By Steve Sucato
This past June, Columbus, Ohio’s BalletMet named Remi Wörtmeyer as its new artistic director. The choreographer, visual artist, fashion designer, and former dancer became BalletMet’s sixth director since its founding in 1978. He succeeds Edwaard Liang, who is now the artistic director of The Washington Ballet.
Born and raised in Australia, Wörtmeyer had a notable career as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and, most recently, as a principal with Dutch National Ballet, where he retired in 2022. As a choreographer, he has created over 30 ballets, including works for Atlanta Ballet, Queensland Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet.
“When BalletMet’s search committee approached me, I thought, Wow, this is a great opportunity because there is a great history of this company creating new work, and of the artistic director being a creative and choreographer,” says Wörtmeyer. “It seemed a natural fit, which was very exciting for me.”
Wörtmeyer was chosen from a pool of 80 applicants, says Susan Douglass, a BalletMet board member and chair of its search committee.
In speaking with Wörtmeyer, his unabashed belief in the art form and his excitement about a new vision for it is apparent. “I believe in the future of ballet,” he says. “It’s evolving and needs to evolve in a very positive and inclusive way, and I want to be a part of that vision for ballet and for safeguarding its future.”
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