Joffrey Nutcracker Program

PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS AND DANIEL DEVOS Pamella Roland DeVos, fashion designer, philanthropist, and Joffrey Director, fell in love with dance when she was a young girl in Western Michigan. Together with her husband Dan, they have supported organizations all over the country, providing the resources for artists to create, perform, and entertain. Pamella and Dan decided to support the commission of a new Nutcracker because of the opportunities it would give to the young artists in the Joffrey Academy of Dance and Company. Pamella says she and Dan "are proud to support Ashley's artistic vision for the Joffrey because we know he cares about the art form and the artists as much as we do." The Joffrey salutes the DeVos Family for their generous support.

ROSEMARIE AND DEAN BUNTROCK Rosemarie, a former Joffrey Director, and Dean have enthusiastically supported the Joffrey for over twenty years.

When they learned there would be a new Nutcracker based in Chicago at the time of the 1893 World’s Fair and that Christopher Wheeldon would lead the creative team, Rosemarie and Dean knew they wanted to be a part of this special gift to Chicago.

Dean, retired Chairman and CEO of Waste Management, Inc., commented “Chicago is a world-class city and it deserves a worldclass dance company. The Joffrey has helped to put Chicago on the map as a cultural destination. We applaud Greg Cameron and Ashley Wheater for their leadership.”

SONIA FLORIAN Sonia Florian’s love of the performing arts is broad and deep.

Ashley Wheater (pictured here with Sonia) marvels, “Sonia will travel far and wide to see dance, opera, and theater — she is one of the most fluent arts patrons I have ever met because she makes a point to see almost everything.” Sonia, a Joffrey Director since 2005, has attended and supported the Joffrey for years and thanks to her generosity each season, the company has developed into a world-class organization with extraordinary talent from fourteen countries. The Joffrey Ballet is immensely grateful for Sonia’s gift to support the new Nutcracker — a production created to highlight the athleticism and musicality of the Joffrey dancers, and to introduce the next generation of audience members to the beauty of the performing arts.

2016–2017 SEASON Joffrey Ballet | 51