

ANNUAL REPORT
ASHLEY WHEATER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
GREG CAMERON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A YEAR OF CONNECTIONS

April Daly and Dylan Gutierrez in Wayne McGregor’s Infra. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

JOFFREY
BALLET
We did it—and we did it together.
After years of imagining, believing, and working—in conference rooms and over dinners, through historical research and during long rehearsals—artists, administrators, and supporters of The Joffrey Ballet watched Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker debut on the Auditorium Theatre’s stage on December 10, 2016—and exceed every expectation. Thanks to so many people who came together to make it possible, this daring and delightful reinvention of ballet’s beloved classic will light up our stage for years to come and inspire new traditions for Chicago’s families.
This landmark debut represented more than the most significant show since the Joffrey arrived in Chicago over 20 years ago, more than the realization of years of aspirations, more than an inventive take on an old classic. It was the connection between the past we celebrate and the possibilities we are ready to seize.
Your support has made the Joffrey stronger than ever before, creating the solid foundation we need to develop deeper connections between the work we do and the people we serve. And from the strength and power of these connections, the future of the Joffrey emerged this year.
From the eclectic dynamism of the new Nutcracker—a hybrid of past and present, Chicago history and ballet traditions, high art and folk culture, dance and Broadway storytelling— to the unique voices knit together in our repertory programs, our season brought together all that dance can be, connecting with audiences in a deeper and more meaningful way than ever before.
Our Academy enables all students to find their own voices and connect to opportunities throughout the diverse world of dance. One year after establishing consistent creative direction across our Company and Academy, our Academy now forms the integral link between all parts of the Joffrey—from the Chicagoans we help experience dance for the first time to the pre-professional trainees we inspire to the world-class dancers who embody the best in ballet.
And we are reaching out and connecting with Chicago like never before—whether in school programs that help children and teenagers in every neighborhood connect with their own potential and sense of creativity, or through community connections, which this year brought For Gwendolyn, created in honor of poet Gwendolyn Brooks’ 100th birthday, to venues across the city.
Throughout the 2016–2017 season, we built on our vibrant history by breaking new ground, showing the world what a ballet company can be while showcasing the type of work that will continue to define the Joffrey in the years ahead. And it could not have happened without your support.
We cannot thank you enough. Let’s keep imagining, keep believing, keep working— and see what else we can do together in the seasons to come.
ZACH LAZAR ASHLEY WHEATER GREG CAMERON Board Chair Artistic Director Executive Director
Cover: Cara Marie Gary and Lucas Segovia in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Mammatus.
Photo by Cheryl Mann.
Above: Ashley Wheater, Zach Lazar and Greg Cameron. Photo by Dan Rest.

CONNECTING audiences with the best in dance today
The Joffrey Ballet in Romeo & Juliet. Photo by Cheryl Mann.
WORLD PREMIERES
2
CHICAGO PREMIERES
58 PERFORMANCES IN CHICAGO AND THREE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
7% INCREASE IN TICKET SALE REVENUE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS
We bring together everything that dance can be— so we can make dance that matters to everyone today: from sweeping narratives that represent the best of the classical tradition to postmodern pieces that represent one choreographer’s inimitable voice; from deep emotions and fully-realized characters to the most athletic, awe-inspiring leaps. From ballet to contemporary, dance to theater, the Joffrey’s seasons are not limited by one voice, one style, or one art form: they bring it all together so the full possibilities of dance can blossom. And the power of that approach to dance was on full display this season.
This year, we connected ballet’s classics to the lives of people today. With our new Nutcracker, we created a newly relevant version of the classic, reframed as the tale of the child of a working single parent during Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair. The production weaved together lighting, video projection, puppetry, folk music, and a variety of dance styles to create a powerful, delightful experience for all audience members. And with Krzysztof Pastor’s moody, politically pointed Romeo & Juliet—a contemporary take that recontextualizes Prokofiev’s classic score—we gave new resonance to the iconic story of love, loss, and societal division.
This year, we pulled together the styles, moods, and experimentations of visionary choreographers. With Game Changers in February and Global Visionaries in April, we gave audiences a robust tour of the ways ballet can speak to them today—from Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, set to the music of contemporary indie rocker Sufjan Stevens, to the dark sexual energy of Yuri Possokhov’s The Miraculous Mandarin and the playfully idiosyncratic Joy by Alexander Ekman.
This year, we stepped into a more prominent role as a company—and connected audiences across the nation to our vision for dance. Whether returning to New York for the first time in years to perform on the Lincoln Center stage or joining “Ballet Across America” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, we brought our vision of what ballet can be to audiences throughout the nation. Our new Nutcracker was not only a gift to Chicago and generations of Chicago families, but a declaration of our approach to dance that attracted prominent press coverage both locally and nationally.

CONNECTIONS that shape cities
Victoria Jaiani and Miguel Angel Blanco in Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker.
Photo by Cheryl Mann.

Joel Farran Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
In 2016, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) made its first-ever gift to the Joffrey, joining other supporters in generously sponsoring Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker. It is an exciting new partnership rooted in a shared belief that the arts play a key role in making Chicago a great place to live and learn.
In reflecting on BCBSIL’s gift, Joel Farran, the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, points to the crucial role the arts play in creating and sustaining thriving communities. “[BCBSIL’s] approach to community investment is rooted in whether the organization makes an impact on the social determinants of health to create healthy bodies, minds, and hearts,” he says. “On each front, the Joffrey goes above and beyond. Plus, their leadership understands that it’s not enough to just draw audiences to the Joffrey. They know that the organization needs to reach out to people and communities as well.” Farran sees the Joffrey’s emphasis on access and equity—bringing dance programs into schools and performances into neighborhoods, creating opportunities for people to see a performance at the Auditorium or take a class at Joffrey Tower—as “one of its strongest assets and most distinctive qualities.”
Last December, the Joffrey’s growing connection to—and impact on—Chicago resolved in a new Nutcracker steeped in the city’s rich history, linked to the moment it became a city of global consequence, and reimagined to resonate with families today.
“Like so many Chicagoans, I grew up going to see Robert Joffrey’s Nutcracker every Christmas—and the prospect of reimagining something so sacred and tied to tradition initially gave me pause,” says Farran.
“But speaking with Greg Cameron about Christopher Wheeldon’s Nutcracker opened my mind. It was visionary, exciting, and invigorating—and we were so pleased to support the Joffrey as they said ‘yes— it’s time to break the mold.’”
For Farran, the symbolism of setting the new Nutcracker during Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair is meaningful from a civic perspective—and mirrors the unique space the Joffrey occupies in Chicago.
“The Columbian Exposition was the moment Chicago became a global city—but I don’t think we’ve ever lost our grounded, grassroots, community-centric disposition. The Joffrey is a microcosm of this very phenomenon: it’s an institution with global reach, but it’s inextricably tied to Chicago itself.”
And as he considers the future of Chicago, Farran is excited to see the role the Joffrey can play in pushing the city forward. “The Columbian Exposition brought new ideas, economic development, and talent to our city. And I think you can look at projects like the new Nutcracker as a harbinger of new thinking in Chicago.”
“For so many people, innovation and creativity are synonymous with business and technology. When I think of innovation and creativity, I think of what art can do. You can’t talk about innovation without talking about creativity, and you can’t talk about creativity without talking about arts and culture.” — Joel Farran

CONNECTING
the next generation to new possibilities



Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
185
CLASSES OFFERED EACH WEEK
200
ACADEMY STUDENTS ON SCHOLARSHIP
45 ADVANCED ACADEMY TRAINEES AND STUDIO COMPANY MEMBERS
2
STUDIO COMPANY MEMBERS JOINED THE COMPANY
8 CURRENT COMPANY DANCERS TRAINED AT THE JOFFREY ACADEMY
Every aspect of the Joffrey intersects at the Academy. Children and teenagers pursuing a career in dance connect to challenging and exciting opportunities to learn and perform at the highest levels. Emerging choreographers connect with opportunities to showcase their work at some of Chicago’s most prominent cultural institutions. And in 2016, when Ashley Wheater stepped into the role of the Artistic Director of the Academy, our Company and Academy were connected by a singular artistic vision.
This year the connection between the Academy and the Company truly blossomed. Ashley brought Company members and Ballet Masters in to teach classes, taught classes himself, and worked directly with teachers to rethink the curriculum. This on-the-ground work has given Ashley greater insight into this next generation of dancers and opened doors for students at every level—even our 8–12-year-olds, who performed the children’s roles in Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker. Ashley’s generosity with his time, warm and welcoming spirit, and enthusiasm for new ideas have created an ideal learning environment for students and an excellent first step toward an exciting, rewarding career in dance.
This year the Academy connected more leaders in the dance world to the Joffrey. In 2016, Karin Ellis-Wentz became our new Head of Pre-Professional Programs and Raymond Rodriguez our new Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program. Karin’s teaching expertise and four-year tenure at the Joffrey combine with Raymond’s mentorship skills and administrative and artistic accomplishments to unlock new possibilities for the Academy. With Karin and Raymond assuming leadership roles, Karine Provost was able to step up and become the Academy Director—and their collaboration is just beginning. The three worked together to stage this year’s annual Academy spring production—the Don Quixote Suite—and are now working together to make the first year of the Conservatory program a success for students ages 14–18 years old who are seeking a successful balance between academics and intensive training as they prepare for professional careers in dance.
This year the Academy connected choreographers to careerlaunching opportunities. All great art emerges from connections: between creative minds, between an artist and an audience, between a great idea and a community willing to bring it to life. For seven years, Winning Works has brought all of those connections together in one incredible program that continues to grow in popularity and scope. Each year, we receive more applications; our applicants represent a more diverse range of perspectives; and more Winning Works recipients reconnect with the Joffrey as teachers or guest artists. This year’s Winning Works featured pieces from four emerging ALAANA (African, Latino, Asian, Arab, and Native American) choreographers, performed by Joffrey Studio Company and Academy Trainees at the Harold Washington Library Center—and for the first time in the program’s history, performances were free for audience members.
ACADEMY


CONNECTIONS that build careers
Suite Hearts by 2017 Winning Works Choreographer Sean Aaron Carmon. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

Sean Aaron Carmon 2017 Winning Works Choreographer
Seven years after graduating from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in Dance, Sean Aaron Carmon’s career is blossoming.
He has performed on Broadway, taught classes across the United States, and tours the world as an Alvin Ailey Dance Theater company member—but he always knew choreography was where he was meant to shine. “From the time I started dancing, pursuing choreography has always been at the back of my mind,” he says. “It’s the best way for me to synthesize and contextualize experiences, and it lets me share with others what I’ve had the opportunity to learn in my career and my life.”
As Carmon’s Winning Works piece suggests, he already has a lot to share: a fresh take on the character-driven dance theater he performs at Alvin Ailey expressed through a deeply personal story with universal resonance. “My piece, Suite Hearts, was born out of the abrupt end to my five-year relationship,” he says. “It ended unceremoniously and left me hemmed in by self-doubt and insecurity, wondering if I’d get back to a place where I felt lovable and desired again. I wanted to explore those thoughts and feelings through choreography.”
In Suite Hearts, dancers explore the complicated dynamics of relationships through a series of partnered dances. “Learning how to work with multiple partners—and getting comfortable doing so quickly—was a great learning experience for the Academy dancers,” says Carmon. “Ultimately, it was really satisfying to watch these dancers open up to this challenge and to infuse my stories and characters with their own perspectives.”
Making space for different perspectives is central to Carmon’s voice as a choreographer—but it is also the aspect of Winning Works that drew him to apply for the program, and a value he shares with the Joffrey. “It has been thrilling to see the dance world open up to represent a more diverse range of people
and stories—and I think the Joffrey has emerged as a leader in this industry-wide push toward diversity and inclusion,” he says. “They don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk.”
Choreographers like Carmon represent the next generation—so the Joffrey is committed to representing them. “Winning Works gave me a platform to share my work and a world-renowned institution validating and endorsing my perspective— and their support didn’t end when my performance ended,” he says. “Ashley Wheater keeps in touch and asks about my career. That kind of approach to giving dancers and choreographers of color opportunities to share their talents suggests this isn’t about making the Joffrey look good. This is the Joffrey saying, ‘Your voice should help define the future of dance.’”
“Creating opportunities for dancers and choreographers of color is one of the most important aspects of the Joffrey’s work. Representation matters. Children who see professional dancers and choreographers who look like them develop a different sense of what’s possible for them—and diversifying the dance world strengthens the form itself by encouraging it to grow and evolve, not remain stuck in time. Arts institutions that don’t prioritize diversity will miss out on this next generation.”
— Amina Dickerson, Vice President, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation Board of Directors
Photo by Andrew Eccles.

CONNECTING
Chicago’s children and communities with dance

After a year of unprecedented growth, our Community Engagement leaders took time to step back, think, and reconnect. Led by Community Engagement Director Erica Edwards, this year our staff took a step back to consider the core values of our programs and their outcomes. Dance can be a way to learn—from mastering technique to improving mind-body coordination—so moving forward, it was our priority to answer three questions: What do our students find most important? What should our students take away from our classes, no matter what? How do we provide the highest quality programs that engage students?
The answer: thinking creatively.

by
Photo
Quinn Wharton.
1,100
STUDENTS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS
56
IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
87
PERFORMANCES BY IN-SCHOOL AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
#1
LARGEST PROVIDER OF DANCE PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
This year, we structured our Community Engagement programs around helping students connect to their creativity. This desired outcome influences everything from what our students are asked to do—for example, choreograph their own dance based on techniques they learned in class—to the teaching methods our instructors use, such as verbally guiding students through learning a position or a step, instead of just demonstrating the move for students to watch and copy. As we shift our focus toward this goal, we are also exploring new ways to measure and track the tangible outcomes of our programs so we can better articulate their impact as it relates to children and teenagers growing in their self-expression and developing crucial social and emotional skills.
This growth is directly connected to our new leaders in our program. Linda Swayze was promoted to Community Engagement Program Supervisor, where she oversees curriculum implementation, and we hired Caitlyn Huynh as our new Community Engagement Associate. This additional artistic and administrative support created the opportunity for Edwards—who was selected as one of Crain’s 40 under 40 for her accomplishments at the Joffrey—to more directly focus on the future of the program she leads. And it shows.
This year our Community Engagement programs connected more children, families, schools, and neighborhoods with dance. Our reach into the city was unprecedented. We collaborated with 28 total schools and added a third level to our Extensions scholarship program, creating more opportunities for more young dancers to continue their training. And 100 tuition voucher students from our Extensions and Exelon Strobel Step-Up programs had the opportunity to perform at the Gala: a dance showcasing countries represented in the Joffrey Company dancers. The opportunity to perform on the same stage as the Company dancers made the moment more impactful.
Building on the success of our 20 for 20! series, we are connecting with partner organizations across the city in important ways. As part of Chicago’s Gwendolyn Brooks centennial celebration, Edwards and former Company member Michael Smith choreographed For Gwendolyn: eight separate dances inspired by eight different Gwendolyn Brooks poems, performed by many of our Exelon Strobel Dancers at the Poetry Foundation, Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. For Gwendolyn represents everything we want for our Community Engagement programs and all the ways we impact the city we call home: using dance to help students more deeply connect to themselves and to others, connecting with other cultural institutions to bring incredible dance to our city, and connecting more Chicagoans with the power of dance.

CONNECTIONS that change lives
Photo by Temur Suluashvili.
Sebastian Candanedo, Student The Chicago High School for the Arts
Sebastian Candanedo grew up listening to hits from the 80s and 90s, watching music videos and concerts, and dancing at parties with a mock microphone in hand. But it was only when a Joffrey program came to his neighborhood school—North River Elementary School in the Albany Park neighborhood—that he began to understand dance as not just a passion, but his path in life.
“I told my mom I wanted to start dancing, but she wanted me to do a sport,” he says. Yet he persisted and signed up for the in-school program—and still remembers his mother’s reaction when she attended his first performance. “It was the first time I performed in front of an audience. All I could think was, ‘Don’t mess up, you got this.’ At the end of the dance, my mom’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe I could actually dance!”
It is one of many performances Candanedo still recalls as though they were yesterday. There was the first time he auditioned for The Nutcracker and was awed that “a regular born-and-raised Chicago boy got into the show.” There was the solo he performed for his classmates as part of the Joffrey’s Middle School Dance Clubs program. (“When the music hit and I started dancing, they were chanting and screaming!”) There was the time a choreographer asked for his input about the world we live in for a new dance. (“That piece brought more emotion out of me than any piece I’ve done.”) And there was his grandma—“my number-one fan”—in the audience as he and his peers in the Exelon Strobel Dancers Program debuted For Gwendolyn
The Joffrey has been with him every step of the way—from his first in-school program to his classes at Joffrey Tower and through After School Matters, and from performances in neighborhood schools
to performances in the Auditorium Theatre. It is a reflection of our commitment to changing lives, changing our city, and changing the ballet world through the inclusive power of dance.
“Their repertoire allows them to cross boundaries and touch different sensibilities, and that gives them a chance to be radical. One of the things that’s different about the Joffrey is their investment— and it’s a real investment—in public schools and their commitment to bringing kids of all types into their program,” says Richard Logan, President of the Reva and David Logan Foundation, which has provided scholarship support that allows students from the Joffrey’s Community Engagement programs to join the Joffrey Academy of Dance and hosted the first performance of For Gwendolyn at the Logan Center for the Arts in Hyde Park.
“Dance is just another way of expressing your emotions,” Candanedo says. “You tell a story through movement. There are some days that aren’t good days, and dance is always my answer. I can put all my anger, all my stress, all my frustration into dance.”
Now a sophomore at The Chicago High School for the Arts, Candanedo intends to pursue a career in dance—and it all started with one program in his elementary school. “I want dance to be part of my life forever.”
“The intersection between the arts and social justice is where a lot of change happens. I think all arts organizations must be part of a civic push toward equality and the health of the city.”
— Richard Logan, President, Reva and David Logan Foundation
2016–2017 REVENUE
$8,112,908 TICKET SALES AND TOURING
$8,029,868 CONTRIBUTIONS
$1,750,423 SPECIAL EVENTS
$2,275,213
JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE
$180,767 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
$129,737 INVESTMENT EARNINGS
$596,511
OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME
$21,075,427
2016–2017 EXPENSES
$14,313,161 ARTISTIC PRODUCTION
$1,647,903
JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE
$545,904 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
$1,245,747 FUNDRAISING
$474,714 SPECIAL EVENTS
$664,764 SUPPORTING
$775,345 DEPRECIATION
$19,667,538 TOTAL EXPENSES
2016–2017 OPERATING RESULTS
Multiple strategic initiatives have been implemented by the Joffrey over the past three years, driving improved financial results organization-wide. This is the fourth straight year that the Joffrey has closed with a surplus. Revenue from ticket sales and touring continues to grow as we build new audiences and increase attendance at performances. Thanks to the “believers” who made gifts to support the new Nutcracker production, our multi-year campaign exceeded goal; the new Nutcracker was produced on time and on budget, and funds have been set aside for future maintenance of the production. Community Engagement programming was sustained through additional contributed revenue, and we are grateful to many new donors who stepped up to support scholarships that provide access to under-resourced and under-represented students at the Joffrey Academy of Dance.
ROMEO & JULIET LUNCHEON NUTCRACKER
OPENING NIGHT
CELEBRATION GALA

Romeo & Juliet Luncheon

ROMEO & JULIET LUNCHEON
Co-Chairs | Ellie Forman | Jamie-Clare Flaherty
Kathleen Henson
The Romeo & Juliet Luncheon, held on September 26, 2016 at the LondonHouse Chicago, celebrated Krzysztof Pastor’s critically acclaimed reimagining of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers. Over 280 guests attended the sold-out event. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune moderated a discussion with Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, and Barbara Gaines, Artistic Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, as they explored why the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet continues to resonate with audiences across all art forms.
Presenting Sponsor | Anne L. Kaplan
Anais Bueno in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Mammatus. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Kathleen Henson, Ellie Forman, and Jamie-Clare Flaherty. Photo by Steve Becker.
Nutcracker Opening Night Celebration
Gala


NUTCRACKER OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION
Honorary Co-Chairs | Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ms. Amy Rule
The Nutcracker Opening Night Celebration, held on December 10, 2016 at the Chicago Cultural Center, was the perfect post-performance celebration to a historic opening night of the world premiere. Over 600 guests joined Joffrey Company artists, Christopher Wheeldon, and the all-star creative team to celebrate and dance the night away.
The Nutcracker Opening Night Celebration Sponsor Marlene Breslow-Blitstein and Berle Blitstein



Co-Chairs | Sandra and Roger Deromedi
Shelley and Bill Farley | Jerrilyn and David Hoffmann
Maria and William Smithburg
The Gala, held on April 21, 2017, honored Mary B. Galvin for her commitment to dance, music, and arts education in Chicago and beyond. The evening featured a one-night-only performance at the Auditorium Theatre followed by dinner and dancing at The Palmer House. Over 750 guests celebrated Mrs. Galvin and The Joffrey Ballet.
Presenting Sponsor | BMO Wealth Management
Youth Performance Sponsor | ITW
Legends | Sandra and Roger Deromedi
Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation
DHR International, Inc. | Galvin Family
Innovators | Abbott | Allstate Insurance Company
Mary Jo and Doug Basler | The Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation | Janet and Craig J. Duchossois
Patti S. Eylar and Charles R. Gardner | Mr. and Mrs. William Farley | GrubHub, Inc. | Anne L. Kaplan
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
MacLean-Fogg | Mayer Brown LLP | Merrill Lynch
Private Banking and Investment Group | The Negaunee Foundation | Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Smith, Jr. | Maria and William D. Smithburg | Stout | Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters III
Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson | Elizabeth Yntema and Mark Ferguson for the Ferguson-Yntema Family Trust in support of female choreographers
VIP Sponsor | Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel
GALA
Jerrilyn Hoffmann, Maria Smithburg, Shelley Farley, Mary Galvin, and Sandra Deromedi. Photo by Dan Rest.
Zach Lazar, Ashley Wheater, and Christopher Wheeldon. Photo by Dan Rest.

Anna Gerberich and Stefan Goncalvez in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Mammatus. Photo by Cheryl Mann.
Donors
CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
The Joffrey Ballet is grateful to our donors for providing funding that ensures quality and engaging experiences for a variety of audiences. The following is a list of donors who made gifts and pledges in support of the annual fund, special events, and projects in the amount of $1,000 or more between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
$500,000+
Alphawood Foundation
Chicago
Clear Channel Airports
The Grainger Foundation
Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust
$100,000–$499,999
Abbott Fund
Athletico Physical Therapy
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Chicago Athletic Clubs
Conagra Brands
Daniel and Pamella
DeVos Foundation
Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation Trust
Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company
The Walter E. Heller Foundation
JW Marriott
The Reva and David Logan Foundation
NIB Foundation
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
The Satter Foundation
Women’s Board of The Joffrey Ballet
$50,000–$99,999
Allstate Insurance Company
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
BMO Wealth Management
BrickStreet Insurance
Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Foundation
The Julius N. Frankel Foundation
ITW
JHL Capital Group LLC
Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.
The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust
Polk Bros. Foundation
The Shubert Foundation
Wells Fargo
$25,000–$49,999
Abbott Laboratories
Francis Beidler Foundation
The Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation
The Brinson Foundation
Elizabeth F.
Cheney Foundation Exelon
Fox Ford Lincoln
GrubHub, Inc.
Harris Family Foundation
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation


Illinois Arts Council Agency
La Perla Fashions
MacLean-Fogg Company
Make It Better Media
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd.
Mayer Brown LLP
Merrill Lynch & Company


Jane Ellen Murray Foundation
Negaunee Foundation
The Northern Trust Company
The Poetry Foundation
Prince Charitable Trusts
Sage Foundation
Stout
Larry and Michelle Goodman. Photo by Dan Rest.
Eloise and Annie Atzeff. Photo by Dan Rest.

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT (continued)
$10,000–$24,999
Anonymous (2)
Ariel Investments, LLC
Avatar Corporation
Baxter International Inc.
The Boeing Company
DeSantis Foundation
GCM Grosvenor
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Hyatt Hotels Foundation
Jerome Robbins Foundation and Trust
Jewell Events Catering
JPMorgan Chase
Kovler Family Foundation
Kryolan Professional Make-Up
Latham & Watkins
Leibovitz Family Philanthropic Fund
Macy’s
Regions Private Wealth Management
Sacks Family Foundation
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Siragusa Family Foundation
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Southwest Airlines
U.S. Bank Foundation
UMB Bank
Workiva
$5,000–$9,999
CA Ventures
Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation
John R. Halligan Charitable Fund
HOLLY HUNT
The Irving Harris Foundation
Lannan Foundation
The Lyric Opera of Chicago
Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Nordstrom, Inc.
Sidley Austin, LLP
Sills Foundation
$2,500–$4,999
Anonymous
Meta S. and Ronald Berger Family Foundation
Burberry
The Neiman Marcus Group
The Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Foundation
Judy A. Saslow Gallery
Nathan Tannenbaum Foundation Inc.
Tom Ford International
$1,500–$2,499
The Colmar Foundation
The Elia Group LLC
Hattie A. and Marie V. Fatz Foundation
KPW Family Foundation
Sahara Enterprises, Inc.
Salamander Resort And Spa
Tawani Foundation
$1,000–$1,499
Amsted Industries
Anderson-Barnicle Family Foundation
The Elbert W. Rogers Foundation DONORS
National Endowment for the Arts
Nuveen Investments, Inc.
Luminarts Cultural Foundation Fellowship by Myrna Kaplan
Diana Widman Design Fine Jewelry
Heestand Foundation, Inc.
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation
Nike, Inc.
Joffrey Artists with Mary Galvin. Photo by Dan Rest.
Individual Donors
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
The Joffrey Ballet is grateful to our donors for providing funding that ensures quality and engaging experiences for a variety of audiences. The following is a list of those who made gifts and pledges in support of the annual fund, special events, and projects, in the amount of $1,000 or more, between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
$500,000+
Fred Eychaner
Margot and Josef Lakonishok
$100,000–$499,999
Mary Jo and Doug Basler
Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock
Sandy and Roger Deromedi
Pamella Roland DeVos and Daniel DeVos
Sonia Florian
Sherry Lea and Richard Holson III
Anne L. Kaplan
Beth Levine

Bruce Sagan and Bette Cerf Hill
Bill and Orli Staley
Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Tatar
Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson
$50,000–$99,999
Audre M. Carlin
Mr. and Mrs. Adam DeWitt
Mr. and Mrs. David H. Hoffmann
Nancy and Sanfred Koltun
Mr. and Mrs. John Patience
Denise Littlefield Sobel
Mr. and Mrs. Miles D. White
$25,000–$49,999
Marc and Sharen Berman
Marlene Breslow-Blitstein and Berle Blitstein
Neil Bluhm
The Crown Family
Janet and Craig J. Duchossois
Patti Eylar and Charles Gardner
Mr. and Mrs. William Farley
Mr. and Mrs. F. Conrad Fischer
Jill Garling and Thomas Wilson
Karen Gray-Krehbiel and John Krehbiel, Jr.
Margaret MacLean
Alexandra Nichols and John Nichols
Tricia Rooney and Ross Shelleman
Shirley Ryan and Patrick Ryan
Eric C. Schieber, MD
Ms. Courtney C. Shea
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Smith, Jr.
Maria Smithburg and William D. Smithburg
Rita Spitz and David Blears
Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Townsend
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters III
Elizabeth Yntema and Mark Ferguson for the Ferguson-Yntema Family Trust
$10,000–$24,999
Anonymous
Nancy Gottlieb Bauer
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Beidler III
Kay and Rhett Butler
Paul Chasnoff and Joe Hopper
Michael I. Cragg, Ph.D.
Dr. Jill S. Dodds and Dr. Guriqbal Nandra
Lorna Ferguson and Terry Clark
Ms. Jamee C. Field and Mr. Michael Kane
Nancy Follis
Karen Frank and James Frank
Jennifer and Patrick M. Gallagher
Linda Gantz and Wilbur Gantz
Sabrina and Antonio Gracias
Sherry and Michael Guthrie
Sandi and Barry Hartstein
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hildy
Olivia Kittle and Brian Kittle
Margaret Kittle-Kamp and Thomas Kittle-Kamp


Lauren Streicher and Jason Brett. Photo by Dan Rest.
Lisa Malkin, Ron Allen, Liz and Bill Adams. Photo by Dan Rest.





$10,000–$24,999 (CONTINUED)
Dennis and Kathleen Klaeser
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Krueger
Julie and Guy Lakonishok
Dr. Lynda Lane and Ben Lane-Korn
Michael and Jennifer Larsen
Mr. and Mrs. Zachary D. Lazar, Jr.
Liz and Eric Lefkofsky
Jay Leibovitz
Elizabeth Liebman
Coco B. Meers and Ethan Meers
Stuart Miller
Lucy Minor
Cathy and Bill Osborn
D. Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies
John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe
Jeffrey C. Rubenstein
Patricia Schmalzl and William Schmalzl
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Sharp
Melissa de Abreu e Silva and Ildefonso Silva
Melissa and Chuck Smith
Jessica and Erik Steffensen
Ben Strobel
Pamela and Russ Strobel
Andrew Thorrens and Donald Mizerk
Tina Trott and Byron Trott
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Walter
Pamela Phillips Weston and Roger L. Weston
Amanda Williamson and Matthew Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Zentner
Robert Hunt and Frank Baiocchi with daughters Christina and Lamiya.
Photo by Dan Rest.
Tellef and Halvard Lundevall, Hilary Kaplan Loretta, Lucy Loretta, Anne Kaplan, and Iselin Lundevall. Photo by Dan Rest.
Suzu Neithercut and Noren Ungaretti. Photo by Steve Becker.
$5,000–$9,999
Anonymous (2)
Mr. and Mrs. William Adams IV
Emily Strobel Amiet and Michael Amiet
Emily L. Arch, MD
Annie Atzeff and Kristopher Atzeff
Edward Beam
Luann Blowers and David Blowers
Suzette Bross Bulley and Allan E. Bulley III
Greg Cameron and Greg Thompson
Lisa and Jim Challenger
Mrs. Joyce Chelberg
Paula Crown and James Crown
Geoffrey Davis
Paula Fasseas and Peter Fasseas
Tiffany Flannagan and Chip Flannagan
Emily Follas and Timothy Jacobs
Jay Franke and David Herro
Christine Gallagher and Greg Gallagher
Dana Hokin Garvey and Robert Garvey
Ethel and William Gofen
Richard and Mary L. Gray
Joan Hall
Janet W. and Robert A. Helman
Mary Ittelson
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Langdon
Ms. Whitney Lasky and Mr. Jerry Lasky
Susan Lichtenstein and John Rokacz
Mr. and Mrs. E. Barry Mansur
John R. Menninger
Mrs. Julianne Migely
David and Suzu Neithercut
Audrey Ratner and Albert Ratner
Hallie Blanchard Rehwaldt and Thomas Rehwaldt
Stephen Reiss and Rena Hozore Reiss
Susan and David Ruder
Betty Seid and Richard Seid
Mr. and Mrs. David Sensibar
Jeanette Stevens
Liz Stiffel
Cheryl Tama Oblander and Scott Oblander
Lorraine Trachtenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Jason J. Tyler
Richard and Diane Weinberg
Tamar Weiss
Magnes Welsh
Diana and Stuart Widman
Bryony and David Winn
Elizabeth Wippman and Tom Wippman
$2,500–$4,999
Anonymous
Ada Addington and Whitney Addington
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Allen
Evelyn Alter
Patty Perkins Andringa
Melissa Anton and John Anton
Ms. Carolyn A. Blessing
John Brazzale
Mary Kay Mudd Bushonville and Art Bushonville
Terri and Alfred D’Ancona
Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly
Christine Du Boulay Ellis
Amy Rule and Rahm Emanuel
Mimi Frankel and Bud Frankel
Beth Fulkerson and Joshua Kellman
Elisabeth Geraghty and Robert Geraghty
Michelle Goodman and Larry Goodman
Stephanie Grinage and Richard Grinage
Shana Guthman and David Guthman
Marci and Ronald Holzer
Lauren Huefner
Masahiro Kasai and William Myers
Jackelyn Kastanis and Taki Kastanis
Jeffrey Kerr
Roberta Killeen and Timothy Killeen
Elise Klein and Christopher Klein
Laura Kofoid and David Ricci
Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett
Jen Kurth and Brian Van Klompenberg
Dania Leemputte and Patrick Leemputte
Mr. and Mrs. Barry Litwin
Jim and SuAnne Lopata
Jessica Lundevall and Torjus Lundevall
Lisa Klimley Malkin and Cary J. Malkin
George Mariner and Michael Payette
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Marks
Lynne McNown
Jess and Amanda Merten
Pamela Meyer
Patricia Miller and Christopher Miller
Jazelle Morriss and Daniel L. (D.L.) Morriss
Barbara and Jonathan Moss
Linda Curtis O’Bannon, MD
Marsha O’Bannon
Thomas O’Keefe
Susan G. Oleari
Virginia Owens and James Owens
Mary Ellen Pavone, MD and Christopher Novak
Ibby Pinsky and Milton Pinsky
Kathleen Pipala and Michael Pipala
Victoria Poindexter and Joseph P. Gaynor III
Carol Pollock
Ms. Maggie Scheyer and Mr. Eric J. Scheyer
Veronica Siegel
Amelia Silva and Alejandro Silva
Shari Slavin and Mark Slavin
Ms. Kathy Kalesperis Smith and Mr. Dion Grimes Smith
Dawn Stanislaw
Penelope Steiner and Robert Steiner
Constance and Orin Steinhaus
Susan Stern and James Elliott
Carol Stone and David Stone
Melissa Trandel
Richard and Noren Ungaretti
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Vail, Jr.
Leslie Warner and Stephen Warner
Julie Zuckerman and Daniel Zuckerman
DONORS

$1,500–$2,499
Anonymous (5)
Greg Albiero
Abbe Aron and Adam Aron
Carey August and Brett August
Oliver Badgio
Christopher Begy
Jennifer Birmingham
Gary† and Linda T. Blumenshine†
Cary Bomier and David Bomier
Jetta Boschen and Dallas Boschen
Ms. Evelyn Bosenberg
Anthony Bruck
Carolyn Bucksbaum
Tamara and Robert Buday
Jenelle Chalmers and Stephen Chalmers
Clark Chandler
Raymond Coronado
Pamela Crutchfield
Dr. John Dainauskas
Katherine Devers and William Devers
Amina Dickerson and Julian Roberts
Mr. and Mrs. Terence Donnelly
Maia J. Dunkel
Wendy Eager
Deborah and Cody Engle

Sharon Ferrill
Dr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Finder
Arthur Frank
Katherine and Richard Freiburger
H. Goldstein and Rodney Goldstein
Ann Gootee and James Gootee
Jo Ellen Granson
Anthony and Susan Grosch
Dr. and Mrs. Alan G. Harris
Stacie R. Hartman
Ross Heim
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Higgins
Leslie Hindman
Sarai Hoffman and Stephen Pratt
Courtney A. Hoffmann and Sebastian Hoffmann
Alan J. Hommerding and Robert K. Personett
Melinda Jakovich and Lucien Lagrange
Mrs. Abby McCormick O’Neil and Mr. Carroll Joynes
Sherry Kaplan and Barry Kaplan
Wendy Kilcollin and T. Eric Kilcollin
Polly Kintzel
Sarah Ladgenski and Derek Ladgenski
Robin and Jack Lavin
Deej and Hunter Leggitt
Sherren Leigh
Dr. Richard E. Leithiser
Ms. Dana Levinson and Mrs. Barbara Levinson
Mia Levy and Paul Levy
Beth Loeb
Leslie Logsdon and Duncan Bourne
Judy and John MacLeod
Elizabeth Marcus and Ira Belcove
Martha Melman and Rich Melman
Prof. Keith and Anne Moffat
JoAnne Nathan and Stuart Nathan
Lee and Sharon Oberlander
Mary Jane O’Connor
Anthony and Izabel Olson
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pacholick
Kristie Paskvan
Donald H. Ratner and Bruce A. Gober
Harriet Ross and Irwin Ross
Jennifer Ross
Emily Rubenstein and Angel Rivera
Camille Kearns Rudy and Robert M. Rudy
Barbara and Donald Ruhman
Sarah Schrup
Andréa J. Schwartz and Dr. Steve Stryker


Lois Scott and David May
Anne Shonk
Thomas G. Sinkovic
Craig Sirles
Marilyn Slattery
Greg Sleight
Beth Smetana and Gerard Smetana
Patricia Smith
Shirley Stanley and Paul Stanley
Edwin Stebbins
Patricia Sternberg
Dr. Lauren Streicher and Mr. Jason Brett
Lauren D.W. Tatar and Scott Borstein
Courtney Thompson
Dana Shepard Treister and Dr. Michael Roy Treister
Robert and Etti Van Etten
Lauren Vitale
Debbie Wang and David Hoyt
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Wells IV
Angie Wilcox and Gary Wilcox
Joyce M. Wippman
Susan Wislow and Robert Wislow
William Ziemann
† Deceased
Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies. Photo by Dan Rest.
Holly Boyd, Melissa Trandel, Anita Mark, and Sherry Abrahams. Photo by Steve Becker.
Justin and Emily Arch. Photo by Dan Rest.
$1,000–$1,499
Anonymous (3)
Anne and Mark Bagan
Christine Bakalar and John Bakalar
Sandra Bass
Thomas Berry
Judy Block and Philip Block
Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph A. L. Bogan, Jr.
Robyn Bowland
Bradbury Family
Marion Cameron
Wendy Lynn Chronister and Peter Rogers
Francesca Connell
Lawrence Corry
Patricia O’Neill Cox
Bette Jane Crigger
Lois Eisen and Stephen Eisen
Paul Fangman
Norman Finch
Jamie-Clare Flaherty
Regan Friedmann and Philip Friedmann
Victoria Galbraith and John Galbraith
Darcy Goldfarb, MD
Linda Graubart and Jeffrey Graubart
Brooke Hubbuch and Nick Hubbuch
Beth Karmin and Kenneth Karmin
Vicki Kaufman and Barry Kaufman
Howard Kirschbaum
Patricia Koldyke and Martin Koldyke
Larry Krueger
Lew and Laurie Leibowitz
Thaddeus Makarewicz
Joan Malliband and David Malliband
Puneet Mansharamani
Heather Martin and Sean Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Michael McGrath
Helen Hall Melchior
Mr. Jonathan F. Orser
Christine Ott
Catherine Perez and William Perez
Madeleine Plonsker and Harvey Plonsker
Richard and Charlene Posner
Allan Reich
Carol Roberts
Jane Nicholl Sahlins and Bernard Sahlins
Jana Schreuder and Eric Schreuder
Joann Seagren and Scott Lang
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Selander
Thomas Shapiro
Stephanie Sick and William Sick
Marcey Siegel and Kenneth Siegel
Beth Silverman
Lynda Silverman and Howard Silverman
Stephen Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Neele E. Stearns, Jr.
Joanne Storm
Ann-Marie Streibich and James Streibich
Peggy Swartchild and James Swartchild
Julie Valenti and Steven Valenti
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Vieregg
Christina Walker and Joe Walker
Dia Weil and Edward Weil
Eric Weinheimer
Ashley Wheater and Brian Johnson
Robin Zafirovski and Michael Zafirovski






Stephanie Martinez and Jim Bennitt. Photo by Brad Siefert. Meta, Jonathan, Sydney, Rebecca, and Jessie Berger. Photo by Dan Rest.
Nutcracker Sponsors
The Joffrey Ballet would like to thank our generous Nutcracker sponsors who made gifts to support the creation and production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Nutcracker.
Producing Sponsors
Margot and Josef Lakonishok
Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust
Hancher Auditorium, The University of Iowa
Corporate
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
BrickStreet Insurance
Conagra Brands
Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company
Sponsors
Mary Jo and Doug Basler
Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock
Sandy and Roger Deromedi
Pamella Roland DeVos and Daniel DeVos
Sonia Florian
The Walter E. Heller Foundation
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
Bruce Sagan and Bette Cerf Hill
Bill and Orli Staley Foundation
Women’s Board of The Joffrey Ballet
This project was partially supported by IncentOvate grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Additional Support Provided By The Ann Barzel & Patrick Henry Arts Fund
Francis Beidler Foundation
Meta S. and Ronald Berger
Family Foundation with Rebecca and
Jonathan Berger
Joyce and Bruce Chelberg
Terri and Alfred D’Ancona
Mr. and Mrs. Adam DeWitt
Dr. Jill S. Dodds and Dr. Guriqbal Nandra
Patti S. Eylar and Charles R. Gardner
Ethel and William Gofen
Suzanne and Albert M. Friedman
Jill Garling and Thomas Wilson
Sabrina and Antonio Gracias
Harris Family Foundation
Sandi and Barry Hartstein
Mr. and Mrs.
David H. Hoffmann
Mary Ittelson
Nancy and Sanfred Koltun
Make It Better Media
Coco B. Meers and Ethan Meers
Martha and Rich Melman
Ann and Tom Nash
National Endowment for the Arts
Polk Bros. Foundation
Prince Charitable Trusts
Charles and Joann Raymond
Ms. Courtney C. Shea
Leslie and Robert K. Zentner



Greg Cameron, Sara Hill, Bette Cerf Hill, Diana Hill, and Bruce Sagan. Photo by Dan Rest.
Pamella and Dan DeVos. Photo by Dan Rest.
Dean and Rosemarie Buntrock. Photo by Dan Rest.
Memorial Gifts
The Joffrey Ballet received gifts in memory of the following individuals between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Gary Blumenshine
Linda Blumenshine
John E. Burke
Eric B. Eatherly
Ronald Fishman
Saul Gerber
Ruth Altenberg Gold
Burt Kaplan
Mrs. Francis J. Klimley
Elizabeth E. Mertz
Dianne Nishimura
John O’Neal
Barbara Rich
Natalie Senoff
Ginnee Tallman
Walter F. Tama
Tribute Gifts
The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for gifts that were made in honor of the following individuals.
Emily L. Arch, MD
Annie Atzeff
Mary Jo and Doug Basler
Meta S. Berger
Marc Berman
Nicolas Blanc
Luann Blowers
Adam Blyde
Greg Cameron
Gerard Charles
Ellie Cotey
Terri D’Ancona
Sandy and Roger Deromedi
Adam DeWitt
Ellen Distelheim
Becky Dorsey
J. Elise Edwards
Deborah Engle
Ms. Ann Eylar
Patti S. Eylar
Shelley MacArthur Farley
Joel Feldman
Lorna Ferguson
Mary B. Galvin
Astra Gamsjaeger
Sue-Gray Goller
Ms. Sandi Hartstein
Rivian Hartman
Mr. and Mrs.
David H. Hoffmann
Bernice Horwitz
Brian Johnson
Mary E. Johnson
Sarah M. Jordan
Anne L. Kaplan
Laura Kofoid
Cindy A. Kronman
Michael and Jennifer Larsen
Dr. Lizzie Mazzaferri
Prof. Keith and Anne Moffat
Susan G. Oleari
Diana Reczek
Hallie Rehwaldt
Stephen Reiss
Jeffrey C. Rubenstein
Camille Rudy
Bruce Sagan
Eric C. Schieber, MD
Liz Sharp
Courtney C. Shea
John Shimkus
Lynda Silverman
Kathy Kalesperis Smith
Maria Smithburg
Miss Sofia Speyer
Cheryl Tama Oblander
Gayle R. Tama
Lauren D.W. Tatar
Magnes Welsh
Ashley Wheater
Christopher Wheeldon
Diana Widman
Liza Yntema
Star
Society
The following individuals have included The Joffrey Ballet in their estate plans and are members of the Star Society. The Joffrey thanks them for their lasting support.
Mr. and Mrs.
Brian W. Babcock, Sr.
Mr. D. Jeffrey Baddeley
D. Jeffrey and
Joan H. Blumenthal
Mr. Paul Chasnoff and Mr. Joe Hopper
Christine Du Boulay Ellis
Deborah Gordon Engle
Patti Eylar and Charles Gardner
Dr. and Mrs. David L. Faulk
Patricia H. Gerber
Mr. Michael Goldberger
Sue-Gray Goller
Barbara and Henigbaum
Marci and Ronald Holzer
Ms. Darlene Johnson
Ms. Linda Levey
Mr. John McAllister
Prof. Keith and Anne Moffat
Drs. Bill and Elaine Moor
Jane Ellen Murray and Ed Wentz
Mr. Jonathan F. Orser
Doug Schmidt
Constance and Orin Steinhaus
Elisabeth Wilcox Szegho
Ms. Marilyn J. Ward
Diana and Stuart Widman
Andrea and Rich Winship
Mrs. Anna Mary Zarrelli

Jazelle and D.L. Morriss. Photo by Dan Rest.
Sponsors
SEASON SPONSORS
Abbott Fund
Alphawood Foundation
Chicago
Daniel and Pamella
DeVos Foundation
NIB Foundation
LIVE MUSIC SPONSORS
The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music
Cheryle and Joel V. Williamson
SEASON PARTNERS
Athletico Physical Therapy
Chicago Athletic Clubs
Clear Channel Airports
Conagra Brands
Fox Ford Lincoln
JW Marriott
pamella roland
ROMEO & JULIET
Corporate Sponsor
Wells Fargo
Production Sponsor
Illinois Arts Council Agency
THE NUTCRACKER
Producing Sponsors
Margot and Josef Lakonishok
Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust
Hancher Auditorium, The University of Iowa
Corporate Sponsors
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
BrickStreet Insurance
Conagra Brands
Guarantee Trust Life
Insurance Company

Sponsors
Mary Jo and Doug Basler
Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock
Sandy and Roger Deromedi
Pamella Roland DeVos and Daniel DeVos
Sonia Florian
The Walter E. Heller Foundation
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
Bruce Sagan and Bette Cerf Hill
Bill and Orli Staley Foundation
Women’s Board of The Joffrey Ballet
GAME CHANGERS
Fool’s Paradise
Production Sponsors
Anne L. Kaplan
Bill and Orli Staley
Year of the Rabbit
Production Sponsor
JHL Capital Group, LLC
GLOBAL VISIONARIES
Presenting Sponsor
Margot and Josef Lakonishok
Production Sponsor
Jane Ellen Murray Foundation
Mammatus Production Sponsor
Denise Littlefield Sobel
Joy Production Sponsor
National Endowment for the Arts
The Miraculous Mandarin Production Sponsor
Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
SPONSORS
Anonymous
Allstate Insurance Company
The Chicago Community Trust
The Crown Family
Exelon
Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
GCM Grosvenor
Hyatt Hotels Foundation
Illinois Arts Council Agency
KPW Family Foundation
Lannan Foundation
Beth Levine
The Poetry Foundation
Polk Bros. Foundation
D. Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies
Ms. Courtney C. Shea Siragusa Family Foundation
WINNING WORKS SPONSOR
The Edward and Lucy Minor Family Foundation
WINNING WORKS VIDEO
PRODUCTION SPONSOR
Big Foot Media
Kevin and Sandra Murphy, Ashley Wheater, Sandy and Roger Deromedi. Photo by Dan Rest.
The Joffrey Ballet 2016–2017 Season

Romeo & Juliet
OCTOBER 13–23, 2016
Choreography by Krzysztof Pastor
Music by Sergei Prokofiev
The Nutcracker
DECEMBER 10–30, 2016
Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Game Changers
FEBRUARY 15–26, 2017
Infra
Choreography by Wayne McGregor
Music by Max Richter
Fool’s Paradise
Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon
Music by Joby Talbot
Year of the Rabbit
Choreography by Justin Peck
Music by Sufjan Stevens
Global Visionaries
APRIL 26–MAY 7, 2017
The Miraculous Mandarin
Choreography by Yuri Possokhov
Music by Béla Bartók
Joy
Choreography by Alexander Ekman
Music by Brad Mehladau Trio, Django Django, Tiga, Moby
Mammatus
Choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

Music by Michael Gordon SEASON
Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez in Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

Valeriia Chaykina, Yumi Kanazawa and Lucia Connolly in Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit. Photo by Cheryl Mann.
Board of Directors
HONORARY CHAIRMAN
Mayor Rahm Emanuel
OFFICERS
Zachary D. Lazar, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
Lorna Ferguson
1st Vice Chair
Sonia Florian
Anne Kaplan Vice Chairs
Adam DeWitt
Treasurer
Ronald J. Allen
Secretary
Patti S. Eylar
Women’s Board President
Ashley Wheater
Artistic Director
Greg Cameron
Executive Director
Kathleen Hechinger
Assistant Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Patty Perkins Andringa
Mary Jo Basler
Marc Berman
Roger Deromedi
Pamella Roland DeVos
Terence Donnelly
Fred Eychaner
Shelley MacArthur Farley
Jamie-Clare Flaherty
Chip Flannagan
Emily Follas
Patrick M. Gallagher, Jr.
Mrs. Robert W. Galvin
Dana Hokin Garvey
Linda Chaplik Harris
Richard Holson III
Una C. Jackman
Guy Lakonishok
Donna M. LaPietra
Michael Larsen
Barry Litwin
Judith MacLeod
James McDonough
Coco Meers
Jess Merten
Stuart Miller
Leslie D. Minier
Daniel L. (D.L.) Morriss
Susan Oleari
Diane Patience
Stephen Reiss
Jeffrey C. Rubenstein
Bruce Sagan
Eric C. Schieber, MD
Liz Sharp
Courtney C. Shea
Ross Shelleman
Ildefonso Alvim de Abreu e Silva
Chuck Smith
Maureen Dwyer Smith
Rita Spitz
Dawn M. Stanislaw
Lauren F. Streicher, MD
Ben Strobel
MarrGwen Townsend
Jason J. Tyler
Ronald V. Waters III
Amanda Williamson
Mrs. Joel V. Williamson
Bryony Winn
Elizabeth Yntema
“This season’s successes are a testament to the years of hard work and dedication from the entire Joffrey team, led by Ashley Wheater and Greg Cameron, as well as the guidance and generosity from our dedicated Board of Directors and Women’s Board members. We have no small plans as we continue to execute our strategic plan. The support of everyone involved with the Joffrey has positioned us well for the future. I remain deeply impressed by the many contributions of time, talent, and treasure and enthusiastically look forward to the year ahead.”
— Zach Lazar, Board Chair
LIFE DIRECTORS
Grace Barry
Patricia H. Gerber
Pamela B. Strobel
Joseph H. Wender
PAST CHAIRPERSONS
William M. Daley
Fred Eychaner
Gary E. Holdren
Dr. David A. Kipper†
C. Steve McMillian
Bruce Sagan
Maureen Dwyer Smith
Pamela B. Strobel
Jason J. Tyler
Ronald V. Waters III
† Deceased
As of June 30, 2017 LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP
Women’s Board of The Joffrey Ballet
OFFICERS
Patti S. Eylar
President
Noren Ungaretti
1st Vice President
Merritt DeWitt
Kathy Kalesperis Smith
2nd Vice Presidents
Ellie Forman
Secretary
Courtney C. Shea
Treasurer
Jessica Steffensen
Sandi Hartstein
Members-at-Large
MEMBERS
Dora J. Aalbregtse
Elisabeth Adams
Mrs. Keene Harwood
Addington III
Julie O’Donnell Allen
Laura Ferris Anderson
Melissa Anton
Raheela Anwar
Emily L. Arch, MD
Annie Atzeff
Melissa M. Babcock
Grace Barry
Kimberly Bartuch
Mary Jo Basler
Nancy Gottlieb Bauer
Heidi Best
Dorothy Bousseau
Jetta Boschen
Sophia P. Bross
Marisa Bryce
Mary Kay Burke
Mary Patricia Burns
Mary Kay Mudd Bushonville
Patsy Callahan
Jenelle Chalmers
Wendy Lynn Chronister
Joan Colmar
Rachel De Marte
Sandra Deromedi
Kelly Dettmann
Bonnie Deutsch
Pamella Roland DeVos
Ellen Distelheim
Jill Dodds
Maia Dunkel
JoNan Eastridge
Christine Du Boulay Ellis
Beth Engel
Deborah Engle
Shelley MacArthur Farley
Lydia Fisher
Jamie-Clare Flaherty
Katherine Fox
Katherine E. Freiburger
Beth Fulkerson
Astra Gamsjaeger
Patricia H. Gerber
Sue-Gray Goller
Darcy E. Goldfarb, MD
Donna Greenberg
Stephanie Grinage
Shana Bear Guthman
Mrs. Marjorie E. Habermann
Mrs. Michael F. Harron
K. Susan Heintz
Kathleen A. Henson
Mrs. John W. Higgins
Leslie S. Hindman
Dana Hokin Garvey
Courtney A. Hoffmann
Jerrilyn M. Hoffmann
Sharon King Hoge
Sherry Lea Holson
Marci Holzer
Brooke Hubbuch
Melinda Jakovich
Candace Collins Jordan
Anne Kaplan
Mrs. Brian Karaba
Jackelyn Kastanis
Elizabeth Ann Kasten
Heidi Keeling
Kerrie Kennedy
Wendy Kilcollin
Alissa King
Kathleen Klaeser
Laura Kofoid
Mrs. Frederick A. Krehbiel
Donna M. LaPietra
Whitney Lasky
Anne Lazar
Dania Leemputte
Anita E. Livaditis
Leslie Logsdon
Mary Keough Lyman
Judith MacLeod
Lisa Klimley Malkin
Joan Malliband
Traci Mansur
Anita Mark
Vida Marks
Heather Martin
Kristina McGrath
Astrid A. McKinnon
Helen Hall Melchior
Amanda Merten
Ms. Julianne Migely
Patricia Miller
Lucy Minor
Anne Simon Moffat
Brooks Morgan
Linda Curtis O’Bannon, MD
Christine Ott
Mrs. Jay L. Owen, Jr.
Mrs. John R. Pacholick
Mary Ellen Pavone
Judith Pierpont
Ibby Pinsky
Victoria Poindexter
D. Elizabeth Price
Rona Radler
Hallie Blanchard Rehwaldt
Emily Rubenstein
Camille Kearns Rudy
Elizabeth Dunkel Ryan
Maggie Scheyer
Sarah Schrup
Andréa J. Schwartz
Liz Sharp
Anne Shea
Carolyn Sheridan
Ms. Veronica Siegel
Amelia Silva
Mrs. Howard Silverman
Mrs. Patricia Simpson Wright
Marilyn Slattery
Maureen Dwyer Smith
Maria Smithburg
Rita Spitz
Dawn Stanislaw
Constance Steinhaus
Liz Stiffel
Carol J. Stone
Cheryl Tama Oblander
Lauren D.W. Tatar
Marina D.W. Tatar
Melissa Trandel
Yolanda Tyler
Kathryn Vail
Victoria C. Verity
Chrissie Walker
Mrs. John R. Walter
Ann Waters
Mrs. Thomas E. Wells IV
Mary Agnes Welsh
Pam Phillips Weston
Kim White
Diana Weiss Widman
Elizabeth Wippman
Joyce M. Wippman
Leslie Zentner
Julie Zuckerman
As of June 30, 2017
Joffrey Auxiliary Board Governing Council
OFFICERS
Emily Strobel Amiet
Carolyn Blessing
Co-chairs
MEMBERS
Michael Amiet
Lauren Huefner
Jaqueline Lentz
Sarah Lombardi
Rees Mason
Joffrey Circle Ambassadors
Emily Strobel Amiet
Carolyn Blessing
Ann Finder
Sue Heintz
Lauren Huefner
Melinda Jakovich
Wendy Kilcollin
Lynda Lane
Richard Leithiser
Anne Moffat
Thomas J. O’Keefe
Mary Ellen Pavone
Carol Pollock
Marilyn Slattery
Dawn Stanislaw

LEADERSHIP
Natalie Matwijiszyn
Dan Patton
John P. Walcher
As of June 30, 2017
Cheryl Tama Oblander
Marina Tatar
Dana Shepard Treister
Olga Weiss
As of June 30, 2017



Julie and Guy Lakonishok. Photo by Dan Rest.
Jackelyn Kastanis and Jamie-Clare Flaherty. Photo by Steve Becker.
LEADERSHIP
Staff
Ashley Wheater Artistic Director
Greg Cameron Executive Director
ARTISTIC
Gerard Charles
Director of Artistic Operations/ Ballet Master
Nicolas Blanc Ballet Master/Principal Coach
Adam Blyde
Suzanne Lopez Ballet Masters
ACADEMY
Karine Provost Academy Director
Raymond Rodriguez Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program
Karin Ellis-Wentz Head of Pre-Professional Programs
Sally Braybrooks Academy Associate and Social Media Coordinator
Allie Deaver-Petchenik Administrative Assistant
Bridget Holmes Communications Coordinator
Sarah Mazzulla Student Services Administrator
Cara Scrementi Academy Production Manager
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Erica Lynette Edwards Director of Community Engagement
Elizabeth Salmonowicz
Community Engagement Manager
Michael Smith
Evelyn Sanchez
Linda Swayze
Community Engagement Program Coordinators
Caitlyn Hunyh
Community Engagement Associate
COMPANY ADMINISTRATION
& PRODUCTION
Blair Baldwin Company Manager
Erin Brown
Artistic & Production Administrative Assistant
Katherine Selig Principal Stage Manager
Amanda Heuermann
Stage Manager
Ellie Cotey Head of Wardrobe
Gregg Benkovich First Assistant/Shoe Manager
Kate Shattock Second Assistant
Debra Schoell
Lead Stitcher
Barbara Luchsinger Stitcher
Alicja Klosek Head of Hair & Make-up
Erin Tinsley Head Electrician
Steven Lange Head Carpenter
Gregg Moeller Properties Head
George Paulin Sound Engineer
Marybeth Cave Assistant Electrician
Joe Principe Flyman
DEVELOPMENT
Sarai Hoffman
Chief Development Officer
Rose Dillon
Development Associate
Julia Doherty Director of Major Gifts
Vince Firpo
Associate Director of Donor Relations
Jerry Ochoa
Assistant Director of Individual Giving
Chelsea Robinson Manager of Events
Petrina Suiter
Assistant Director of Institutional Giving
Courtney Tan Women’s Board Coordinator
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Kathleen Hechinger Deputy Director & Chief Financial Officer
Aaron Glynn Database Analyst
Paul Key Director of Technology
John Kurtz Director of Facility Operations
Lakesha Kuye
Senior Accountant
Terry McDonough Controller
Christine O’Brien
Board Manager & Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
Amy Wicklund
Director of Human Resources
Erin Winkler
Payroll & Accounts
Payable Coordinator
MARKETING
Brian Smith
Chief Marketing Officer
Colene Byrd Director of Sales &
Patron Services
Vicki Crain
Marketing Manager
Sarah Fiala
Marketing Director
Casey Peek
Patron Services & Marketing Associate
Kyle Cornell
Allison Diamond
Fernando Fernandez, Alisa Philips
Patron Services Associates
MUSIC
Scott Speck
Music Director
Grace Kim
Company Pianist
Paul James Lewis
Senior Pianist/Music Administrator
Kirk Muspratt Cover Conductor
As of June 30, 2017

Lynn Evans, Audrey Peeples, and Dana Rice. Photo by Dan Rest.
2016–2017 Joffrey Artist Roster
Matthew Adamczyk
Derrick Agnoletti
Yoshihisa Arai
Amanda Assucena
Artur Babajanyan
Edson Barbosa
Miguel Angel Blanco
Anais Bueno
Fabrice Calmels
Raúl Casasola
Valeriia Chaykina
Nicole Ciapponi
Lucia Connolly
April Daly
Fernando Duarte
Cara Marie Gary
Stefan Goncalvez
Luis Eduardo Gonzalez
Dylan Gutierrez
Rory Hohenstein
Anastacia Holden
Dara Holmes

Riley Horton
Victoria Jaiani
Hansol Jeong
Gayeon Jung
Yumi Kanazawa
Brooke Linford
Graham Maverick
Jeraldine Mendoza
Jacqueline Moscicke
Aaron Renteria
Christine Rocas
Paulo Rodrigues
Chloé Sherman
Temur Suluashvili
Olivia Tang-Mifsud
Alonso Tepetzi
Eliveton Tomazi
Alberto Velazquez
Mahallia Ward
Joanna Wozniak
Joan Sebastián Zamora
As of June 30, 2017



Kyle DeSantis, Liz Sharp, and Mitchell Hatcher. Photo by Dan Rest.
John Krehbiel, Karen Gray-Krehbiel, and King Harris. Photo by Dan Rest. Susan and Josh Oleari. Photo by Dan Rest.

Paulo Rodrigues and Victoria Jaiani n Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo & Juliet. Photo by Cheryl Mann.
2016–2017
56 Community Engagement programs in 28 schools
476,764 website visitors to joffrey.org
35,700 Instagram followers
2.3M page views &
96,365 tickets sold students enrolled at the Joffrey Academy of Dance 737
61 Company performances in Chicago
39,200 Twitter followers
182,481 friends on Facebook
460 young dancers enrolled in Joffrey Academy of Dance summer programs
43 Company dancers
As of June 2017