Joffrey Ballet

Joffrey Ballet
Name	Joffrey Ballet
Founded	1956
Founders	Robert Joffrey; Gerald Arpino
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Venue	Lyric Opera of Chicago; Auditorium Theatre; Joffrey Tower
Artistic director	Ashley Wheater

Joffrey Ballet

The Joffrey Ballet is a professional ballet company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1956 by choreographer Robert Joffrey and dancer Gerald Arpino. The company is known for commissioning contemporary works and preserving historical choreography, maintaining a repertoire that spans classical Marius Petipa, modern pioneers like George Balanchine, and contemporary artists including Twyla Tharp and Alonzo King. Over decades the company has toured nationally and internationally, collaborating with institutions such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and festivals like the Spoleto Festival USA.

History

Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino established the company in 1956 in New York City before relocating to Chicago in 1995, following a period that included a summer residency in New Jersey and seasons at venues such as the City Center of Music and Drama. The company gained early recognition through premieres at the Metropolitan Opera and collaborations with designers like Norman Norell and composers including Aaron Copland. In the 1970s and 1980s Joffrey expanded its repertory by commissioning works from choreographers such as Jerome Robbins, Paul Taylor, and Ruth Page, while facing financial and administrative challenges navigated with support from patrons like Betsy Bloomingdale and institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts. After Robert Joffrey's death, Gerald Arpino led artistic direction until Ashley Wheater assumed leadership, overseeing moves into the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the company's designation as Chicago's resident company at the Auditorium Theatre.

Repertoire and Productions

The company's repertoire encompasses full-length narratives like productions referencing Giselle and reinterpretations involving choreographers Christopher Wheeldon and Kenneth MacMillan, alongside contemporary pieces by William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, and Alonzo King. Signature restorations include works by Vaslav Nijinsky and reconstructed pieces from the archives of the Ballets Russes and legacy choreographies tied to Anna Pavlova and Serge Diaghilev. The Joffrey Ballet premiered innovative stagings such as a revival of modern classics and cross-genre collaborations with composers like Philip Glass, John Adams, and Igor Stravinsky and visual artists including Robert Rauschenberg and Isamu Noguchi.

Company and Dancers

The company roster has featured principal dancers and artists with ties to institutions like the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Houston Ballet. Alumni include performers who have gone on to appear with Mariinsky Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and international companies from Paris Opera Ballet to the National Ballet of Canada. Guest choreographers and répétiteurs have included figures associated with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Margot Fonteyn, Natalia Makarova, Peter Martins, and Ohad Naharin, fostering exchanges with academies such as the Royal Academy of Dance and the Vaganova Academy. The corps de ballet, soloists, and principals often cross-cast for seasons at the Kennedy Center and international tours to cities like London, Paris, and Tokyo.

Education and Community Programs

The company's training division and outreach initiatives maintain partnerships with educational and cultural institutions including the School of American Ballet, Joffrey Academy of Dance, Chicago Public Schools, and community centers like the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Programs range from trainee apprenticeships to youth ensembles and include collaborations with arts organizations such as Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and local museums including the Art Institute of Chicago. Community engagement has incorporated school matinees, lecture-demonstrations, and workshops led by resident faculty and guest teachers from companies like Miami City Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, and conservatories connected to Curtis Institute of Music.

Facilities and Touring

The company maintains rehearsal and administrative facilities in Chicago, with performances staged at venues including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Auditorium Theatre, and residencies at performing arts centers such as Chicago Theatre and Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Touring history includes national circuits to performing arts centers like the Kennedy Center, seasons at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, appearances at international festivals such as Jacob's Pillow, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and exchanges in cultural capitals like Moscow, Beijing, and Seoul. Touring logistics have involved collaborations with orchestras, unions like the American Federation of Musicians, and arts presenters including Cal Performances.

Awards and Recognition

The company and its artists have received honors from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, winners of Tony Awards for related theatrical collaborations, and dance-specific accolades from institutions like Dance Magazine Awards and the Bessie Awards. Individual company members have been recognized with fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, grants via the MacArthur Foundation, and honors connected to municipal arts commissions and foundations such as the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Category:Ballet companies in the United States