The Joffrey Ballet is both a school, founded in 1952, and a dance company, founded in 1956. From 1995 to 2004, the company was known as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. It is one of the foremost ballet companies in the world, and the school is known for producing alumni who later have successful acting careers (e. g. Charlize Theron and Patrick Swayze. Charlize Theron ( IPA: ʃɑrˈliːz θəˈrɒn born August 7 1975 is an Academy Award -winning South African -born American actress film producer Patrick Wayne Swayze (born August 18, 1952) is a three- time Golden Globe nominated American Dancer, Actor, and ). The company regularly performs classical ballets such as Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker, while harmoniously balancing those classics with pioneering modern dance pieces. Romeo and Juliet (Op 64 (Ромео и Джульетта is a Ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare 's play Romeo The Nutcracker (Щелкунчик Shchelkunchik) Op 71 is a Fairy tale - Ballet in two acts three scenes by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky See also Dance, Concert dance Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century Many prolific choreographers have worked with the Joffrey including Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and George Balanchine, and, of course, the founders, Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey. Paul Taylor (born July 29, 1930) is one of the foremost American Choreographers of the 20th century. Twyla Tharp (born July 1 1941) is a American Dancer and Choreographer. See also List of ballets by George Balanchine, George Balanchine (January 22 1904 &ndash April 30 1983 born Giorgi Melitonis dze Balanchivadze Gerald Arpino (born January 14, 1928) is an American dancer and Choreographer. Robert Joffrey ( December 24, 1930 - March 25, 1988) was an American Dancer, Teacher, producer
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History
In 1956, a time during which most touring companies performed only reduced versions of ballet classics, Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino formed a highly dynamic and unique six-dancer ensemble that toured the country in a station wagon pulling a U-Haul trailer, performing original ballets that were created by Robert Joffrey. Ballet is a formalized form of Dance with its origins in the French court further developed in France and Russia as a Concert dance Robert Joffrey ( December 24, 1930 - March 25, 1988) was an American Dancer, Teacher, producer Gerald Arpino (born January 14, 1928) is an American dancer and Choreographer. Robert Joffrey ( December 24, 1930 - March 25, 1988) was an American Dancer, Teacher, producer While Joffrey stayed in New York City to teach ballet classes and earn money to pay the dancers' salaries, Gerald Arpino led the troupe across America's heartland. Gerald Arpino (born January 14, 1928) is an American dancer and Choreographer. The ensemble's first performance in a major city as the Joffrey Ballet occurred in Chicago in 1957. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The Joffrey Ballet originally settled down in New York City, where The Joffrey Ballet School still resides, and later maintained a part-time residence at the Los Angeles Music Center (1982-1992). The City of New York Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West In 1995, the company left New York City and returned to Chicago to establish a permanent residence. The first several years there were financially arduous for the company, causing them to nearly shut their doors more than once, although recent years have seen a significant revitalization as the performances and school have attracted larger and younger audiences. The Joffrey Ballet has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary season in Chicago (2004-2005), and concluded their very well received two-season long (2005-2006, 2006-2007) 50th Anniversary celebration, a milestone few American ballet companies have enjoyed.
The Joffrey Today
Currently, the company boasts 46 dancers, and performs their regular October-May season at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, as well as several domestic and international tours throughout the year. The Auditorium Building of Roosevelt University in Chicago Illinois is one of the best-known designs of Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan. Roosevelt University is a private Institution of Higher education with full service Campuses in Chicago's Loop and northwest Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Their repertoire consists of both classical and contemporary pieces, as well as annual December performances of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker (Щелкунчик Shchelkunchik) Op 71 is a Fairy tale - Ballet in two acts three scenes by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Joffrey Ballet appeared in the major motion picture Save the Last Dance (2001), when the two protagonists of the story saw the company perform Sea Shadow and Les Presages in Chicago. Save the Last Dance is a 2001 Drama movie produced by MTV Films, directed by Thomas Carter, written by Duane Adler and released by Paramount Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. It was also the subject of Robert Altman's 2003 penultimate film, The Company. Robert Bernard Altman (February 20 1925 – November 20 2006 was an American Film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with The Company is a Film about the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. It was released on December 26, 2003 in the United States and This movie stars Malcolm McDowell as the ballet company's artistic director, a character based on Gerald Arpino, and is composed of stories gathered from the actual dancers, choreographers, and office staff of the Joffrey Ballet. Malcolm McDowell (born Malcolm John Taylor; 13 June 1943 is an English Actor. Gerald Arpino (born January 14, 1928) is an American dancer and Choreographer. Most of the roles are played by real-life company members.
In the summer of 2008, The Joffrey Ballet is scheduled to take possession of their new permanent home, The Joffrey Tower [1] at 8 East Randolph Street in downtown Chicago. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.
External links
References
Anawalt, Sasha. (January 19, 1998). The Joffrey Ballet: Robert Joffrey and the Making of an American Dance Company. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press; Paperback Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0226017556
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