ACADEMY
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. THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2016 –2017 | 9