And the joffrey ballet did just about perfectly as well on thursday, when the company returned with this sparkling production to. The opening scene, a christmas party in a victorian parlor, features an avalanche of toys, presents, fancy candycolored costumes, and kidfriendly shenanigans. Robert joffreys production of the nutcracker, danced by the joffrey ballet, opens tonight at the kennedy center. Robert joffrey was an american dancer and choreographer who founded the famous joffrey ballet along with his longtime partner, gerald arpino. Photo by cheryl mann choreographed by the tony awardwinning christopher wheeldon, and set to the beloved tchaikovsky score, it cleverly shifted the story courtesy of childrens book author brian selznick to the fairs chicago construction site during the wintry months of 1892. They had their own nutcracker, produced by the company founder robert joffrey and cofounder gerald arpino, that premiered in 1987. Robert joffreys version of the nutcracker also used to include a role for a student with a disability. Many choreographers have worked with the joffrey, including paul taylor, twyla tharp, george balanchine, and founders gerald arpino and robert joffrey. Wheeldons acclaimed turnof the century tale opens on christmas eve, 1892, mere months before the grand opening of the 1893 worlds fair, as young marie and her mother prepare for a christmas eve potluck celebration. Joffrey ballet nutcracker 2015 by the joffrey ballet issuu. Windy city times news archive dancin feats robert joffreys nutcracker takes final bow december means nutcracker in the dance world, and the chicago area has dozens of choices.
This ones set at the worlds fair choreographer christopher wheeldon has a fresh take on the classic christmas. Of shoes and sugarplums fall theater and dance chicago. Robert joffrey american choreographer and director britannica. From the works of petipa, to robert joffrey, to current nyc dance artists, the concert is meant to display the versatility in training and artistry for which joffrey ballet school is known. While robert joffrey stayed in new york to teach ballet classes and earn money to pay the dancers salaries, gerald arpino led the troupe across americas heartland, in a station wagon that pulled a uhaul trailer. As a choreographer, joffrey came to the nutcracker rather late, offering the premiere of his american slant on the ballet for what turned out to be the last christmas of his life, in 1987. Eventually, with the costumes and sets from robert joffreys 1987 production deteriorating more and more every year, wheater decided it was time for the joffrey to mount a new nutcracker.
The joffrey ballet, based in chicago, illinois, is a premier dance company. Memory lane robert joffreys the nutcracker youtube. Robert joffrey american choreographer and director. Robert joffrey s version of the nutcracker also used to include a role for a student with a disability.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A radiant moment in chicago history key to magic of joffreys. Joffrey had planned to stage major portions of nutcracker himself, drawing on his memory and research on the fedorova version, but when the initial rehearsal period approached in mid1987. Robert joffrey and gerald arpinos uniquely american vision of dance first took form in 1956. Peter llyich tchaikovsky live music performed by the chicago philharmonic. The joffreys nutcracker, which robert joffrey set in america in the 1850s, begins with a bang. This ones set at the worlds fair choreographer christopher wheeldon has a fresh take on the classic christmas tale.
Robert joffrey, 57, founder of the ballet troupe, is dead. The joffrey ballet long had a traditional nutcracker by its founderchoreographer, robert joffrey, which it continued to perform after moving to chicago from new york in 1995. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the joffrey ballet. Rebekah harkness was an important early benefactor and she made international touring possible soviet union, 1963. Dec 29, 2019 click the image below to view the nutcracker digital program book. The ballet runs through november 28, and then tours to detroit and iowa city. By the time robert joffreys production of the nutcracker was ready for its world premiere in december, 1987, there was as much if not more drama going on behind the scenes as there was. Joffrey dancers share their favorite memories from dancing in robert joffreys the nutcracker.
He was born anver bey abdullah jaffa khan in seattle, washington to a pashtun father from afghanistan and a mother from italy. Oct 29, 2017 eventually, with the costumes and sets from robert joffreys 1987 production deteriorating more and more every year, wheater decided it was time for the joffrey to mount a new nutcracker. Robert joffrey, american dancer, choreographer, and director, founder of the joffrey ballet 1956. Robert joffrey december 24, 1930 march 25, 1988 was an american dancer, teacher, producer, choreographer, and cofounder of the joffrey ballet, known for his highly imaginative modern ballets.
For 28 years, chicagos joffrey ballets nutcracker, created by founder robert joffrey, was the gold standard for the traditional version of the ballet set in a beautiful mansion with a. We brought our daughter for the first time when she was only 3 and were all completely enchanted by the talented company, brilliant choreography, the beautiful sets and costumes and the magical quality of the perfomance. The 2016 joffrey nutcracker will be a brandnew interpretation, choreographed by christopher wheeldon and set in old chicago. Located in the picturesque florence gould theatre on the upper east side of manhattan, the spring performance is a culmination of a years worth of hard. In 1956, he founded the joffrey ballet, an ensemble of american dancers for whom he choreographed, taught, commissioned original ballets, and reconstructed rare classics. It was established in 1956 in new york city and stayed until it moved to chicago in 1995. The joffrey ballet school nyc pre ballet 2 class feature, from the childrens program duration. Dec 02, 2016 a new production, for the joffrey ballet of chicago, moves the christmasseason classic to the site of the worlds columbian exposition of 1893. The joffrey ballet originally settled down in new york city, under the name the robert joffrey theatre ballet. The joffrey ballet celebrates the 28th annual, and final, presentation of robert joffrey s the nutcracker, chicagos most popular holiday tradition, in a 24performance engagement at the. Robert joffreys the nutcracker seems as essential a part of chicagos holiday season as the daley plaza tree, goodmans a christmas carol, pimpedout. With choreography athletic and sweet, fantastic set pieces and puppetry, and delightful effects, robert joffreys nutcracker is a holiday classic that will be missed. Robert joffrey, who died friday at the age of 57 after a long struggle with devastating illness, was a visionary and a pioneer. Robert joffrey, original name abdullah jaffa bey khan, born december 24, 1930, seattle, washington, u.
He is credited with bringing a distinctly american approach to dance and with reviving experimental ballets from earlier eras. The nutcrackers first choreographer, marius petipa, like robert joffrey, worked from the autumn perspective. See the farewell tour of robert joffreys the nutcracker. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king 1816 a robert joffrey production conceived and. And the joffrey ballet did just about perfectly as well on thursday, when the company returned with this sparkling production to the dorothy chandler pavilion through sunday. It was a sixdancer ensemble that traveled from one place to another to spread the beauty of dance and ballet. Choreographer christopher wheeldon, whos been a star in the dance world for years, recently expanded his reach with the broadway rendition of the classic film an american in paris. Yet when the joffrey ballet presented the world premiere of christopher wheeldons new nutcracker last year, audiences got a uniquely chicagoan production that turns the. The joffrey ballet is a professional dance company based in chicago, illinois. Dec 02, 2011 robert joffrey got just about everything marvelously right in his 1987 nutcracker, the last ballet he directed before his death. The joffrey nutcracker maintains the classical purity of robert joffrey s and gerald arpinos original choreography while sparkling with elegant costumes, an extravagant set by oliver smith and a. Nov 19, 2015 robert joffrey s the nutcracker seems as essential a part of chicagos holiday season as the daley plaza tree, goodmans a christmas carol, pimpedout department store windows along state street. Dec 01, 2015 by sharon hoyer ashley wheater sat down with me in his office in the joffrey tower shortly before the company hit the road to take robert joffrey s nutcracker to the kennedy center.
Windy city times news archive dancin feats robert joffrey s nutcracker takes final bow december means nutcracker in the dance world, and the chicago area has dozens of choices. Robert joffreys the nutcracker continues classic tradition. In the 25years since robert joffrey created his american nutcracker ballet, it has become one of the most popular touring productions of e. Wheeldons acclaimed turnofthecentury tale opens on christmas eve, 1892, mere months before the grand opening of the 1893 worlds fair, as young marie and her mother prepare for a christmas eve potluck celebration. Robert joffreys the nutcracker has been a chicago tradition for 20 years, ever since the ballet company moved. Joffrey ballets new nutcracker leaves some tradition. Robert joffreys the nutcracker plays final season in chicago. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king 1816 a robert joffrey production conceived and directed by robert joffrey choreography for waltz. The magic of the season takes hold when a visit from the. In its 60th season, the joffrey ballet performs its late founders beloved adaptation of the holiday classic one last time. Robert joffreys the nutcracker takes a final bow performing arts. An excerpt from the soontobe available ebook, the joffrey ballet.
Robert joffrey and the making of an american dance company. Dec 15, 2015 a scene from the joffrey ballets the nutcracker photo courtesy of photo courtesy of cheryl mann since this is the farewell tour for robert joffreys the nutcracker, catch it while you can. Click the image below to view the nutcracker digital program book. According to the chicago tribune, former artistic director gerald arpino added an accessible role for a party boy in 1997 when 8yearold stephen hiattleonard, who had cerebral palsy, auditioned for the childrens cast. Revel in the aweinspiring nutcracker that has captivated audiences for 25 years with brilliant costumes, larger than life scenery, entrancing storytelling and tchaikovskys famous score for a special discounted package offered by j. Joffrey ballets new reimagined nutcracker for chicago.
Robert joffrey s the nutcracker seems as essential a part of chicagos holiday season as the daley plaza tree, goodmans a christmas carol, pimpedout department store windows along state street. Nov 16, 2017 they had their own nutcracker, produced by the company founder robert joffrey and cofounder gerald arpino, that premiered in 1987. Robert joffreys the nutcracker inside the studio youtube. The joffrey ballets nutcracker has a new role for dancers. The number of children cast in robert joffreys version of the nutcracker in addition to a full company. He also was an educator, a choreographer, an impresario and, in the. The nutcracker, robert joffreys classic ballet features 24 performances in its final yearto be replaced with a new nutcracker in 2016. Joffreys the nutcracker wednesday, november 25, 2015 sunday, november 29, 2015.
Wheeldon signed on, and they began organizing a creative team to reinvent the ballet. Farewell to robert joffreys nutcracker chicago tribune. The original company consisted of six dynamic and highly individual dancers. And robert joffreys towering, opulently appointed 1860s american living room, laden with christmas gifts, has been chicagos most welcoming nutcracker home for. The joffrey ballet, based in chicago, illinois, is one of the worlds premier dance companies. Robert joffreys the nutcracker chicago, il the joffrey ballet celebrates the 27th annual presentation of robert joffreys the nutcracker, chicagos most popular holiday tradition, in a 24performance engagement at the auditorium theatre of roosevelt university, 50 e. However, knowing of the professionalism and mastery of dance of this troupe, i dont doubt that next years nutcracker will be just as spectacular. Robert joffrey was born in seattle, washington, in 1930 and died in new york city in 1988.
According to the chicago tribune, former artistic director gerald arpino added an accessible role for a party boy in 1997 when 8yearold stephen hiattleonard, who had. Dec 06, 2015 and robert joffrey s towering, opulently appointed 1860s american living room, laden with christmas gifts, has been chicagos most welcoming nutcracker home for 20 years, ever since the company. Pbs documentary of wheeldons nutcracker at joffrey. Joffrey began his dance training at nine years old in. The joffrey ballet celebrates the 28th annual, and final, presentation of robert joffreys the nutcracker, chicagos most popular holiday tradition, in a 24performance engagement at the. Director scott speck and dancers amanda assucena and yoshihisa arai discuss what makes robert joffreys the nutcracker magical.
Thankfully, the late robert joffrey did not share that view. Robert joffrey 19281988 was a dancer, choreographer, and founder of the eponymous ballet company. Nov 24, 2004 robert joffrey s production of the nutcracker, danced by the joffrey ballet, opens tonight at the kennedy center. Joffrey ballets the nutcracker plays the auditorium theater. The joffrey ballet christopher wheeldons the nutcracker. The joffrey ballet is a renowned professional dance company, and many wellknown dancers and choreographers like paul taylor, twyla tharp, and george balanchine have worked with the ballet. In 1997, former artistic director gerald arpino created an accessible role for then8yearold stephen hiattleonard, a boy with cerebral palsy, who auditioned for the childrens cast of robert joffreys version of the nutcracker. How sad that this is the last performance of robert joffrey s nutcracker. Subscribers and fans of the joffrey ballet have been anticipating the companys new nutcracker for well over a year now. Let me start by saying we have seen the joffrey nutcracker every year for the past 10 years. He began studying tap dancing but soon turned to ballet with mary ann wells, at whose school in seattle he met. Robert joffrey december 24, 1930 march 25, 1988 was an american dancer, teacher, producer, choreographer, and cofounder of the joffrey ballet, known for his highly.
The joffrey ballet tickets the joffrey ballet tickets the joffrey ballet started as the robert joffrey theater dancers in 1956. Joffreys nutcracker opens at kennedy center playbill. The joffrey nutcracker maintains the classical purity of robert joffreys and gerald arpinos original choreography while sparkling with elegant costumes, an extravagant set by oliver smith and a. By sharon hoyer ashley wheater sat down with me in his office in the joffrey tower shortly before the company hit the road to take robert joffreys nutcracker to the kennedy center. Dec 11, 2016 the joffrey ballet long had a traditional nutcracker by its founderchoreographer, robert joffrey, which it continued to perform after moving to chicago from new york in 1995. Robert joffreys the nutcracker plays final season in. Joffreys father was an immigrant from afghanistan, and his mother was italianborn. Its the final curtain for robert joffreys beloved nutcracker. A scene from the joffrey ballets the nutcracker photo courtesy of photo courtesy of cheryl mann since this is the farewell tour for robert joffreys the nutcracker, catch it while you can. The joffrey ballet long had a traditional nutcracker by its founder choreographer, robert joffrey, which it continued to perform after moving to. Final robert joffreycreated nutcracker for 201516 season. Robert joffrey biography childhood, life achievements. Robert joffrey, the founder and artistic director of the joffrey ballet, a company renowned for its wideranging repertory and exuberant young performers, died yesterday morning at the new york.
Robert joffrey and the making of an american dance company excerpt. Nov 06, 2015 the nutcracker, robert joffreys classic ballet features 24 performances in its final yearto be replaced with a new nutcracker in 2016. December 2, 2012 playhousesquare center state theater cleveland, oh. He was born anver bey abdullah jaffa khan in seattle, washington to a pashtun father from afghanistan and a mother from italy life and work. Now, however, christopher wheeldon has made the company a new production that catches a historic moment in chicago. Inside christopher wheeldons workingclass nutcracker. Troubled by a crippling disease, pepita relied on his cochoreographer, lev ivanov, just as joffrey relied on his partner, gerald arpino. In 1962 modern choreographer alvin ailey was invited to make a work for the company. When we go to the nutcracker, we expect to be transported to a world thats both magical and familiar. Among their achievements, they were the first dance troupe to perform at the white house, per thenfirst lady jacqueline kennedys request, the first one to appear on. And robert joffrey s towering, opulently appointed 1860s american living room, laden with christmas gifts, has been chicagos most welcoming nutcracker home for 20 years, ever since the company. He began studying tap dancing but soon turned to ballet with mary ann.
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