Jim Nowakowski, Corps de ballet

Birthplace
South Korea

Dance Training
Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education

Joined the Company
2007

Favorite Ballet
Cinderella

One defining moment...
Receiving the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Gold Award from Mikhail Baryshnikov in New York City.

Born in South Korea, Mr. Nowakowski trained at the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education until joining Houston Ballet in 2007. Also in 2007, Mr. Nowakowski won first place in the Men's Senior Division of the Youth American Grand Prix. Other awards include the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Gold Award which he received from Mikhail Baryshnikov. In 2010, Stanton Welch created the role of Agni, the fire god, on Mr. Nowakowski in La Bayadère. Mr. Nowakowski has also been featured in many works with Houston Ballet including Stanton Welch's Clear and Elements, Hans van Manen's Solo, among others.

"I'd like to have seen more of Jim Nowakoski, who sprang to life briefly in a whizzy solo as a fire god in Act 1." Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle Feb. 26, 2010 La Bayadère review

"Jim Nowakowski isn't onstage all that long as Agni the fire god, but he is all excitement when he is, leaping from a temple pyre over prostrate worshippers and dancing impressively before leaping right back in." John DeMers, Houston ArtsWeek March 2010 La Bayadère review

Click here to watch a video interview with Mr. Nowakowski.