On a rainy day in June last year, 7,500 people gathered in Millennium Park to attend The Joffrey Ballet’s first “Joffrey for All” event. This included a short children’s movement workshop on the lawn and a string of works and excerpts from The Joffrey Ballet’s repertoire, such as duets from Yuri Possokhov’s “Anna Karenina” and Chanel DaSilva’s “colōrem.”
Through additional partnerships, new technology, and even more movement classes, The Joffrey Ballet aims to expand their offerings at the Pritzker Pavilion, on June 16, 2024, for the second year of “Joffrey For All.” Workshops begin at 4:15 p.m., and the lineup of performances on the stage begins at 5:30 p.m.
The evening will consist of The Joffrey Ballet professional company members performing works that showcase choreographers they collaborate with often, such as Yuri Possokhov and Christopher Wheeldon. Possokhov’s “Andante” and Wheeldon’s “Carousel: A Dance” will be included in the lineup. So will Justin Peck’s “The Times Are Racing,” which Lopez describes as an “energetic sneaker ballet” and a company favorite to perform.
Joffrey is also previewing their 2024-2025 season: Cathy Marston's “Heimat” will be a teaser for the upcoming October production of Atonement, and 2024 Winning Works Choreographer Manoela Gonçalves is back to present a new solo, “Benteveo (saudade),” a tribute to her late father.
The ”Joffrey For All” goal is to provide an afternoon of free access to watch and participate in not just ballet, but different dance styles, to increase access to the artform, to Joffrey, and to other arts organizations.
“It’s our love letter to the city of Chicago,” says Suzanne Lopez, Abbott Academy Director for the Joffrey Academy of Dance. “How can we do things better? That’s the goal this year.”
Joffrey Ballet's "Free For All" at the Pritzker Pavilion; photo by Katie Miller
A unique occurrence, all three Joffrey departments will come together to showcase and share their work. The first thing that comes to mind when one hears “Joffrey” may be their professional company. However, the organization also consists of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, a school and training program for dance students, and Joffrey Community Engagement, a branch which works with Chicago Public Schools to bring dance education to the city’s youth population and runs other enrichment events and programs such as Dancing with Parkinson’s.
Taking place before the performance are community workshops, this year expanding to include adult movement. Other dance organizations, like Ensemble Español, will be sharing the lawn space to engage with the public. The Joffrey Ballet is also partnering with the Poetry Foundation, who will be greeting attendees at the front gates with impromptu poetry sessions.
“We’re partnering with other arts organizations and also bringing in different diverse people…to let people know that art has no boundaries as far as access and as far as inclusiveness,” says Linda Swayze, Director of Community Engagement.
In regard to participating in the workshops, Swayze says, “You don’t have to have any dance experience, you don’t even have to be on the music. The most important thing is that you move.”
A new large monitor will project the schedule of workshops and, afterward, the 5:30 p.m. performance occurring on the stage. This means attendees don’t have to secure a seat within the pavilion—they may choose to picnic in the back of the lawn and still view the show.
Joffrey Ballet presents diverse community workshops prior to the performance; Photo by Katie Miller
While the event is meant for Chicagoans to engage with the company and their partners, it has a simultaneous impact on the dancers themselves; especially the academy students who get to perform in front of one of the largest audiences throughout their dance education.
“It’s so wonderful for them at this age, at this level, or wherever they are, to get this opportunity, to be a part of this bigger performance and feel what that feels like,” says Lopez. She notes that the academy has recently focused on providing them more performance opportunities to emphasize the importance of that kind of experience in their dancing career.
During “Joffrey For All” 2023, the academy highlighted one age group within the performance lineup, alongside a student solo. This year, academy students ages 7 - 21 will be featured in one large piece. Lopez explains that by having a broader range of students perform within the showcase, it allows the audience to witness the progress of a dancer.
“That’s what we’re trying to do, to raise the next generation of students,” says Lopez. “I think this year by showing a wider range of ages and levels, we’ll really be able to tell that story.”
As far as promoting access to art, Swayze adds, “[It’s] not only for the people putting it on but for the people that are watching it. And especially for children. If they can’t see themselves on the stage, then they can’t possibly believe that’s something that could happen for them.”
“People can witness it if they can’t afford tickets to see us at the Lyric Opera,” says Lopez. “There’s this opportunity to share in the spirit of what we do.” She adds that it’s also a way to reach out with the message of dance to communities that may not have access to or knowledge of these kinds of arts programs and performances.
Whether you’re interested in sitting back and watching some ballet, joining in on a community dance session, or hearing an original poem, Millennium Park will be the spot to find it all under one roof—or, rather, sky—later this month.
“Joffrey For All” by The Joffrey Ballet will be held at the Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E Randolph St, on June 16, 2024. Workshops begin at 4:15 p.m., and the mixed rep program begins at 5:30 p.m. The event is free. For more information about “Joffrey For all” and The Joffrey Ballet, you can visit joffrey.org.
