MARIKA BRUSSEL
CHOREOGRAPHER

Marika Brussel is a contemporary ballet choreographer, currently creating internationally across the USA & UK.

 

She is known for creating socially conscious and narrative-driven ballets. Brussel combines classical ballet technique with contemporary themes, creating works that are both innovative and emotionally resonant.  Her work has explored myths, plays, and personal stories such as Unraveling- a ballet about dementia. By A Thread, a reframing of The Odyssey, premiered in London in June 2024. 

 

From Shadows - A ballet about homelessness, premiered in October 2017, to sold out audiences in San Francisco. Her ballet, Still Time For Impossible looked at the climate crisis. 

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Her ballets have been commissioned by many companies, including Sacramento Ballet, Kansas City Ballet,  Madison Ballet, New Ballet Studio Company, ARC Dance Company, Columbia Repertory Ballet, and Ballet Theater of New Mexico.

 

Marika has shown work at festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Dancing in the Park, Oakland Dances, and West Wave. Marika has also held residencies at English National Ballet (Shared Ground, UK), Dance City, Newcastle (UK), Moulin Belle Perigord (France), Levydance, Dresher Ensemble Residency, SAFEhouse Arts, (San Francisco)  Keshet Makers Space (New Mexico) and Fieldworks (UK). She has twice been part of ODC's Pilot Project, and was a choreographer in Doug Varone's Devices 5. Her other awards include two Fleishhacker Opportunity Grants and a grant from The Classical Girl.

 

Marika was a 2019 recipient of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Fellowship for Contemporary Ballet.  She was a 2020 fellow at LABA East Bay, and a 2021 fellow with The Peace Studio.