Honoring American Dance With The Joffrey Ballet

Founded on the belief that ballet is for everyone, The Joffrey Ballet traces its roots back to Greenwich Village in 1953, when the Joffrey Ballet School opened its doors. The dance company itself, however, emerged three years later from duo Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, and began as a touring company under the name of the Robert Joffrey Theater Dancers. Its humble beginnings consisted of a six-dancer ensemble touring the country in a borrowed station wagon pulling a U-Haul trailer full of costumes and recorded music to bring ballet to areas of the country that rarely experienced it.

While the dancers toured, Joffrey stayed behind to run the ballet school, using it to financially support the artists on tour. Since then, The Joffrey Ballet has carved out a legacy for itself internationally and become a giant in the Midwest dance world after its relocation to Chicago in 1995. Now celebrating their 70-year anniversary with their 17th performance at Northrop, the Joffrey has become an iconic company founded on beliefs about inclusivity and the power of dance to transform communities.

American Icons celebrates four 20th century pioneers who reshaped American dance. The program features pieces from both Joffrey founders — Arpino’s “Kettentanz” (1971), evocative of old Viennese balls and weingartens, and considered one of his signature works; and the pas de deux excerpt from Robert Joffrey’s final ballet, “Postcards” (1980), which serves as a series of vignettes depicting early 20th-century Paris through lush movement and rigorous technique.

Also featured are two American dance icons celebrating their Centennials. The “Mother of Modern Dance” Martha Graham’s witty and incisive “Secular Games” (1962) is an exploration of human desire and relationships set in ancient Greece. Prolific dancer and choreographer Glen Tetley’s “Voluntaries” (1973), a tribute to his friend and fellow choreographer and dancer John Cranko, is set to Poulenc’s “Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Strings and Timpani.” The Joffrey dancers will be accompanied by Northrop’s 40-foot-tall, 7,000-pipe Aeolian-Skinner Op. 892 organ played by Northrop Organist Greg Zelek. Together, these pieces bring the spirit of American dance to center stage, honoring the legacies of the artists who came before us.

For Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), dance has always been a way of life. Born in Scotland and trained at The Royal Ballet School of England, Wheater began dancing at 6 years old, and by age 20 he was promoted to principal dancer at the London Festival Ballet (now the English National Ballet). Arpino invited him to join The Joffrey Ballet in 1985, and in 2007 Wheater was appointed artistic director after Arpino’s retirement, ushering in a bold new era. 

Wheater has expanded the company’s canon with new full-length works, welcomed world-renowned choreographers and championed new choreographic voices, honoring The Joffrey Ballet’s legacy while continuing to push ballet forward. At the heart of his work is a deep commitment to community and access, particularly in inspiring the next generation of artists. “Giving kids the opportunity to understand the incredible joy dance can bring, but also the social and emotional skills that it brings with it … I’m really proud of every part of this organization,” says Wheater in an episode of “On Cue” by the Joffrey.

Northrop is honored to host Wheater in an American Icons Performance Preview, available on-demand beginning March 2. In this moderated, online discussion with Minnesota Dance Theatre’s Lauren Post, he will explore how this globally leading dance company has redefined ballet for the 21st century, while honoring its revolutionary roots and pushing artistic boundaries.

Two additional special experiences will allow you to connect with members of the Joffrey. At the Encore Gala With The Joffrey Ballet, dine before the show with Joffrey artistic leaders and organist Zelek, then after the show cap off the evening at an exclusive post-show reception with Joffrey dancers fresh off the stage! A portion of proceeds from this fundraiser support the Northrop Centennial Commissions project — ensuring the creation of new works by exceptional artists. 

Advanced dancers have the opportunity to join the Joffrey Rehearsal Director Adam Blyde for a 90-minute class at Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) focused on advanced exercises to further develop coordination, technicality, musicality and agility. Following class, participants can attend a Q&A with Artistic Director Wheater and MDT Artistic Associate Joanna Mednick.

Time for a pop quiz! Which of these achievements belongs to The Joffrey Ballet?

1. First dance company to perform at the White House (at Jackie Kennedy’s invitation).
2. First dance company to appear on American television.
3. First classical dance company to create and perform a multimedia ballet.
4. First (and only) dance company to appear on the cover of TIME magazine.
5. All of the above (and more)!

If you answered E, all of the above, you would be correct. Deemed “America’s Company of Firsts,” The Joffrey Ballet has continually redefined what ballet can be and incorporated it into mainstream American culture. Other “firsts” include being the first American company to perform a rock ballet in Russia, the first company to have a major film based on them (“The Company”) and the first company to commission a rock score for a ballet. These groundbreaking achievements reflect The Joffrey Ballet’s dedication to innovation and being a true “American Icon.”