JOFFREY: MAVERICKS OF AMERICAN DANCE

The struggles and triumphs of The Joffrey Ballet, the first quintessentially American ballet company, are beautifully recapped through a wealth of performance footage as director Hercules (BILL T. JONES: A GOOD MAN) illustrates a history of the company’s innovation and international success. The revolutionary artistic strategy of combining modern dance with ballet, and integrating pop and rock scores, pioneered by founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, is seen as the cornerstone of a new philosophy of dance. This engrossing documentary captures it all, featuring Gary Chryst, Trinette Singleton, Helgi Tomasson, Kevin McKenzie and more, and excerpts from signature works including “Astarte,” “Trinity,” and “Billboards.” HDCAM video. (BS)

The following panelists will be in person for audience Q&A:

Saturday February 18, 8pm:

Moderator: Hedy Weiss
Theater and Dance Critic, Chicago Sun-Times

Bob Hercules, director

Herbert Migdoll, longtime Joffrey photographer

Harriet Ross
former Managing Director of the Gerald Arpino Foundation, former Managing Director of the Joffrey Ballet

Charthel Arthur
former Joffrey dancer and ballet mistress, current Managing Director of the Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey Foundation

Wednesday February 22, 8pm:

Moderator: Sid Smith
former Theater and Dance critic, Chicago Tribune

Bob Hercules, director

Ashley C. Wheater
current Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet

Fabrice Calmels
current principal dancer of the Joffrey Ballet

April Daly, current principal dancer of the Joffrey Ballet