Raymond Rodriguez News

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will offer a new program, the PBT Master Class Series, for the greater Pittsburgh communities beginning in October 2023. Learn more about the upcoming class schedule here!

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will partner with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School (PBT School) to present Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes, a shortened version of PBT's beloved The Nutcracker. Learn more about the event and how to get tickets here!

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) has named Raymond Rodriguez as the organization's first Dean of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, effective June 5, 2023.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, announces the recipients of its 13th annual Winning Works: Natasha Adorlee, Christopher D'Ariano, Kameron Saunders, and Mike Tyus, following a national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) artists. 

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, has announced the launch of the Joffrey Academy Contemporary Ballet Trainee Program, the first full-time contemporary ballet training program offered by a classical ballet company in the United States.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) – the world’s largest ballet scholarship competition – is hosting  its 2022 Season Finals and Benefit Gala in Tampa, FL through April 19th, 2022.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, presents four world premieres in the culmination of Joffrey's national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications for the Joffrey Academy's Winning Works Choreographic Competition.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, announces the recipients of the twelfth annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition: Audrey Ipapo Baran, Joffrey Company Artist Edson Barbosa, Taylor Carrasco, and Derick McKoy.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, announced the recipients of the twelfth annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition: Audrey Ipapo Baran, Joffrey Company Artist Edson Barbosa, Taylor Carrasco, and Derick McKoy. 

Raymond Rodriguez has announced Christopher Marney as the new Head of Studio Company and Trainees at the Academy. Marney begins his new role on November 3, 2021, just eight weeks after the Joffrey Academy of Dance opened its new “Joffrey for All” studio space and training facilities at 1920 South Wabash Avenue.

The Joffrey Ballet's Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director and Greg Cameron, President and CEO are pleased to announce the addition of four dancers to the Joffrey roster for the 2021-22 season: Brian Bennett (Lanham, Maryland), Blake Kessler (Jacksonville, Florida), Yuchan Kim (Seoul, South Korea) and Miranda Silveira (Barcelona, Spain). With these new company members, The Joffrey Ballet has expanded to 43 dancers representing 13 countries.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, announces a national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications for The Joffrey Academy's Twelfth Annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition.

The Joffrey Ballet has announced the establishment of new studio space and training facilities at 1920 South Wabash Avenue (formerly the Chicago Dance Academy studios), expanding the Joffrey's reach to the South Loop and beyond, and marking a major step towards the completion of the organization's five-year “Joffrey for All” strategic plan.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance has become committed to encouraging people of color to engage with classical ballet.

Joffrey Board Chair Anne L. Kaplan, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE, and Joffrey President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Cameron are pleased to announce that The Joffrey Ballet has established a newly named position at the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. Effective immediately, current Academy Director Raymond Rodriguez assumes the new title of Abbott Academy Director, Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet.

 The Joffrey Ballet is introducing the Joffrey Studio Series, a comprehensive roster of virtual programming — from livestream performances and company rehearsals to pre-recorded conversations — curated by Joffrey artists during the COVID-19 era.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, will present four world premieres in the culmination of Joffrey's national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications for the Joffrey Academy's Tenth Annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition. This year's Competition winners-Chanel DaSilva, Tsai Hsi Hung, Pablo Sánchez and Durante Verzola-each have choreographed an original work created on the Joffrey Academy Trainees and Studio Company. Winning Works expands to four performances in 2020 and returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago's Edlis Neeson Theater (220 E. Chicago Avenue) Friday, March 20 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, March 21 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 PM. Tickets for Winning Works are $30 and available for purchase at joffrey.org/winningworks.

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, and Greg Cameron, President and CEO, are pleased to announce that José Carayol, former principal teacher and head of Conservatory Program at Los Angeles Ballet Academy, has been appointed Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, effective Monday, January 13, 2020.

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, announces the recipients of the tenth annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition: Chanel DaSilva, Tsai Hsi Hung, Pablo Sánchez (recipient of the inaugural Zach Lazar Winning Works Fellowship, named in honor of former Joffrey Board Chair Zach Lazar) and Durante Verzola.

Ashley Wheater, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, and Greg Cameron, President and CEO, are pleased to announce that Raymond Rodriguez, former Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program at the Joffrey, has been elevated to Academy Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, effective immediately. Rodriquez takes over after three years as Head of Studio Company and Trainees, succeeding former Academy Director Karine Provost.