British-born Christopher Wheeldon, one of the world's hottest young choreographers, will create his own dance company.

In a move he admits is a "huge gamble," he announced the launch of Morphoses the Wheeldon Company on Thursday.

Wheeldon, 33, gave his notice to the New York City Ballet in November and ballet fans had been waiting for him to announce his new plans.

He says he will "borrow" 20 of the best dancers in the world to create his company, which will begin by performing some of his own works.

Wheeldon plans to recruit dancers of the calibre of Darcey Bussell, Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg from the Royal Ballet in the U.K. and Wendy Whelan, Edwaard Liang, Maria Kowroski, Sébastien Marcovici and Sofiane Sylve from the New York City Ballet.

In a transatlantic arrangement, Morphoses will have permanent rehearsal and performance bases in New York and at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.

"My friends all think I'm crazy, leaving City Ballet," he told the Guardian newspaper.

"But even though it has been a wonderful home to me, I have found the walls beginning to close in rather than opening out. I need to see what I can do myself."

He compared his project with Sergei Diaghilev's creation of Ballets Russes in 1909.

Wheeldon admits he may scalp talent

Wheeldon dreams of creating a permanent company by 2008 and admits he may be scalping other talent.

The New York City Ballet understands "this may mean some dancers will decide to come with me. That's just the way life is and the way things go," he told the New York Times.

Morphoses will debut in August at the Vail International Dance Festival in Colorado before appearing in London and New York.

Wheeldon trained at the Royal Ballet School and became a dancer at the New York City Ballet at age 19. He became the company's resident choreographer at the age of 28.

Among his famous classical ballet works are Klavier, After the Rain and Tryst, and he has also choreographed for musical theatre. The National Ballet of Canada has included his Polyphonia in its 2006-'07 repertoire.