Robert Joffrey News

The Joffrey Ballet celebrates its 20th anniversary of calling Chicago home in the 2014-15 season and its annual fall engagement brings the Joffrey Premiere of a newly envisioned Swan Lake to Chicago for the first time, choreographed by one of ballet's most acclaimed choreographers, Christopher Wheeldon. Continuing Joffrey Artistic Director Ashley Wheater's endeavor to bring re-imagined story-ballets to Chicago audiences, this performance represents the first time The Joffrey Ballet has ever performed a Swan Lake in its almost 60-year history. Swan Lake is presented at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, in 10 performances only, October 15 - 26.

Joffrey Ballet School, a world-renowned dance center offering the most versatile and highest quality training, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, known for their, partner to launch the first annual Elite Dance Tournament. The new national competition, which is focused on educational empowerment through constructive evaluation, will take place in six cities with a variety of master classes and focus on ballet, jazz and contemporary styles. In its inaugural year, the tournament will provide an apprenticeship with Complexions Dance Company; a full- time position with the Joffrey Concert Group; and $180,000 in cash and scholarships, including $10,000 each for the ultimate dancer, studio and choreographer.

CHICAGO (September 3, 2014) – Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, is pleased to announce the addition of three dancers to the Joffrey's international roster for the 2014-2015 season: Artur Babajanyan (Armenia), Edson Barbosa (Brazil) and Brooke Linford, a former Joffrey Academy of Dance Trainee (Alpine, Utah). The three new dancers officially began rehearsing with the company July 21.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB), one of the country's leading contemporary ballet companies, returns to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival for the 82nd season finale.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB), one of the country's leading contemporary ballet companies, returns to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival for the 82nd season finale.

Princeton Ballet School's Summer Intensive Program will be hosting several guest teachers this year, including New York City Ballet dancer Unity Phelan. Phelan originally trained at Princeton Ballet School from 2000 to 2009, and then continued her training at the School of American Ballet, the official training academy of New York City Ballet. She became an apprentice of the company in December of 2012, and joined New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in November of 2013.

Princeton Ballet School's Summer Intensive Program will be hosting several guest teachers this year, including New York City Ballet dancer Unity Phelan. Phelan originally trained at Princeton Ballet School from 2000 to 2009, and then continued her training at the School of American Ballet, the official training academy of New York City Ballet. She became an apprentice of the company in December of 2012, and joined New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in November of 2013.

Joffrey Concert Group, a pre-professional performance company that prepares dancers for the world stage, will present two evenings of work at New York Live Arts, May 19-20. The troupe of 30 dancers will perform two signature works by Gerald Arpino-Kettentanz (1971), a neoclassical tour de force inspired by Old Vienna, and Light Rain (1981) a sensual evocation of the zeitgeist of the 1970's, performed in full for the first time in New York City since the Joffrey Ballet presented it twenty years ago. In addition, the program features two world premieres by Shawn Hounsell (formerly Royal Winnipeg) and Africa Guzman (former Associate Director of Compania Nacional de Danza under Nacho Duato), with a New York Premiere by Scott Rink (Lar Lubovitch Dance Company).

The Joffrey Ballet's 2013-14 'Masters of Dance' season comes to a close this spring with the U.S. Premiere of Krzysztof Pastor'sRomeo & Juliet. Pastor, Director of the Polish National Ballet and Resident Choreographer of the Dutch National Ballet, originally created this new version ofRomeo & Juliet in 2008 for the Scottish Ballet. His work has never before been seen in Chicago. Romeo & Juliet runs for 10 performances only at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway, today, April 30 - May 11.

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, tonight, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.

The Joffrey Ballet's 2013-14 "Masters of Dance" season comes to a close this spring with the U.S. Premiere of Krzysztof Pastor'sRomeo & Juliet. Pastor, Director of the Polish National Ballet and Resident Choreographer of the Dutch National Ballet, originally created this new version ofRomeo & Juliet in 2008 for the Scottish Ballet. His work has never before been seen in Chicago. Romeo & Juliet runs for 10 performances only at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway, April 30 - May 11.

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced its 2014-15 season. Music Director Franz Welser-Möst's programs include Bach's Mass in B minor, and Brahms's Piano Concertos with Yefim Bronfman as soloist. Mr. Welser-Möst continues his long-standing tradition of opera performances at Severance Hall with concert performances of Richard Strauss's rarely heard opera Daphne. Guest artists returning to Severance Hall include Lang Lang, Christian Tetzlaff, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Mitsuko Uchida, and conductors Charles Dutoit, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Fabio Luisi. The Orchestra celebrates the 90th birthday of Pierre Boulez in three programs conducted by Franz Welser-Möst.

American Repertory Ballet will present Signature Duets: Dances of Daring and Devotion at Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 7:00pm. The program will feature Dreams Interrupted, a world premiere by Trinette Singleton, set to music by Pierre Bohemond; Fantasy Baroque by ARB's Resident Choreographer Mary Barton; and Gerald Arpino's Confetti.

MIREILLE FAVAREL, former principal dancer of the Milwaukee Ballet and currently associate director of Milwaukee Ballet II, will teach a day of master classes for the Brandywine Ballet on April 6, 2014 at The Dancer Center, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Joffrey Ballet School, a world-renowned dance center offering the most versatile and highest quality training, will present a Winter Concert collaboration highlighting the schools' Jazz and Contemporary Trainees and the Joffrey Concert Group. The celebrated fusion of performers will take place tonight, February 22, 8:30 p.m. and tomorrow, February 23, 4:00 p.m. at the Salvatore Capezio Theater.

Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, announces programming for the company's 2014-15 season celebrating 20 years of the Joffrey calling Chicago home. The 2014-15 anniversary season features both company favorites and a slate of eight premieres.

This winter, The Joffrey Ballet revisits its contemporary roots with a mixed repertory program titled 'Contemporary Choreographers,' an evening of three pieces, two by some of contemporary ballet's most luminous choreographers working today and one by a local 'rising star' choreographer. 'Contemporary Choreographers' is presented in 10 performances only at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, February This winter, The Joffrey Ballet revisits its contemporary roots with a mixed repertory program titled 'Contemporary Choreographers,' an evening of three pieces, two by some of contemporary ballet's most luminous choreographers working today and one by a local 'rising star' choreographer. 'Contemporary Choreographers' is presented in 10 performances only at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, tonight, February 12-23.12-23.

Joffrey Ballet School, a world-renowned dance center offering the most versatile and highest quality training, will present a Winter Concert collaboration highlighting the schools' Jazz and Contemporary Trainees and the Joffrey Concert Group. The celebrated fusion of performers will take place February 22, 8:30 p.m. and February 23, 4:00 p.m. at the Salvatore Capezio Theater. The program will feature seven new and restaged works from legendary choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Donald Byrd, Daniel Gwirtzman, Brian McSween, Davis Robertson, Margo Sappington and Chet Walker.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced that after a 17-year career with the Company, principal dancer Kaori Nakamura will retire from performing at the end of PNB's 2013-2014 season. Ms. Nakamura joined PNB as a soloist in 1997 and was promoted to principal in 1998. Following her retirement, Ms. Nakamura will be joining the faculty of PNB School.