They call The Joffrey Ballet “America’s Company of Firsts.”
The first dance company to perform at the White House. The first to appear on television. The first American company to visit Russia. The first classical dance company to go multimedia. The first to commission a rock ‘n’ roll ballet. The first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time. And the first company to have had a major motion picture based on it, Robert Altman’s The Company. See The Joffrey’s moments of “firsts” through the years.
Gerald Arpino conducts a Joffrey Ballet rehearsal, circa 1980s.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
(l to r) Joffrey Ballet founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, circa early 1960s.
Credit: Photo credit unknown.
(l to r) Joffrey Ballet founders Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey at the American Ballet Center, circa 1960s.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
Legendary choreographer Leonide Massine rehearses “Parade” with the Joffrey Ballet’s Gary Chryst, Donna Cowen, Philip Jerry, and Robert Joffrey in 1973.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
A scene from the Joffrey Ballet’s revival of Vaslav Nijinsky’s “Le Sacre du Printemps” (“The Rite of Spring”).
Photo: Herbert Migdoll
A scene from the Joffrey Ballet’s “Deuce Coupe” (1973), choreographed by Twyla Tharp.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
A still from “Waltz of the Snowflakes” in the Joffrey Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
A scene from the Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” production.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll.
A scene from Robert Joffrey’s revival of legendary choreographer Kurt Jooss’ “The Green Table,” an anti-war ballet performed by the Joffrey Ballet.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
Trinette Singleton and Max Zamosa in the Joffrey Ballet’s “Astarte,” a psychedelic multimedia rock ballet, choreographed by Robert Joffrey.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
A scene from the Joffrey Ballet’s “Billboards,” a rock ballet and set to the music of Prince, created by Gerald Arpino.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
“Sometimes It Snows in April,” choreographed by Laura Dean, from the Joffrey Ballet’s ”Billboards” rock ballet set to the music of Prince.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
A stage still from the Joffrey Ballet’s “Trinity,” choreographed by Gerald Arpino.
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
Joffrey Ballet founders Robert Joffrey (top) and Gerald Arpino (bottom)
Photo Credit: Herbert Migdoll
