The Joffrey Ballet paid homage to the grace of the human form in its program titled “New Works,” which opened April 22 at Cadillac Palace Theatre and runs through May 3. Mainly unadorned, the shapes and sinews of the dozen dancers move with such complexity and in such configurations as to leave us breathless. There […]
One of the crown jewels of Chicago’s cultural realm, the Joffrey Ballet is celebrating it’s 20th year in the city in style. Make It Better invited several of their graceful and talented dancers, draped in the most exquisite and unique jewels, to bring extra sparkle to this holiday season. Though the company has been […]
We all know how “Othello” ends. The love story between the mighty Moor of Venice and his gentle Desdemona comes to the same tragic conclusion in Shakespeare’s 1693 drama, Verdi’s 1887 opera, the 1995 Hollywood film and in the ballet, choreographed by Lar Lubovitch for American Ballet Theatre in 1997. A revival of that story […]
Dance can be modern, classical or theater with movement. The Joffrey Ballet embraces them all in its fall program. Three ballets are being presented under the title “Human Landscapes,” and each one confronts humanity in its own way. Most powerful, of course, is Joffrey’s revival of “The Green Table,” a German Expressionist ballet, choreographed by […]
As a blaze during a night chill, the Joffrey Ballet’s “Winter Fire” illuminates the Auditorium Theatre. It revealed a company of dancers rich in the heritage of classical ballet, but pushing the boundaries of their bodies and the art form. This powerful program delivers three ballets, including the U.S. premiere of “Infra” by Wayne McGregor, […]
From the first delicate notes in Tchaikovsky’s overture, it was clear this “Nutcracker” would be an exciting performance.
“The Nutcracker” tradition runs deep in our family. One spring, yes, spring, during the late 1950s, the New York City Ballet brought its fabled production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” to the Civic Opera House. My youngest sister, who was enrolled in ballet classes at the time, auditioned and was accepted as a toy soldier. […]
Forget “Man of La Mancha.” The Joffrey Ballet has mounted a vividly re-imagined version of the epic story by Cervantes. In this colorful world premiere, Don Quixote remains an aging nobleman dreaming of chivalry, with a bumbling sidekick and a skinny horse. But he is also like Saint Valentine, rescuing a young woman from an […]
Four local partners have collaborated to open Foster Dance Studios. They are: Artistic Director Ronn Stewart, a Joffrey teacher and longtime dancer; Sarah Goldstone, a Juilliard grad and a Chicago dancer; along with Kathryn Ebert of Evanston and Sally H. Turner of Wilmette. The studio will offer a wide variety of classes for all […]
The Joffrey Ballet’s “Rising Stars” program, which opened May 4 at the Auditorium Theater, is an exercise in abstraction. It’s filled with sublime, graceful movement, punctuated with surprises, and packed with tried and truly beautiful dancing. Two world premieres, “Woven Dreams” by Edwaard Liang and “Bells” by Yuri Possokhov, plus a company premiere, “Night” by […]
