Save the Date: THE JOFFREY BALLET PRESENTS THREE OF THE WORLD'S HOTTEST CHOREOGRAPHERS IN "WINTER FIRE"

January 12, 2012 - The Joffrey Ballet brings to Chicago the
work of three world-renowned choreographers in "Winter
Fire," a mixed repertory program featuring two premieres and
an audience favorite. The groundbreaking pieces include the
U.S. Premiere of Infra by Wayne McGregor (Resident
Choreographer of London's Royal Ballet), the Company
Premiere of In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated by William
Forsythe (former Joffrey dancer), and the critically acclaimed
After the Rain by Christopher Wheeldon (Resident
Choreographer of New York City Ballet). "Winter Fire" is
presented in ten performances only at the Auditorium
Theatre of Roosevelt University, February 15 - 26.

"Our winter program gathers the work of three contemporary
choreographers who fundamentally transformed the direction
of dance," said Joffrey Artistic Director Ashley C. Wheater.
"Each work is ground-breaking in its own way, reflecting the
strong voice of the individual choreographer. This trio of
works offers our dancers and our audience a great
opportunity for artistic growth. I am incredibly proud to share
this program with the people of Chicago."

The "Winter Fire" program opens with Forsythe's In the
Middle, Somewhat Elevated, originally created for the Paris
Opera Ballet in 1987. With music by Thom Willems in
collaboration with Leslie Stuck, In the Middle, Somewhat
Elevated is a purely abstract work that combines classical
ballet lines with rapid-fire virtuosity and an air of cool
detachment. The Joffrey Ballet has performed excerpts of
this work before, but the winter program represents the first
time the company presents the piece in its entirety.

"William Forsythe's choreography has sometimes
been described as a 'deconstruction' of ballet,"
noted Wheater, "but in my opinion, In the Middle,
Somewhat Elevated is firmly grounded in
ballet…a modern extension of its principles. In
his own words, 'Ballet was my mother tongue in
dance, so you can't erase it from your
consciousness.' I love the architecture of his
choreography: abstract, yet wrapped with
humanity."

The program continues with the return of
Wheeldon's After the Rain, a 2010 Joffrey
Premiere that received unanimous critical
acclaim. The Joffrey Ballet is the first company
outside of Wheeldon's own to be awarded rights
to perform this work in full. Set to the minimalist,
classical music of Arvo Pärt, After the Rain is in
two sections strikingly different in tone: the first,
with dancers costumed in steel gray, is feverishly
paced with bold lines and intricate lifts; the
second shifts to a warmer palette and a
meditative pace, evoking a tender,
emotionally-resonant tone.

"Christopher Wheeldon is rooted in the classical
ballet tradition," commented Wheater, "yet he
brings fresh lyricism, musicality and sensuality to
his choreography. He seems equally comfortable
with abstraction and narrative, a dichotomy which
reconciles beautifully in After the Rain."

The winter engagement is completed by
the U.S. Premiere of McGregor's
sumptuous work Infra, premiered by The
Royal Ballet of London in 2008. The Joffrey
is the first company other than the Royal to
perform this work. Infra is set to an original
score by Max Richter, a mix of mournful
strings and calmly indifferent industrial
sounds. The set includes a 59-foot LED
screen suspended above the stage
displaying walking pedestrian animations
by British artist Julian Opie. Beneath it
("infra," Latin meaning "below"), 12 dancers
execute McGregor's quick, intricate and
hyper-articulate movement, displaying both
the dancers' strength and impressive
flexibility. Created in the wake of the
London subway bombings of 2005, the
work simmers with a vibrant emotional
undercurrent, conjuring a poignant sense of
the constant flux and hypnotic monotony
that are both intrinsic to urban life.

Wheater said, "Wayne McGregor's
choreography begins with the human body,
and with an understanding of its potential
for movement. His dance explores the
relationship of the body and the mind…and
with Infra, he considers the heart, as well."