Joffrey History | Artist Detail | Management
Maia Wilkins joined The Joffrey Ballet in 1991 after dancing as a member of Joffrey II from 1987 to 1989. She danced with The Joffrey Ballet Concert Dancers while on scholarship in The Joffrey School’s Special Trainee Program. She participated in The Joffrey Workshop in San Antonio and Dame Margot Fonteyn workshop in New York.
In 1999, Ms. Wilkins was awarded the Ruth Page Award for Dance Achievement.
New York Post dance critic Clive Barnes says ,”the delicately lyrical” Maia Wilkins is one to be watched. Wilkins’ numerous principal roles with The Joffrey Ballet include Peter Pucci’s sensuous “Willing and Able” pas de deux in Gerald Arpino’s production of BILLBOARDS; an Acrobat in Leonide Massine’s PARADE; the mermaid in Gerald Arpino’s SEA SHADOW; Arpino’s quirky VALENTINE boxing pas de deux; and the lead in Ruth Page and Bentley Stone’s FRANKIE AND JOHNNY. In Joanna Haigood’s high-flying solo “Dance For Yal” the Chicago Sun-Times reviewed Wilkins as a “show stealer” and her performance seemed to “Float on air.” Sid Smith for the Chicago Tribune made special note of Wilkins’ “sensuality and tricky toe work” in Arpino’s KETTENTANZ.
Wilkins was born and raised in Truckee, California. She began her dance training in tap at age six, but when she saw her first tutu, at age eleven, she decided to study ballet, and went on to receive her formative training under Maggie Banks at the Nevada Festival Ballet School. She has also studied with Stanley Holden n Los Angeles, the School of American Ballet, Tina Bernal in New York and Luigi (jazz).
Outside The Joffrey, Wilkins has danced numerous principle roles as a guest artist, including Juliet in ROMEO AND JULIET; THE NUTCRACKER; LA BOUTIQUE FANTASTIQUE; CINDERELLA; FIREBIRD; and COPPELIA. In 1989, she toured Europe with the Dennis Wayne Dancers.
In May 1996 Wilkins was featured alone on the cover of Dance Magazine. Wilkins enjoys working with choreographers on new works and recently Peter Pucci created a powerful new work for her, AFTER THE FALL. Wilkins loves travelling around the globe performing The Joffrey Ballet’s wide range of repertorie.