 joined The Joffrey Ballet in April 1993, after being a member of The Joffrey
II Dancers from 1991-93.
Among many roles danced with the
Company, Robertson’s portrayal of the Faun in The Joffrey’s reconstruction of Vaslav
Nijinsky’s L’APRES MIDI D’UN FAUNE prompted Chicago Sun-Times dance critic Andrew Patner
to write, “Davis Robertson gives the finest performance I’ve seen, including that of
Rudolph Nureyev for whom Joffrey re-created this masterpiece in 1979.”
He has danced the role of the Cavalier in Robert Joffrey’s
production of THE NUTCRACKER, and contemporary choreographer Randy Duncan created one of
the trio roles in his A TRI-FLING on Robertson.
A choreographer in his own right, Robertson made national news in
1997 with his first Joffrey commission, a piece called PORTRAIT OF HITCH that incorporated
both Joffrey and wheelchair dancers. “I went into the project skeptical that I’d be
able to create a noteworthy work, but quickly had my eyes opened to the limitless
possibilities of integrated dance,” he said of the piece that premiered in a benefit
performance for Access Living, an advocacy organization for disabled individuals.
Robertson’s earlier choreographic credits include: COBALT BLUE, an
ensemble piece for 10 dancers that premiered at Pennsylvania Ballet’s “Shut Up &
Dance” AIDS Benefit in 1996; and ZUG ZWANG, a quartet, choreographed in collaboration
with Alex Kaschock, that takes its cues from the strategic maneuvers of a chess game. ZUG
ZWANG was part of a six-choreographer showing, produced by Robertson and Kaschock, in
April 1995 at New York’s Alvin Ailey studios.
A prolific guest artist, Robertson has danced lead roles in SWAN
LAKE with Jacksonville (Fla.) Ballet Theatre (1997), DON QUIXOTE with the Florida Ballet
(1997), LA FILLE MAL GARDEE, THE NUTCRACKER, SLEEPING BEAUTY and Balanchine’s VALSE
FANTASY with Repertory Dance Theatre in Allentown, Pa. (1993-96), and COPPELIA, SLEEPING
BEAUTY and CINDERELLA with the Mobile (Ala.) Ballet (1992, 1996), among others.
Robertson began studying ballet at the Douglas Anderson School of
the Arts in Jacksonville, Fla., and continued his studies at the School of American Ballet
(1989-90), the San Francisco Ballet School (1990) and The Joffrey Ballet School, before
becoming an apprentice member of the Miami City Ballet for the 1990-91 season.
Robertson is married to fellow Joffrey dancer Nicole Marie Duffy,
with whom he has danced the “Willing and Able” pas de deux in Gerald Arpino’s
full-evening rock ballet, BILLBOARDS, and guested in lead roles in productions of
CINDERELLA, SWAN LAKE and SLEEPING BEAUTY.
Born: Panama City, Fla.
Raised: Jacksonville, Fla.
Parents: Ruth and Garry Bragg, Jacksonville, Fla.
|
