BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Joffrey Ballet, known as the mavericks of American dance, will make its Sun Valley Debut June 29 and 30 in the Sun Valley Pavilion.

Ballet Sun Valley is bringing the Chicago-based ballet, which is celebrating 68 years as one of the premier dance companies in the nation.

The 7:30 p.m. performances will feature more than 30 dancers led by artistic director Ashley Wheater. Each performance will feature a unique repertoire, including Joffrey co-founder Gerald Arpino’s “Round of Angels,” Nicolas Blanc’s “Under the Trees’ Voices” and Justin Peck’s “The Times are Racing.”

The Joffrey Ballet’s dancers come from 16 countries, all classically trained to the highest standards and all part of pushing the boundaries of dance through classical and contemporary works.

Founded in 1956 by dance pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, The Joffrey Ballet has earned a reputation for dancing out of the box, including becoming the first company to create a ballet set to rock music.

Arpino and Joffrey and their six-dancer ensemble originally toured the country in a station wagon pulling a U-Haul trailer. At the invitation of Jackie Kennedy, The Joffrey Ballet became the first dance company to perform at the White House and it was the first to appear on American TV, on the cover of TIME Magazine and to have a major motion picture—“The Company”--based on it.

Choreographers who have worked with the company include George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp.

Wheater, who was born in Scotland, trained at the Royal Ballet School in England where he danced with Rudolf Nureyev. He went on to dance with The Australian Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.

He was appointed to The Joffrey Ballet in 2007 and since has guided the Joffrey toward an era of innovation. He has received numerous awards, including that of being appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

"I genuinely believe in the power of our art form,” said Wheater. “Touring nationally and internationally, the Joffrey is foremost in reaching audiences everywhere. I could have no greater pleasure than sharing this enlightening program of works with Sun Valley, a place where dance is celebrated."

Tickets to the June performances start at $35 and are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/ballet-sun-valley-2024-3040029

To learn more, visit the Ballet Sun Valley website at https://balletsunvalley.org.

Ballet Sun Valley is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 to bring international ballet to Sun Valey. During the past few years, the organizations has brought some of the ballet world’s most celebrated choreographers and artists from San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet and others.

DANCE EDUCATION ON TAP

Ballet Sun Valley will offer a Dance Education Program for advanced and intermediate dancers 12 and older taught by world class ballet artists from The Joffrey Ballet and faculty June 29-30 in conjunction with The Joffrey Ballet’s appearance.

Students will get to watch the Ballet company take company class on stage, attend closed rehearsals at the Sun Valley pavilion and receive a complimentary ticket to each of the Festival performances.

The program is tuition-free, thanks to donations from Ballet Sun Valley supporters.