Amanda Assucena and Alberto Velazquez (Stage Notes)

This winter, The Joffrey Ballet is introducing the “Joffrey Studio Series”,  which will be filled with performances, livestreams, and in-depth conversations with industry professionals. An official press release from The Silverman Group outlined the company’s plans for their devoted audience.

Here are the programs that are currently scheduled:

December 7, 14, 22, February 11, 25  (streamed thru The Joffrey Ballet’s website, YouTube, Facebook  and Instagram pages) –

“Stage Notes” is a brand new production highlighting wonderful productions from the past while allowing the dancers to share their unique commentary. Anna Karenina by Yuri Possokhov is an upcoming one with commentary by Joffrey Artists Anais Bueno, Yoshihisa Arai, Hansol Jeong, and Xavier Núñez.

Currently, you can view Mono Lisa by Itzik Galili (featuring Amanda Assucena and Alberto Velazquez) and The Times Are Racing by Justin Peck (featuring Edson Barbosa and Greig Matthews).

February 26 7 pm (livestreamed thru Joffrey’s YouTube Channel) –

Artist Yoshihisa Arai’s shares his program titled “Bolero”. The 30 minute piece features 15 dancers from the company and will be set to a Ravel score. Also, Rehearsal Director Nicolas Blanc plans to make the world premiere of his “Under the Trees’ Voices”. Both pieces will be performed in Joffrey’s Gerald Arpino Black Box Theatre. (Livestream rehearsals for the productions airs December 9, January 27 and February 10.)

Yoshihisa Arai – Image Credit: Cheryl Mann

December 10, January 5 and 19 (streamed thru The Joffrey Ballet’s website, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages) –

On Cue – A Joffrey Interview Series is where artists sit down for an exclusive chat with Joffrey Rehearsal Director Adam Blyde. The following people are scheduled to be guests on the virtual talk show: Artist Derrick Agnoletti, real life spouses and Artists Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili, and Joffrey Community Engagement Director Linda Swayze. Ashley Wheater and Raymond Rodriguez (Academy Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance) are the current interviews available via On Cue series.

Of course, the PBS documentary “Making a New American Nutcracker” is the free event that is currently airing on Joffrey’s official website and YouTube Channel. “A Virtual Enchanted Evening: The Nutcracker”, hosted by the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, takes place on Friday, December 11 from 6:30-7:30 pm for dancers ages 7-9.”  You can learn more about how to join that event through Eventbrite.

Why is The Joffrey Ballet embarking on this virtual season?

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director : “People are craving deep connection and live performance more than ever and The Joffrey Ballet is in a unique position to deliver. Our Joffrey Studio Series is a newly curated series of dance content, utilizing the studios at Joffrey Tower to re-create the magic of the proscenium. In effect, the Joffrey’s Black Box Theatre and our various Joffrey Tower studios will transform into a loose ‘sound stage,’ with the ability to capture and produce high-quality video content that will be accessible to dance lovers around the world.”

Greg Cameron, Joffrey Ballet President and Chief Executive Officer: “You cannot keep talented artists from doing what they do best. Accessibility and innovation are central to the Joffrey’s mission and the Studio Series will enable us to broaden our reach locally, nationally, and internationally.”

(all release dates may be rescheduled)

A Special Thanks to The Silverman Group and The Joffrey Ballet for the information.