Photo Flash: The Joffrey Ballet Stages CINDERELLA at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 1/28-1/31

The Joffrey Ballet under the direction of Ashley C. Wheater, Artistic Director, presents 'Cinderella'. Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton. Music by Serge Prokofiev. 'Cinderella' will be performed from January 28 to 31, 2010 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

"...the Ashton version of Cinderella ...is a loving, funny, choreographically elegant setting of this beloved story and Prokofiev's stirring score... The grand romantic duets are an epitome of formal, classical style."
- The New York Times

"...this ‘Cinderella' is much more, a choreographic wonderland for the adult balletomane, just as it's a sure-fire delight for the kiddies."
-Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune

The 2009-2010 season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center continues its seventh season with The Joffrey Ballet's return to the Music Center with Sir Frederick Ashton's "Cinderella," considered one of his greatest full-length ballets. The rags-to-riches story comes to life in a dazzling full-evening ballet set to Serge Prokofiev's brilliant score, composed specifically for the work.

The Joffrey was the first American dance company to receive the rights to the Ashton classic. Ashton is now considered one of the three leading 20th century storytellers in ballet, alongside John Cranko and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Robert Joffrey was so committed to Ashton's work that at one time The Joffrey Ballet had amassed the largest Ashton repertoire outside of his home company, The Royal Ballet.

In 2007, the Joffrey Ballet proudly announced Ashley C. Wheater, as its new Artistic Director becoming the Company's first Artistic Director after the late Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey, who co-founded The Joffrey in 1956.

The Joffrey Ballet's "Cinderella" will have five performances only: Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29 at 7:30pm, Saturday, January 30 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, January 31 at 2:00pm. Thirty minute moderated pre-performance discussions begin one hour prior to curtain and take place in the same venue as the performance. Tickets for The Joffrey Ballet's "Cinderella" are available through Ticketmaster Phone Charge at (800) 982-2787, at all Ticketmaster Outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, visit www.musiccenter.org.

Born in Scotland and raised in England, Ashley C. Wheater, 48, was trained at the Royal Ballet School. As a young dancer, he was cast in numerous productions at the Royal Opera House, including "The Sleeping Beauty," "Giselle," "Romeo and Juliet," "Anastasia," and Rudolf Nureyev's "The Nutcracker." At the age of thirteen, he worked with Sir Frederick Ashton on the world premiere of Benjamin Britten's "Death in Venice," a production in which Wheater performed throughout England and Europe. In addition, he performed "Marguerite" and "Armand" with Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn at the London Coliseum.

Wheater began his professional career with The Royal Ballet and joined London Festival Ballet on the advice of Nureyev, where he danced "Romeo & Juliet," "The Sleeping Beauty," "Swan Lake" and many other works. After two years he was promoted to principal dancer. In 1982, he joined The Australian Ballet, and under the direction of Marilyn Rowe, danced a multitude of roles in both classical and contemporary works. He also was a guest performer in Western Australia and Asia with Barry Morland, who created several ballets on him. It was in Australia in 1984 while Mr. Arpino was staging "Suite Saint-Saens" for The Joffrey Ballet there, that he saw Wheater dance and invited him to join the Company, which Wheater did the following year.

From 1985-1989, as a member of The Joffrey Ballet, Wheater worked with Robert Joffrey and danced in many American works by choreographers such as Mr. Arpino, William Forsythe, Eugene Loring, Mark Morris, and Laura Dean, in addition to performing the lead in numerous Sir Frederick Ashton and John Cranko works.

In 1989, Wheater joined San Francisco Ballet, dancing lead roles in nearly all of the Company's full-length productions. In addition to performing a vast repertory, Wheater had many works created on him by choreographers such as San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson, James Kudelka, Bintley, and Morris, among others. In 1996, Wheater ended his dancing career after suffering a major neck injury.

After a long and successful career as a principal dancer, Ashley Wheater assumed the role of ballet master with San Francisco Ballet in 1996 and was named assistant to the artistic director in 2002. He continued to perform principal character roles with the Company, including Drosselmeyer in Tomasson's current production of "The Nutcracker" and Kitri's father in Tomasson/Possokhov's "Don Quixote."

"Ashley Wheater was our unanimous choice as the ideal person to succeed Mr. Arpino as Artistic Director of the Joffrey. He embodies all of the characteristics we are seeking: understanding and respect for the unique place The Joffrey holds in the ballet world, vision to lead the company to new artistic excellence, rapport with the dancers, leadership experience, a fantastic network of colleagues and friends in the international ballet universe and, most wonderfully, a love of Chicago and appreciation for the importance of The Joffrey to Chicago. We interviewed an impressive group of highly-qualified candidates, but no one matched Ashley in his overall qualifications. We are delighted to announce him as our new artistic leader," said Pamela Strobel, Joffrey Ballet Succession Committee Chair.

Also new to the Joffrey is Christopher Clinton Conway, who became the new Executive Director of the company in March 2008. According to a November 2009 article by Monée Fields-White in Crain's Chicago Business, "Mr. Conway. who took over in March 2008, says he's at the halfway mark of reaching his $10-million goal. That's on top of the $25 million he's received from donors to build the 54-year-old dance company's state-of-the-art studio and offices, which opened in August 2008. It also will be home to its first ballet and modern dance school, which debuted this summer and has 700 students."

..."Before joining the Joffrey, [Conway] raised money for more than 14 non-profit campaigns, ranging from $6 million to $250 million. His first major project was at the Carter Center at Emory University in Atlanta. Working with former President Jimmy Carter "has allowed me to do some amazing things in my career," Mr. Conway says. Mr. Conway met Mr. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in 1996 through a family friend. The connection opened doors that led him to work on special projects for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as with high-profile individuals such as Julia Child and Robert Mondavi."

The Joffrey Ballet has also added nine dancers to its ranks this season. According to Sid Smith of the Chicago Tribune, "The new dancers' backgrounds suggest something of a heightened Latin look for the troupe. They are Miguel Blanco (Cuba); Yumelia Garcia (Venezuela); Dylan Gutierrez (Los Angeles); Jaime Hickey (Bayonne, N.J.); Amber Neumann (Niles, Mich.); Ricardo Santos de Paula (Brazil); Tanner Schwartz (Los Angeles); Jenny Winton (San Francisco); and Kara Zimmerman (Hershey, Pa.). "

"I have been actively seeking talent worldwide to create one of the most diverse dance companies," Joffrey artistic director Ashley Wheater said. "The addition of these new dancers will draw out and magnify the various talents of the Joffrey. "

About the repertoire

The classic story ballet "Cinderella," performed in three acts in just over two hours, follows the title character as she grows from a sad, young woman into a beautiful princess with the help of her Fairy Godmother. After receiving gifts from the Fairies of the Four Seasons, she is whisked away in a coach to meet her handsome prince at the ball.

With a cast of 50 dancers, over 20 children from local ballet schools, breathtaking costumes and sets with a working "coach" all designed by David Walker and acquired in mint condition from the Dutch National Ballet, this $1 million presentation of "Cinderella" becomes The Joffrey Ballet's most sizeable production to date.

"Cinderella," Ashton's first full-length story ballet, premiered at England's Sadler's Wells Ballet (now The Royal Ballet) in December 1948. He originally staged the role of Cinderella for famed ballerina Margot Fonteyn, but due to an injury to Fonteyn, it was performed by Moira Shearer, the star of the motion picture, "The Red Shoes." Ashton went on to create other masterpieces such as "Sylvia" (1952), "Ondine" (1958), and "The Dream" (1964), and is now considered one of the three leading 20th century storytellers in ballet, alongside John Cranko and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Robert Joffrey was so committed to Ashton's work that at one time The Joffrey Ballet had amassed the largest Ashton repertoire outside of his home company, The Royal Ballet.

Sir Frederick Ashton created the overbearing ugly Stepsisters to be danced by men in drag in the style of classic English pantomime and originated one of the roles himself in the very first production.

For the Joffrey production of "Cinderella," Ashton's choreography is being staged by Wendy Ellis Somes, a former dancer with The Royal Ballet and widow of The Royal Ballet's former Assistant Director (and Cinderella's original "Prince") Michael Somes. After retiring from The Royal Ballet in 1990 she worked closely with her husband, staging and producing Ashton's "Symphonic Variations" and "Cinderella," while also gaining a comprehensive understanding and practical experience of staging ballets in the Ashton style. She now owns the intellectual rights to "Symphonic Variations" and "Cinderella," tradition, staging these ballets in Tokyo, Sweden, New York and Amsterdam.

History of The Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet has been hailed as "America's Company of Firsts." The Joffrey Ballet's long list of "firsts" includes first dance company to perform at the White House at Jacqueline Kennedy's invitation, first to appear on television, first American company to visit Russia, first classical dance company to go multi-media, first to commission a rock ‘n roll Ballet and first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time Magazine and to have had a major motion picture based on it, Robert Altman's The Company.

For more than a half-century, The Joffrey Ballet's commitment to taking world-class, artistically vibrant work to a broad and varied audience has created a solid foundation that continues to support the company's unprecedented capacity for achieving important "firsts." Today, the Joffrey, which has been hugely successful in its former residencies in New York and Los Angeles, lives permanently in a brilliant new facility, Joffrey Tower, in the heart of America, Chicago, Illinois. The company's commitment to accessibility is met through the most extensive touring schedule of any dance company in history, an innovative and highly effective education program including the much lauded Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, and collaborations with myriad other visual and performing arts organizations

Classically trained to the highest standards, The Joffrey Ballet expresses a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudly reflecting the diversity of America with its company, audiences, and repertoire which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces and contemporary works. Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under Artistic Director Ashley C. Wheater and Executive Director Christopher Clinton Conway. The Joffrey Ballet has become one of the most revered and recognizable arts organizations in America and one of the top dance companies in the world. To learn more about The Joffrey Ballet please visit joffrey.org.

About the Music Center

The Music Center - Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County is one of the largest and most highly regarded performing arts centers in the United States. Every year, almost 2 million people visit its four main venues - Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Walt Disney Concert Hall - along with its vibrant collection of outdoor theatres, plazas, and gardens. The Music Center produces a variety of programming including Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center, Active Arts at the Music Center, and The Blue Ribbon Presents Global Pop, along with programming for children and families throughout the year. The Center also provides extensive services and leadership in support of K-12 arts education, and offers tours of all four venues. The Music Center is home to four internationally acclaimed resident companies: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Center Theatre Group, LA Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The Music Center's ambitious dance program began in 2000 with the sold-out presentation of the Bolshoi Ballet in its historic production of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" as well as a new interpretation of "Don Quixote." Since then, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center has established a distinguished reputation - locally, nationally and internationally - and has become one of the premier presenters of dance in Southern California. The Music Center is one of the only venues in Los Angeles offering a full season of dance programming, consistently featuring the world's most illustrious dance companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Kirov Ballet of the Mariinsky Theatre, and Merce Cunningham Dance Company. The program provides learning opportunities at the Center and throughout the county for adults and children as well as free and low-cost tickets, open rehearsals, pre-and post-performance talks, school lecture and demonstrations, and community classes with visiting artists.

Venue:    Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles    
Performance Schedule:         Thursday, January 28 -7:30pm Friday, January 29 – 7:30pm Saturday, January 30 –2:00pm and 7:30pm Sunday, January 31– 2:00pm    
Tickets:   $30.00 - $120.00    
In Person:   Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office 135 North Grand Avenue  And all Ticketmaster Outlets     
Online:   www.ticketmaster.com      
Phone:   Ticketmaster Phone Charge  (800) 982-2787               
Groups:   15 or more, visit www.musiccenter.org    
Information:   Online - www.musiccenter.org/dance.html  
Phone - Music Center Dance information line (213) 972-0711