Deborah Dawn
Close-Up
Deborah Dawn joined The Joffrey Ballet in 1983. She received her early training with Marguerite Phares in Sacramento, California, and the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theater School both on scholarship.
Ms. Dawn began her career with the North Carolina Dance Theater dancing lead roles in such ballets as George Balanchine´s Allegro Brillante, Scotch Symphony, Square Dance and Tchaikovsky´s Pas De Deux.
During her long and illustrious career with The Joffrey, Ms. Dawn has performed in most of Gerald Arpino´s ballets, including Italian Suite (Flower Solo), Suite Saint-Saens (Pas de Deux) and Kettentanz (Pas de Deux). Other highlights from her repertoire include Romeo and Juliet (Juliet and Lady Capulet), The Nutcracker (Sugarplum Fairy and Snow Queen), Love Songs, Return to a Strange Land, Lilac Garden, Monotones II and A Wedding Bouquet (Bride and Josephine). In 1987 Ms. Dawn was part of The Joffrey´s major reconstruction of Le Sacre Du Printemps and she had major roles created on her as part of The Joffrey´s historic 1993 Billboards to the music of Prince.
Aside from performing on stage, Ms. Dawn has also appeared in two major motion pictures: “Save the Last Dance” and a feature role in Robert Altman´s “The Company”. She has also appeared in four public television specials: PBS Dance in America´s “Night at The Joffrey” and “The Reconstruction of Le Sacre Du Printemps”; Billboards; and WTTW Chicago´s filming of The Green Table.
Ms. Dawn has been a guest artist for two New York based companies, Dance Galaxy and Ballet: The Daring Project, where she acted as rehearsal director in addition to performing. Ms. Dawn assists Margo Sappington in setting ballets around the world.
In 2004, while still dancing principal roles with The Joffrey, Ms. Dawn was promoted to Assistant Ballet Master. She also teaches at The Joffrey Ballet School when her busy schedule allows.