to the rank of Chief Ballet Master before moving back to Canada to pursue choreography and teaching. During his time in Boston, Jorden was able to work with established choreographers Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Chris Wheeldon and Rudi Van Dantzig.

In 2002 Jorden took on the concept, direction and choreography of “Head Start/Feet First”. The project was a collaboration between the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and four intercity academic schools. 

In 2003, Jorden took the popular children’s television show “The Toy Castle” and transformed it into an interactive live dance performance. Directed and choreographed by Jorden, the production incorporated a live host with interactive dance for pre-school children. Jorden starred in the television series and was nominated for a Genie award in 2003. 

In December of 2006, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet presented the world premiere of Jorden’s full-length Peter Pan. The critically acclaimed work played full houses on tour, making it one of the company’s most successful creations. 

Jorden’s second full-length creation, Moulin Rouge had its world premiere in October 2009. Additional performances were added due to box office demand for this one-of-a-kind production.  

In 2012, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet premiered two new works by Jorden. The Doorway, set to the music, poetry, and voice of Leonard Cohen; and MOA, a work inspired by the artist Egon Schiele. 

After playing to over 250,000 people on tour in North America and Europe, Moulin Rouge made its return to Canadian audiences in 2013/14, and was transformed into a full feature dance film with Cineplex Odeon. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet premiered Defile in 2014, a new work combining the professional students and dancers of the company.

In 2016 the Royal Winnipeg Ballet toured China and Europe with Moulin Rouge, both Pittsburgh Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet presented Peter Pan, and Atlanta Ballet brought Moulin Rouge back to the United States. Nevada Ballet Theatre opened Peter Pan in Las Vegas in 2017.

Jorden became the Artistic Director of Emonton’s Citie Ballet in 2015. Jorden created several new works as director: Ophelia and Mozart 42 premiered in 2015/16. Jacinto and Tierra were created for the 2016/17 season. In his final season, Jorden choreographed Turas and Bach to Bach. During his time in Edmonton, Jorden also held the title of senior creative director with Canada’s Shumka Ukrainian Dance company. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre premiered The Great Gatsby in February of 2019, Jorden’s newest creation with an original score by Carl Davis.

Jorden had been Artist in Residence for Orlando Ballet, with plans to present his three full-lengths and a new creation, before being offered the position of Artistic Director in December of 2021.