A new documentary captures the discipline, creativity and heart behind the Joffrey Ballet’s trailblazing “Winning Works” program for emerging artists
historically excluded from ballet.
“Joffrey Ballet: The Next Movement” premieres Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. Central) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app. The film was produced by Chicago-based Kartemquin Films and directed by South Sider Cam Be. It follows five choreographers over two weeks as they prepare new works featuring students from Joffrey’s Grainger Academy.
The piece not only highlights the intensity of staging performances, but the personal stories of the BIPOC artists, many of whom have had to pave their own way in an art form that has, until recent years, mostly featured white dancers and choreographers.
“I want you to understand the level of dedication it takes and the work these choreographers went through to get to the spaces they’re in,” said Cam Be, 44, of Bronzeville.
“But also, I want you to understand that they’re just human beings, and that they have life experiences and trauma that they’ve had to deal with, and they continue to push through.”
The film features choreographers who competed for slots in the 14th annual “Winning Works” showcase, which took place in March 2024. They include Manoela Gonçalves, of Rio de Janeiro; Jainil Mehta, of Mumbai; Martha Nichols, of Brooklyn; Joffrey Ballet dancer Xavier Núñez, originally from Puerto Rico; and Houston Thomas, of Chicago.
Thomas’ story is an especially poignant part of the film, as he began as a student in the Joffrey Ballet’s outreach program and went on to dance professionally in Germany. His participation in “Winning Works” marked his return to Chicago for the first time since his mother died.
His ballet, “Dear Chicago: A Love Letter,” will also be performed by the Joffrey Ballet as part of the “Notes on Love” program in February.
“It was a bit of an emotional homecoming for him,” Be said. “But also a triumphant story of fulfilling his dream as a dancer and now being a choreographer.”
The film also includes plenty of behind-the-scenes drama, from performers navigating the two-week time crunch and injuries to working with unconventional props and learning challenging dance styles.
“There’s layers of conflict just in terms of putting the dance together,” Be said.
“I hope [viewers] feel like they’re in the wardrobe room helping with the costumes, or that they are in the room practicing with the dancers.”
As a Black director facing barriers in his own industry, Be said he related to the choreographers.
“I think the ‘Winning Works’ program is a foot in the door,” he said. “It’s starting the process. And, hopefully, the film creates a larger conversation to push for more opportunities for people of color, and specifically Black people and women.”
Above all, Be said he hopes the documentary motivates each person watching, even if they are new to ballet.
“I hope that the audience can find the level of inspiration in their own lives to push for something that they want to do as well,” he said.
The Joffrey is among the Chicago arts organizations that participated in a 2025 WBEZ/Sun-Times survey on diversity in leadership of top cultural groups.
Leadership said the ballet company plans to forge ahead with its diversity, equity and inclusion plans and programming, even as the Trump administration criticizes and cuts arts funding for such efforts.