Chicago-February 29, 2008: The Joffrey Ballet announced today that company members Michael Levine and Maia Wilkins will not be returning to The Joffrey following the close of the current 2007-2008 Season. The announcement was made by new Artistic Director Ashley Wheater.

Levine and Wilkins are scheduled to perform their final roles with the ballet company during the American Moderns program at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, May 14-25, 2008. It is the pair's intention to continue performing both nationally and internationally as Guest Artists.

"Maia and Michael have contributed enormously to the company since being with us in Chicago and I would like to thank them for all they have done for The Joffrey Ballet," said Wheater. "I continue to be impressed with the entire Company's strength, and look forward to showcasing all of our talent in the coming seasons."

In addition to dancing numerous featured roles in the Antony Tudor Centennial mixed repertory program, now playing at the Auditorium Theatre through March 2, Levine was recently seen this past fall in the role of Albrecht in Giselle, in which he had the good fortune to perform opposite Wilkins in the title role. Highlights from his 15-year career with The Joffrey Ballet include: receiving critical acclaim from the New York Times in 2007 for his portrayal of "Death" in The Green Table; showcasing his range by performing both "Romeo" and "Tybalt" in John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet the previous year; performing both Monotones 2 and the elegant White Pas de Deux from Les Patineurs in the Ashton Centennial Festival at the Metropolitan Opera House; and being selected to dance in many signature ballets created by Joffrey Ballet Co-Founders, the late Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, in particular, dancing the lead man in Round of Angels and the Pas de Deux in Arpino's signature ballet Light Rain. Levine also looks back fondly on his partnership with former Joffrey dancer Julianne Kepley, with whom he shared the stage for five years, dancing the Grand Pas in the annual holiday production of The Nutcracker; dancing the "Prince" to her "Cinderella" in 2006; performing Return to a Strange Land, and more.

Wilkins can also currently be seen performing lead roles in the Antony Tudor Centennial. Over the course of her 18-year history with The Joffrey Ballet, Wilkins frequently danced featured roles that showcased her artistic range and physical versatility. A favorite of critics and audience members alike, principal roles in Wilkins' career include: "Kate" and "Juliet" in John Cranko's The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet, respectively; Sir Frederick Ashton's "Julia," "Titania," and "Cinderella;" "The Chosen One" in Le Sacre du Printemps; plus dancing many heartbreaking Tudor heroines such as "Caroline" in Lilac Garden.

Wilkins began her association with The Joffrey Ballet when she accepted a scholarship to study and perform at The Joffrey Ballet School at the age of 16. Four and a half years later, she was offered a contract by Arpino to join the main company. She is privileged to have performed in Robert Joffrey's Pas Des Desses, Remembrances, and Astarte. Working with Gerald Arpino and performing his ballets, including: L'Air D'Esprit, Light Rain, Secret Places, Valentine, Birthday Variations, Kettentanz, and Reflections, has been one of the greatest joys and influences on her career. Arpino created his 2004 duet, Ruth, Ricordi per Due, for Wilkins and her frequent Joffrey partner, Willy Shives.

"The support Chicago audiences have given me is a tremendous gift for which I will always be intensely grateful," said Wilkins.

The Joffrey Ballet is currently presenting the Antony Tudor Centennial, a repertory program celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the renowned choreographer Antony Tudor's birth, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, through Sunday, March 2, 2008. The 2007-2008 Season will conclude with American Moderns, featuring a quartet of explosive, modern works, including Paul Taylor's Cloven Kingdom, Mehmet Sander's Inner Space, the Company Premiere of Twyla Tharp's Waterbaby Bagatelles, and Lar Lubovitch's ".smile with my heart," a tribute to to the legendary Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, May 14 - 25, 2008.