CHICAGO — For its annual winter engagement, The Joffrey Ballet presents "Bold Moves," a program of three contemporary ballets including a World Premiere by British choreographer Ashley Page, along with the return of two popular works from the Joffrey repertoire — Yuri Possokhov'sRAkU and Jiri Kylian's Forgotten Land plus live orchestral accompaniment from the Chicago Philharmonic, led by Joffrey Music Director Scott Speck, during every performance. "Bold Moves" is presented in 10 performances only at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, February 10—21, 2016.
"The Bold Moves program springs from the marriage of music and movement." said Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater. "By combining dynamic live music with compelling contemporary choreography, each piece delivers a dramatic punch. We're proud to begin the second half of our 60th anniversary season with this emotionally-charged program. With masterpieces by Jiri Kylian and Yuri Possokhov and a world premiere by Ashley Page, this program offers dancing as bold as the music which inspired it."
A winner of numerous international dance awards, Ashley Page is known for his daring collaborations with visual artists and contemporary composers. Though drawn from the discipline of ballet, his bold choreography explores new avenues for dance. Following 27 years dancing and choreographing for London's Royal Ballet, and then a decade as the director of the Scottish Ballet, Page is currently working on numerous commissions for ballet and contemporary dance companies around the world. For the Joffrey, Page is creating a work ( untitled ) for 12 dancers exploring the elemental and organic nature of human behavior through abstract movement that feeds off the drama, texture and constantly shifting energies of in-demand British composer Thomas Adès' violin concerto, Concentric Paths.
Forgotten Land, last performed by the Joffrey in 2012, was created for the Stuttgart Ballet in 1981 by Czech choreographer Jiri Kylian. Set to the music of English composer Benjamin Britten ( Sinfonia da Requiem ), with its images of the sea engulfing the land, this ballet is inspired by a painting by the Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch, of women on a beach staring at the sea. Forgotten Land explores memories, events, and people that over time are lost or forgotten and how people sometimes vainly try to recover them, or a sense of them, in order to regain their former power and value.
RAkU, which mesmerized Joffrey Ballet audiences with its Chicago Premiere in September 2014, returns by popular demand. Set to music by Shinji Eshima, this contemporary ballet by San Francisco Ballet Resident Choreographer Possokhov, tells the tale of a Japanese emperor, his wife and a jealous monk driven mad by obsessive love. With a modernist, costume and set design with projections and moving screens, it is a stylized interpretation of the burning of the Kyoto Temple of the Golden Pavilion, brimming with lush lyricism and dark drama.
Tickets and Schedule
The Joffrey Ballet performs "Bold Moves" February 10-21, 2016; the full performance schedule is as follows: Wednesday, February 10 at 7:30pm, Friday, February 12 at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 13 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, Sunday, February 14 at 2:00pm, Thursday, February 18 at 7:30pm, Friday, February 19 at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 20 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, Sunday, February 21 at 2:00pm.
Single tickets, priced from $32 to $155, are available for purchase at The Joffrey Ballet's official Box Office located in the lobby of Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph Street, as well as the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by telephone at ( 800 ) 982-2787, or online at ticketmaster.com .
About The Joffrey Ballet
This year, The Joffrey Ballet celebrates its 60th company anniversary. Classically trained to the highest standards, The Joffrey Ballet expresses a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudly reflecting the diversity of America with its company, audiences, and repertoire which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces and contemporary works.
The company's commitment to accessibility is met through an extensive touring schedule, an innovative and highly effective education program including the much lauded Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, Community Engagement programs and collaborations with myriad other visual and performing arts organizations.
Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley Wheater and Executive Director Greg Cameron. To learn more, visitJoffrey.org .
The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2015-2016 Season Sponsors and Partners and would like to acknowledge the generous support of Bold Moves Presenting Sponsor Sage Foundation, Ashley Page World Premiere sponsors The Anne and Burt Kaplan Fund of the Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation and Jay Franke and David Herro, and RAkU Production Sponsor MacLean-Fogg.
Special thanks to Co-Sponsors of the 2015-2016 Season: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, NIB Foundation and Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation; Season Partners: pamella roland and Fox Ford Lincoln, Official Provider of Physical Therapy, Athletico; Official Hotel, JW Marriott; and Official Health Club, Chicago Athletic Clubs.
For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, please visit joffrey.org .
