The Joffrey Ballet is one of the top dance companies in the world and one of the most revered and recognizable arts organizations in America. 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 and audiences and repertoire which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces and contemporary works. Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley C. Wheater and Executive Director Christopher Clinton Conway. Hailed as “America’s Company of Firsts,” The Joffrey Ballet’s long list of “firsts” includes being the first dance company to perform at the White House at Jacqueline Kennedy’s invitation, the first to appear on television, the first to commission a rock ‘n’ roll ballet, the first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time magazine, and the first company to have had a major motion picture based on it, Robert Altman’s The Company. Today, the Joffrey, which has been hugely successful in its former residences in New York and Los Angeles, lives permanently in its brilliant new facility, Joffrey Tower, in Chicago, Illinois.

Ashley Wheater, artistic director

Since his appointment in 2007 as artistic director of The Joffrey Ballet, Ashley Wheater’s passion and commitment have been evident in the quality that he has brought to the Joffrey’s dancing and repertoire. This season alone will feature two world premiers. Wheater was principal dancer at the London Festival Ballet and continued to cultivate his dancing career after joining the Australian, Joffrey, and San Francisco Ballets. In 1997 he retired from dancing and was appointed ballet master at the San Francisco Ballet and later named assistant to the artistic director. Born in Scotland, Wheater trained at the Royal Ballet School in England.