Robert Joffrey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Joffrey
|
|
|---|---|
Joffrey in 1981
|
|
| Born |
Anver Bey Abdullah Jaffa Khan
December 24, 1930 or 1928 Seattle, Washington, U.S.
|
| Died | March 25, 1988 (aged 57) New York City, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Choreographer, dancer, director |
| Years active | 1950–1988 |
| Partner(s) | Gerald Arpino |
| Current group | Joffrey Ballet |
Robert Joffrey (born December 24, 1930 – died March 25, 1988) was an American dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He helped start the famous Joffrey Ballet dance company. He was known for creating new and exciting ballets. Robert Joffrey was born in Seattle, Washington. His birth name was Anver Bey Abdullah Jaffa Khan. His father was from Afghanistan, and his mother was from Italy.
Contents
Robert Joffrey's Early Life and Dance Journey
Robert Joffrey started dancing when he was nine years old. He began his training in Seattle to help with his asthma. His first teacher was Mary Anne Wells. Later, he moved to New York City to study ballet and modern dance.
In 1949, he performed for the first time with French choreographer Roland Petit. From 1950 to 1955, Joffrey taught at the New York High School for the Performing Arts. Here, he created his very first ballets. In 1953, he opened the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. This school is still open today.
How Joffrey Changed Ballet
Robert Joffrey was one of the first choreographers to study both modern dance and ballet. This helped him create a new style of dance. His ballets mixed the exact steps and grace of classical ballet with the floor work and strong feelings of modern dance. This blend of styles is very common in dance today.
In 1954, he started his own dance company. They performed his ballets like Le bal masqué (The Masked Ball, 1954) and Pierrot Lunaire (1955). Other famous works by Joffrey include Gamelan (1962) and Astarte (1967). Astarte was special because it used rock music, cool lighting, and movie effects.
The Joffrey Ballet Company's Tours
In 1956, six dancers from Joffrey's company traveled across the country. They performed twenty-three shows in eleven different states. This was the first tour for the Robert Joffrey Studio Dancers. Soon, they performed in places like India, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, and even at the White House. In 1958, Joffrey also choreographed an opera called The Good Soldier Schweik for the New York City Opera.
The Joffrey Ballet's New Homes
The Robert Joffrey Ballet moved to New York City Center in 1966. They changed their name to the City Center Joffrey Ballet. Later, in 1982, the company moved its main activities to Los Angeles. Then, in 1995, it moved to Chicago. After moving to Chicago, it was called the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Now, it is simply known as the Joffrey Ballet.
The company was known for trying new things in dance. Besides Joffrey's own works, they performed ballets by Gerald Arpino. Arpino was Joffrey's long-time co-director. The company also showed works by famous choreographers like George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and Twyla Tharp. Robert Joffrey was proud to have a wide variety of dances. He brought modern dance to ballet audiences. The Joffrey Ballet was also the first American company to perform works by Danish choreographer August Bournonville.
Robert Joffrey also had a different idea for his dancers. Most ballet companies rank their dancers, which means dancers know what kind of roles they will get. Joffrey wanted an ensemble group. This meant dancers could easily switch between leading roles. This helped create a stronger feeling of teamwork and unity in the company.
Awards and Recognition
Robert Joffrey was a very respected figure in the dance world. He was a co-president of the International Dance Committee. He was also a member of the National Council of the Arts. He won several important awards, including the Dance Magazine Award, the Capezio Award, and New York City's Handel Medallion.
Robert Joffrey's Legacy
Robert Joffrey passed away in New York City on March 25, 1988, at the age of 57. He was buried at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. To protect the reputation of his dance company, his obituaries first stated that he died from organ failure.
In 2000, Robert Joffrey was honored. He was added to the National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame. His work continues to inspire dancers and audiences around the world.
See also
- List of dancers
