The Joffrey Ballet was founded in 1956 in New York City by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. In 1995, Gerald Arpino moved the company to Chicago. Today as Chicago’s premier classical ballet company, we maintain three Chicago repertory seasons, a Chicago Nutcracker season, and both domestic and international touring.
The Joffrey Ballet is known for its youthful energy and eclectic repertoire ranging from the great historical “lost” works of the 20th Century to the torso-infused neoclassicism of Gerald Arpino’s high-speed choreography. The Joffrey was the first ballet company to ever commission and perform the works of such choreographers as Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, and Mark Morris to name only a few. The Joffrey has the largest repertoire in the United States of the works of Sir Frederick Ashton, John Cranko, Leonide Massine and Vaslav Nijinsky.
The Joffrey Ballet is an all-star, no-star company without principal, soloist or corps delineation. Each artist is considered for principal roles as well as ensemble. This gives every member opportunities, while distributing the workload in an equitable fashion.
The Joffrey Ballet has appeared in two major motion pictures: “Save the Last Dance,” starring Julia Stiles; and Robert Altman’s “The Company,” based on a year in the life of The Joffrey, starring Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, and the artists of The Joffrey.
In the early 1970’s, The Joffrey Ballet was the first American ballet company to offer a second company as a training group. In 2000, Mr. Arpino established The Arpino Apprentice Program offering 7-8 select pre-professional dancers performance opportunities with The Joffrey while continuing the last stages of their training under the guidance of Mr. Arpino, the Joffrey artistic staff, and company dancers.
We are offering AGMA contracts and benefits for a guaranteed minimum of 38 weeks of employment (actual weeks range up to 42). The contract year begins July 1st of each year and runs through June 30th.
Audition Date and Times:
April 8, 2006
New York City:
3pm – 6pm, Registration starting at 2pm.
The Joffrey Ballet School
434 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY, 10011
April 22, 2006
Chicago:
11am-2pm, Registration starting at 10am.
The Joffrey Ballet
17 North State Street, 19th floor
Chicago, IL, 60602
For company class auditions you must:
- Be a member of a professional company
- Or have a recommendation from a Joffrey affiliate
For more information please contact:
Deborah Dawn, Assistant Ballet Master
312.346.3455 ext.11 or [email protected]
Information for the NYC audition can be retained only on the day of by calling 1.212.254.8520
or
Heidi Hanssel, Receptionist
312.739.0120 or [email protected]