We are honored to welcome John Neumeier back to Chicago with the American premiere of his ballet Sylvia. Though he was born in Wisconsin and studied ballet here in Chicago, he has spent over forty years of his professional life as Artistic Director and Choreographer of Hamburg Ballet. He is one of the most highly regarded choreographers working today and his vast repertoire of created work is performed around the world. Recently he was awarded the prestigious Kyoto Prize as Laureate in the Arts and Philosophy. This is a very special homecoming! Sylvia is a masterpiece, and we are fortunate to add this ballet to our bank of artistic assets. Created for Paris Opera Ballet in 1997, Mr. Neumeier found a fresh way to tell the story of Diana, mythological Goddess of the Hunt, and her protégé, Sylvia. His inspiration was the beautiful musical score, (composed by Léo Delibes) and Neumeier’s desire to discover the timeless essence of the story. According to Neumeier, “Dance is a living art form. I want to give life to this work. We are trying to make this text mean something to us today.” Neumeier compares Diana and her band of female hunters to modern athletes. They are focused on excellence and success, sometimes sacrificing their humanity as a result. Young Sylvia is striving to achieve expertise as a hunter, and is startled by her attraction to a simple shepherd, Aminta. The shepherd, aware of his own humble status, is unable to fully express his desire for Sylvia. The fundamental tension of Neumeier’s story has special resonance today as people struggle to balance the drive for success with the yearning for love. Some of these characters find their origins in Greek and Roman mythology, over two thousand years ago. Why do we care about Sylvia and Aminta in the twenty-first century? Because this pastoral fable rings true with us today. From Neumeier’s perspective, “If we do something that is true, if we feel joy, sadness, love, hate, if we can move people…that is the point of our profession.”
Ashley Wheater Artistic Director
2 | Joffrey Ballet 2015–2016 SEASON
WELC