mAELSTROM
An abstract representation of navigating through the whirlwind of life
ABOUT THE MAKER
James Wallace is a regionally and nationally acclaimed choreographer, teacher, and screendance maker. He is originally from Hutchinson, Kansas and began his training at Friends University and continued at Arizona State University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance performance and choreography. Mr. Wallace returned to school completing his MFA in ballet at University of Utah, where he developed a passion for screendance. He has been fortunate to study under Ellen Bromberg and Katrina McPherson and has attended workshops taught by Thierry De Mey and Silvina Szperling. His film, "Maelstrom," has been an official selection for several festivals including the International Screendance Festival, Central Michigan International Film Festival, and was awarded 3rd place for Best Film Edit at the Red Rock Screendance Film Festival.
He has danced professionally for David Taylor Dance Theatre, City Ballet of San Diego, and Company C Contemporary Ballet of San Francisco and upon retiring from his performing career became Artistic Director and resident choreographer for David Taylor Dance Theatre, later renamed Dawson/Wallace Dance Project.
He has created works for Colorado Ballet, American National Ballet, Boulder Ballet, and Ballet Nouveau Colorado (now Wonderbound). The Ballet Builders award for new choreography was given to James by New Choreographers on Point and his piece, Suspect Lines, received a New York City premiere.
While living in Denver Mr. Wallace was appointed as a Denver City Commissioner by Mayor Michael Hancock and served 2 years on the Commission on Cultural Affairs. During that time the commission provided a strategic vision and future platform for arts, culture and creativity in the City that became IMAGINE 2020 - Denver’s Cultural Plan, a call to action to city agencies, cultural institutions, businesses, civic leaders, neighborhood- and community- based organizations and residents to ensure arts and culture are at the heart of Denver.
Most recently, Mr. Wallace has enjoyed his time as an Instructor of Dance at Central Utah Ballet, Colorado Mesa University, and Colorado State University and is excited to be currently teaching at Central Michigan University as a Lecturer of Dance. Mr. Wallace has been lauded as a “daring and original dancemaker” (Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News) and his choreography has been described as “vibrant, innovative and richly diverse – one of the brightest new choreographers on the horizon” (Glenn Giffin, The Denver Post).