The Joffrey Ballet 2015-2016 Annual Report by The Joffrey Ballet

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 2016

A S H L E Y W H E AT E R ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

GREG CAMERON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A YEAR OF BOLD MOVES Dancer Edson Barbosa. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

LET TER OF REFLECTION

On December 27, 2015, the curtain closed on Robert Joffrey’s beloved Nutcracker for the last time and a sold-out crowd of 3,900 rose to its feet—an exclamation point capping our company’s first 60 years and setting the tone for our future.

JOFFREY BALLET

Thanks to the spirit that drives us and the stalwart commitment of our supporters, The Joffrey Ballet today stands taller than ever, ready to play a leading role in the City of Chicago and throughout the world of dance. This past year was one of transition: filled with opportunities to celebrate our legacy in the city we call home and within the art form we love, and defined by bold moves that will shape the Joffrey and its mission in the years to come. On our stages, we continued to expand ballet’s boundaries. We commissioned a worldclass artistic team for our upcoming new Nutcracker; amplified artistic voices across a wide spectrum—renowned and emerging, classical and contemporary; and pushed ourselves to new technical and dramatic limits. Audiences responded with record-breaking attendance. In our communities, we continued to grow our partnerships with Chicago Public Schools and community organizations. Working in true collaboration with our neighborhood partners, we shared the joy and value of dance more broadly than ever, through both in-school programs and public performances. And as we brought our Academy and our Company more closely together, with a unified vision and a shared Artistic Director, we continued to elevate our position as a world-class dance academy—one that is grounded in our city, open to students from all backgrounds, and focused on animating dance’s future. Our first class of Levine Bridge students from Chicago Public Schools went en pointe while our trainees took top prizes at the Youth America Grand Prix, and we brought dance to parks throughout the Chicago Park District while bringing emerging choreographers with underrepresented perspectives to the foreground. All of this is only possible because of our success behind the scenes—and that work begins with your support. As patrons and volunteers have stepped forward—including on our growing Board, under Chair Zach Lazar’s exemplary leadership—we have been able to build the strongest organization the Joffrey has ever had. From collegial and successful negotiations on a new five-year dancers’ contract to the funding of our ambitious new Nutcracker, this year put us on an even firmer foundation for our future. We were honored when the Stanford Business School selected us for a case study on exemplary nonprofit arts management, reinforcing the progress we have made together. So today, we celebrate a year of bold moves with you. And tomorrow, with your support, we will continue moving forward—so we can move audiences, expand dance, and transform cultural possibilities in the City of Chicago and beyond.

ASHLEY WHEATER Artistic Director Cover: Miguel Angel Blanco and Christine Rocas. Photo by Cheryl Mann. Above: Ashley Wheater and Greg Cameron. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

GREG CAMERON Executive Director THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 3

COMPANY

BOLD MOVES:

Expanding ballet’s boundaries With one foot planted in our proud heritage, we strode boldly forward in the 2015–2016 season to explore and expand the potential of ballet today. Throughout a season filled with both world premieres and old favorites, passionate intimacy and unbound imagination, we marked The Joffrey Ballet’s 60th anniversary by honoring our founder’s artistic vision—one that speaks to everyone because it embraces the power of dance in the here and now. We continued to take risks and push ourselves beyond technical, artistic, and dramatic boundaries—and we continued to grow our audience and bring in new people. From the critics and seasoned balletgoers who told us our performances were among the best and most enjoyable they had ever seen, to new audience members, young and old, who approached us with excitement and gratitude after their first ballet, this season confirmed the Joffrey as a cultural leader in Chicago and for the nation.

Dancer Yoshihisa Arai. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

COMPANY

The Company’s year in bold moves:

41 DANCERS

WORLD PREMIERES

CHICAGO PREMIERES

PERFORMANCES IN CHICAGO AND FIVE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

We staged daring performances in Chicago and beyond. In October, we opened our season with the American premiere of Sylvia, John Neumeier’s reimagining of classical mythology for the 21st century. Our dancers performed this colorful and abstract work with a dramatic expressiveness the New York Times praised as “rare in American ballet.” In April, we took this daring spirit to Cleveland for Bartok on Stage: two Yuri Possokhov world premieres with the Cleveland Orchestra that could not get “much more gripping, or more darkly beautiful” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer).

We made space for new perspectives. Our two repertory programs—September’s Millennials and February’s Bold Moves—took audiences across the full spectrum of contemporary ballet, with a diverse set of voices speaking to our emotions in the face of constant change and renewal, the forces that pull us apart, and the human desire for beauty and strength.

We brought the spirit of our past into the work that will define our future. Twenty-eight years after its debut, Robert Joffrey’s beloved Nutcracker closed to full houses and rapturous audiences, breaking all previous ticket records. And as we closed out our season in May, ready to usher in a new era for the Joffrey, we honored our founder’s legacy with one of his favorite ballets: Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, a classic perfectly suited to the dramatic and artistic range of the 41-member ballet company that bears his name.

PERCENT INCREASE IN TICKET SALES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 5

PROFILE

Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

PROFILE

BOLD VISIONS:

Beginning a new era Rosemarie Buntrock remembers when it was still a citywide dream. A native of New York—a place where “no matter how poor you are, you could feel rich with all the arts around”—Rosemarie and her husband Dean were among the earliest supporters working to give the Joffrey a home in Chicago, and Chicago a ballet company to call its own. It felt far from assured. “I remember looking at the numbers and telling her, ‘It’s not going to work. It’s not going to make it,’” Dean says. More than two decades later, the Joffrey has not only laid deep roots in Chicago, but bloomed into a cultural leader. And this year, with the support of visionary patrons like the Buntrocks, we planted the seeds of a new tradition for a vibrant era, commissioning and funding a new Nutcracker from Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. It was an idea Wheeldon and Artistic Director Ashley Wheater had discussed for a decade—and a vision that took shape here. Set during the construction of the 1893 World’s Fair, Wheeldon’s Nutcracker reimagines ballet’s most beloved classic from the

Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock. Photo by Dan Rest.

perspective of Marie, a worker’s daughter and “a dreamer who has very little but her dreams.” With our community’s support, Wheeldon is bringing together an acclaimed team of writers, set designers, lighting and projection designers, and puppeteers to capture “that magical moment when Chicago transformed into a beacon of wonder.”

“ Rosemary and Dean Buntrock (along with 25 other donors listed on page 26) made a philanthropic investment early in 2016 when Christopher Wheeldon’s Nutcracker was little more than a dream. We called them our “believers” — and their early investments made it possible for the Joffrey to start work on the production that would premiere in December. For Rosemarie and Dean, seeing the Joffrey rise to meet its next era with boldness, creativity, and a world-class artistic core represents all they could have hoped for so many years ago. This new production, focused on a working-class Chicago girl transported through a wondrous dreamscape, will resonate with generations of audiences and dancers, and more importantly with the next generation of Chicagoans. “Art like this makes you dream,” Rosemarie says. “We don’t teach that enough in school anymore. But the arts can be a form of dreaming for young people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity. ” It’s an experience that speaks to our community today—and a vision Wheeldon’s Nutcracker will make a reality for years to come. THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 7

ACADEMY

BOLD MOVES:

Animating dance’s future This year marked a new era for the Joffrey Academy— the link between our communities and our Company, where the future of dance takes form. For the past seven years, the Joffrey Academy of Dance has trained the next generation of dancers, created opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to learn how to dance, and made space in the dance world for the voices and perspectives of a new, diverse generation. And this year, we began the next stage in the Academy’s evolution, stepping forward as a world-class dance academy grounded in our Company’s spirit and in our city. In 2016, our leadership and Board created a more seamless link between the Academy and the Company by naming Ashley Wheater Artistic Director of the Academy. With a singular artistic vision across the entire organization, our students now have more access to the artistry and experience of our entire Company, and our Company is actively shaping future dancers— and the future of dance.

Photo by Cheryl Mann.

ACADEMY

The Academy’s year in bold moves:

145

CLASSES OFFERED EACH WEEK

149

ACADEMY STUDENTS ON SCHOLARSHIP

ADVANCED ACADEMY TRAINEES AND STUDIO COMPANY MEMBERS

COMPANY DANCERS WHO TRAINED AT THE JOFFREY ACADEMY

Our strength as a pre-professional program. Demand for Academy classes continues to rise: for the first time, our pre-professional programs were completely full, with many aspiring students on a waiting list. We began offering ESL classes to help international students transition to new lives and careers in America, and saw graduates placed in companies across the country—from Boston to Europe. And in February 2016, we received the Outstanding School Award at the regional Youth America Grand Prix competition, where several Academy dancers also won awards for their individual accomplishments.

Our reach into Chicago’s communities. In November 2015, we continued a partnership with the Chicago Park District to bring ballet into communities where access to the arts is limited. Our Trainees and Studio Company dancers performed a 45-minute version of The Nutcracker at Englewood’s Hamilton Park, and more than 700 audience members from the neighborhood and surrounding areas crowded in to see each of the two shows, filling the seats and even spilling onto the floor. And five years after our first group of Beth Levine Bridge Program scholarship students joined the Academy from Chicago Public Schools, they went en pointe—a major milestone for them and for us.

Our commitment to diversifying and democratizing dance. Now in its sixth year, Winning Works continues to create opportunities for a new and diverse generation of choreographers by recognizing and showcasing the work of emerging ALAANA (African, Latino, Asian, Arab, and Native American) artists. In the program’s final year at the Museum of Contemporary Art, all three shows sold out. The performances created by choreographers Jeffrey Cirio, Christian Denice, and Mariana Oliviera featured Academy students and drew on everything from step dancing to the California drought to Ariel Dorfman’s play Death and the Maiden for inspiration.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 9

PROFILE

Photo by Cheryl Mann.

PROFILE

BOLD VISIONS:

The Polk Bros. Foundation believes in ballet without barriers Frank Baiocchi knows what arts education can mean for disadvantaged students. As Senior Program Officer at the Polk Bros. Foundation, he has seen the research—and the results firsthand. “Students who are engaged in the arts perform better academically,” he says. “Their social skills improve because they’re learning how to express themselves and connect with others. And access to the arts can transform students’ lives: it can be their window into other perspectives and cultures, and a window into their own imaginations.”

This year, the Polk Bros. Foundation took that partnership a step further, making a gift to help the Joffrey break down the barriers between Chicago’s cultural institutions and so many students throughout the city. With the Foundation’s support, the Joffrey is developing an interactive study guide for Christopher Wheeldon’s new Nutcracker—so teachers can help their students understand the local history behind it, connect the ballet’s themes to their lives, and contextualize their experience afterward. “Part of understanding that dance is for everyone is making sure people have the tools to interpret what they’re seeing. We don’t want them to get excited and then have nothing to do with it.”

Because funding for the arts can vary widely, the Polk Bros. Foundation has supported high-quality arts education in Chicago Public Schools for decades—and seen the Joffrey as a key partner for over 20 years.

From teaching young women on the South Side the five basic ballet positions to opening a student’s eyes to the story behind the story, the Joffrey today is wherever Chicago needs it to be to push equitable arts education and meaningful arts experiences forward.

“The Joffrey doesn’t come to a school, do a dance workshop, and leave,” Frank says. “They help students struggle through the creative process. They work with them day after day to improve their technique. Working with the same students for years helps keep them interested in dance and learn the skills and qualities dance can teach you, like focus, confidence, and body awareness.”

According to Frank, “The artistic integrity on the mainstage and in rehearsal studios is being translated into the classroom. We’ve seen the growth of an arc of dance opportunities, from kindergarten through eighth grade and beyond. The strong partnerships with underresourced schools, the caliber of the teaching artists, the meaningful time they spend with students, and their attention to evaluation: it all adds up to an impressive and impactful program.”

Photo by Cheryl Mann.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 11

COMMUNIT Y ENGAGEMENT

BOLD MOVES:

In Chicago’s neighborhoods This year, we stepped out as the dance partner for the City of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools. For our Community Engagement programs, 2015–2016 was all about access: financial access to dance classes for families that could not otherwise afford them, helping children and teenagers use dance to access new talents and ways of expressing themselves, and making dance accessible—even to those who are new to the art form. As we partnered with more schools and neighborhood arts organizations than ever before, we took the next step in our relationship with our communities.

Photo by Cheryl Mann.

COMMUNIT Y ENGAGEMENT

Community Engagement’s year in bold moves:

6,000

Cementing our place as a key arts educator in Chicago.

STUDENTS SERVED

Our approach to developing partnerships has always been proactive— but never prescriptive. And with the addition of Program Coordinator Evelyn Sanchez to the staff, Director of Community Engagement Erica Edwards and her team are better positioned than ever before to deepen our partnerships with families, schools, and neighborhoods.

This year, we collaborated on 49 in-school programs across the city— many of our partner schools hosted multiple programs. For schools that were not able to afford year-long programs but still wanted to offer their students an opportunity to dance, we provided custom residencies. 5,000 students from schools all across Chicago came to the Auditorium Theatre to see a student matinee performance of The Nutcracker.

IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

LARGEST PROVIDER OF DANCE PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Developing a sustained approach to community partnership and impact. We wrapped up the 20 for 20! program, which celebrated the Joffrey’s 20th anniversary in Chicago with a series of performances, workshops, and lectures held in different venues throughout our city. Two of our final performances were some of our most memorable, including a collaboration with the Neolea Hellenic Dancers for the Field Museum’s Greeks exhibit, as well as a performance at a Thanksgiving dinner for the Children’s Hospital-University of Illinois’ pediatric cancer patients and their families. Although our 20th anniversary year is over, our drive to cultivate partnerships and stretch our students is stronger than ever. We look forward to working with the Chicago Park District and community centers across the city to clarify their needs and interests and work in partnership with them to develop new programs.

Creating a space for joyful self-expression. At our Middle School Dance Club Spring Showcase, Telling a Story Through Dance, students had an opportunity to choreograph their own dances—and, in the process, learn how to tell a story through movement. Many took the opportunity to work through their lived experiences: dances creatively addressed bullying, gun violence, and the sometimes-tough personal transformation that happens in high school. And for the first time, students from our Extensions and Exelon Strobel Step-Up programs had the opportunity to perform at the Gala dinner with Company dancers—and could not have been more excited to learn the same choreography the Joffrey’s professional dancers perform.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 13

PROFILE

Photo by Cheryl Mann.

PROFILE

BOLD VISIONS:

Coming home and giving back After a career as a flamenco dancer and dance instructor that took her all over Chicago, across the country, and around the world, Evelyn Sanchez returned to the Joffrey this year—where she found her place as an arts professional. Born and raised in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood, Evelyn began taking hip hop classes at a local studio at age eight, and continued dancing at her neighborhood grade school. That was where teachers first spotted her potential. They encouraged her to apply for a scholarship with Ensemble Español, a local Spanish dance company, while introducing her to other types of dance after class, including ballet— an art she wanted to embrace, but that always felt just out of reach.

That all changed in high school, when Evelyn joined Chicago Public Schools’ Advanced Arts Program and studied ballet with Joffrey dancers Michael Smith and Erica Lynette Edwards, both members of Joffrey’s Community Engagement department. “Once I met Erica and Michael and realized there were people of color dancing ballet, I fell right back in love with it. And that was the push that told me, ‘This should be your career.’ I realized that if they could make a career dancing, I could, too.” Now, as a Community Engagement Program Coordinator, Evelyn teaches a dozen dance classes a week to CPS students while overseeing current programs and helping the department create new programs to reach more communities. But for her, it’s the moments with her students that stand out: “Watching an energetic child embrace the discipline of dance, knowing those habits will pave the way to success in any career. Seeing students’ eyes light up when they come downtown for the first time and realize that this part of the city is for them, too. Hearing them whisper excitedly before class or a performance at the Auditorium Theatre.” And knowing that she’s setting an example of the wide possibilities in their future.

“ Even as a little kid watching Channel 11, when ballet would come on, there was something that pulled me in. I was in love with it from day one,” she says. “But I didn’t see that many people of color in ballet. That’s why I felt more comfortable dancing flamenco.”

“ I see the same potential—the same hunger— that I had dancing when I was their age,” she says. “Seeing someone at a place like the Joffrey who’s just like them—who went to CPS, who speaks Spanish— they know they can do it, too.”

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 15

FINANCES

2015–2016 Revenue Our 2016 fiscal year found The Joffrey Ballet making bold moves toward putting our strategic plan into action, and carefully managing our expenses while making necessary investments to keep pushing forward. Thanks to our dedicated donors, subscribers, and Academy of Dance families and participants, our 2016 fiscal year ended with an operating surplus (prior to depreciation) of $164,831—and an overall surplus of $1,813,367.

$7,947,839

TICKET SALES AND TOURING 11%

$7,270,170 CONTRIBUTIONS

40% 7%

$1,420,342

$20,044,720

SPECIAL EVENTS

TOTAL REVENUE

$2,204,079 JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE 36%

$190,429 COMMUNIT Y ENGAGEMENT

$1,011,861 OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME

FINANCES

2015–2016 Expenses Our box office sales and touring broke records this year, generating nearly $8 million thanks to the popularity of the final performances of Robert Joffrey’s Nutcracker and a strong subscription series. Fundraising for the new Christopher Wheeldon Nutcracker continued, with an impressive 74% of the $4 million goal raised by fiscal year end. And financial support for our Community Engagement programs made the opportunity to dance possible for more than 6,000 Chicago Public School students. — Kathleen Hechinger, Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer

$14,057,197

ARTISTIC

6% 3%

$1,565,873 JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE

$504,969 COMMUNIT Y ENGAGEMENT

$1,141,404

$18,231,353 TOTAL EXPENSES

77%

FUNDRAISING

$612,313 SUPPORTING

$349,597 COSTS AND DIRECT BENEFITS TO DONORS RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENTS

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 17

EVENTS

Sylvia Luncheon

SYLVIA LUNCHEON NUTCRACKER FAMILY DINNER GALA

Ellie Forman and Kathleen Henson. Photo by Barry Brechstein.

SYLVIA LUNCHEON Co-Chairs | Ellie Forman and Kathleen Henson The Sylvia Luncheon held on October 6, 2015 at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel featured an intimate conversation with internationally-acclaimed Sylvia Choreographer John Neumeier, Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, and Hedy Weiss, Theater and Dance Critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Nearly 200 guests joined The Joffrey Ballet Women’s Board as they celebrated the upcoming Joffrey premiere of John Neumeier’s Sylvia.

Dancer Jeraldine Mendoza. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

EVENTS

Nutcracker Family Dinner

Photo by Dan Rest.

Gala

Photo by Dan Rest.

NUTCRACKER FAMILY DINNER

GALA

Co-Chairs | Merritt DeWitt and Sandi Hartstein

Co-Chairs | Annie and Kris Atzeff, Jamie-Clare Flaherty and Nicholas Colvin, Yvette and Brian Karaba, Anne and Zachary Lazar, Amanda and Jess Merten, Cheryle and Joel Williamson

The Women’s Board of The Joffrey Ballet hosted the Nutcracker Family Dinner on December 6, 2015 to celebrate the farewell performances of Robert Joffrey’s Nutcracker. More than 400 guests attended the matinee performance of The Nutcracker followed by fun activity stations, lively entertainment, and a delicious familystyle dinner in the ballroom at the Radisson Blu Aqua. Nutcracker Prince Sponsors | JPMorgan Chase The DeWitt Family

The Gala, celebrating 60 years of art and innovation, was held on April 15, 2016 and featured a one-nightonly performance at the Auditorium Theatre followed by an elegant dinner and dancing at the Chicago Hilton. Nearly 750 guests celebrated the artistry, innovation, and transformation of the Company in its 60 year history. Presenting Sponsor | BMO Wealth Management

Clara Sponsor | Sandi and Barry Hartstein Land of Sweets Sponsor | Wrigley, A Subsidiary of Mars Inc. Fritz Sponsor | Walgreens

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 19

DONORS

BOLD MOVES:

Visonary Support

Dancers Temur Suluashvili and Anna Gerberich. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

DONORS

Donors CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful to our donors for providing funding that ensures quality and engaging experiences for a variety of audiences. The following is a list of those who made gifts and pledges in support of the annual fund, special events, and projects, in the amount of $1,000 or more, between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016.

$500,000+

The Satter Foundation Bill and Orli Staley Foundation

$50,000–$99,999

Allstate Insurance Company BMO Wealth Management ITW JHL Capital Group, LLC The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Michael Larsen, Pamela Strobel, and Jennifer Larsen. Photo by Dan Rest.

MacLean-Fogg Company The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust

Alphawood Foundation Chicago

Sage Foundation

Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa

Wells Fargo

The Shubert Foundation

$25,000–$49,999 $100,000–$499,999

Abbott Fund Athletico Physical Therapy Chicago Athletic Clubs Conagra Brands

Anonymous Abbott Laboratories The Boeing Company The Brinson Foundation Anne Kaplan and Dia Weil.. Photo by Dan Rest.

Dentons

Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation

Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation

The Chicago Community Trust

$10,000–$24,999

Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation Trust

Exelon

Ariel Investments, LLC

Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company

Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

Baxter International Inc.

Kendra Scott

Meta S. and Ronald Berger Family Foundation

The Walter E. Heller Foundation JW Marriott Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. The Reva and David Logan Foundation NIB Foundation Polk Bros. Foundation Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd.

Anonymous (2)

Burberry

JPMorgan Chase Kovler Family Foundation Kryolan Professional Make-Up Macy’s New York Choreographic Institute Nuveen Investments, Inc.

Jane Ellen Murray Foundation

DeSantis Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

Sonja & Conrad Fischer Foundation

Negaunee Foundation

GCM Grosvenor

Prince Charitable Trusts

GrubHub, Inc.

Stout Risius Ross, Inc.

Jenner & Block LLP

Walgreens

Jerome Robbins Foundation and Trust

Restoration Hardware Judy A. Saslow Gallery Dr. Scholl Foundation Southwest Airlines U.S. Bank Foundation William Blair & Co., LLC

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 21

DONORS

Susie Kiphart and Sonja Fischer. Photo by Dan Rest.

Ashley Wheater and Jane Ellen Murray. Photo by Dan Rest.

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT (continued) $5,000–$9,999

$2,500–$4,999

$1,500–$2,499

$1,000–$1,499

Credit Suisse

Anonymous

Amsted Industries

The Marvin and Elaine Gottlieb Family Foundation

Bradford Allen Realty Service

Burke-Brunger Fund Of Horizons Foundation

The Ann Barzel/Patrick Henry Arts Fund

John R. Halligan Charitable Fund The Irving Harris Foundation Illinois Arts Council Agency Robert R. McCormick Foundation Nordstrom, Inc. Revel Global Events Sidley Austin, LLP Siragusa Family Foundation Stanley and Lucy Lopata Charitable Foundation Workiva Wrigley, A Subsidiary of Mars, Inc.

The Colmar Foundation Gerald T. Nowak, PC, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. Sahara Enterprises, Inc.

Origin Ventures

Smithburg Family Foundation

The Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Foundation

Nathan Tannenbaum Foundation, Inc. Tawani Foundation The William F. O’Connor Foundation

Bernstein Charitable Foundation Dillon Foundation Jewell Events Catering Keybank National Association Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. Stearns Family Charitable Fund

DONORS

Donors INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

Beth Levine

Bill and Orli Staley

Ms. Rita Spitz and Mr. David Blears Pamela and Russ Strobel Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Townsend

$50,000–$99,999

Sandy and Roger Deromedi Patti Eylar and Charles Gardner

Mr. and Mrs. Miles D. White Elizabeth Yntema and Mark Ferguson for the Ferguson-Yntema Family Trust

George Jewell Mr. and Mrs. Joel V. Williamson

Fred Eychaner Margot and Josef Lakonishok

$100,000–$499,999

Mary Jo and Doug Basler Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock Pamella Roland DeVos and Daniel DeVos Sonia Florian Sherry Lea and Richard Holson lll Anne L. Kaplan Nancy and Sanfred Koltun

William and Shelley Farley. Photo by Dan Rest.

Marc and Sharen Berman Nelson D. Cornelius Trust

Brian and Yvette Karaba Olivia Kittle and Brian Kittle Julie and Guy Lakonishok Mr. and Mrs. Larry Langdon Michael and Jennifer Larsen Mr. and Mrs. Zachary D. Lazar, Jr. Martha and Rich Melman

$10,000–$24,999

Ann and Tom Nash

Anonymous

Alexandra Nichols and John D. Nichols

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Allen

The Crown Family Mr. and Mrs. David H. Hoffmann Dennis D. Kendzora Susan and Richard† Kiphart

Annie Atzeff and Kristopher Atzeff

John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe

Kay and Rhett Butler

Cari and Michael Sacks

Mr. and Mrs. Adam DeWitt

Bruce Sagan and Bette Cerf Hill

Dr. Jill S. Dodds and Dr. Guriqbal Nandra

Coco B. Meers and Ethan Meers Jane Ellen Murray and Ed Wentz Mr. and Mrs. John Patience Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Smith, Jr.

Sandi and Barry Hartstein

Lucy Minor

$25,000–$49,999 $500,000+

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters III

Sherry and Michael Guthrie

Jeffrey C. Rubenstein

Eric C. Schieber, M.D.

Deborah and Cody Engle

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Sharp

Lorna Ferguson and Terry Clark

Ms. Courtney C. Shea

Mr. and Mrs. F. Conrad Fischer

Amanda Williamson and Matthew Johnson

Suzanne and Albert M. Friedman

D.L. Morriss, Greg Cameron, Jazelle Morriss, and Greg Thompson. Photo by Dan Rest.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 23

DONORS

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT (continued) $5,000â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$9,999

Anonymous (2) Mr. and Mrs. William Adams IV

Dr. Lynda Lane and Ben Lane-Korn

Ada Addington and Whitney Addington

Ms. Whitney Lasky and Mr. Jerry Lasky

Emily Strobel Amiet and Michael Amiet

Meir Lewis

Melissa Anton and John Anton Jason and Yolanda Tyler, April Daly, and Miguel Angel Blanco. Photo by Dan Rest.

Nancy Gottlieb Bauer Marlene Breslow-Blitstein and Berle Blitstein Greg Cameron and Greg Thompson Mrs. Joyce Chelberg Michael Cragg Mr. and Mrs. William Farley Christine Fisher and Paul Fisher Tiffany Flannagan and Chip Flannagan Katherine and Richard Freiburger Dana Hokin Garvey and Robert Garvey

Adam and Merritt DeWitt. Photo by Dan Rest.

Michelle Goodman and Larry Goodman Sabrina and Antonio Gracias Richard and Mary L. Gray Joan Hall Janet W. and Robert A. Helman Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hildy Leslie Hindman

Charlie Gardner and Patti Eylar. Photo by Dan Rest.

Dennis and Kathleen Klaeser

Jess and Amanda Merten D. Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies Hallie Blanchard Rehwaldt and Thomas Rehwaldt Tricia Rooney and Ross Shelleman Susan and David Ruder Carol Ann Saikhon Patricia Schmalzl and William Schmalzl Mr. and Mrs. David Sensibar Kathryn Babcock Shaffer and Jack Shaffer Carolyn and Michael Sheridan Lisa Silverberg and Jim Challenger Denise Littlefield Sobel Ben Strobel Cheryl Tama Oblander and Scott Oblander Jennifer Tengelsen and Erich Tengelsen Andrew Thorrens Dia Weil and Edward Weil Hilary and Barry Weinstein Diana and Stuart Widman

DONORS

Anonymous (2)

Jill Garling and Thomas Wilson

Dora Aalbregtse and R. John Aalbregtse

Mary Henderson and James Henderson

Bridgette, David and Chloë Alexander

Courtney A. Hoffmann and Sebastian Hoffmann

Evelyn Alter

Lauren Huefner

Dr. Emily L. Arch

Heidi and David Keeling

Kathryn Berti and Robert Berti

Jeffrey Kerr

$2,500–$4,999

Ms. Carolyn A. Blessing Mary Kay Mudd Bushonville and Art Bushonville Paul Chasnoff and Joe Hopper Wendy Lynn Chronister and Peter Rogers Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly Maureen Dugan and John Dugan Elizabeth Duquette Marilyn Fields and Larry Fields Mimi Frankel and Bud Frankel

Gianni Family. Photo by Dan Rest.

Laura Kofoid and David Ricci

Helen Hall Melchior John R. Menninger

Veronica Siegel

Pamela Meyer Patricia Miller and Christopher Miller Prof. Keith and Anne Moffat Peggy Morris and Pat Morris Alicia Mullen and Timothy Mullen Linda Curtis O’Bannon, MD

Jen Kurth and Brian Van Klompenberg

Lee and Sharon Oberlander

Dania Leemputte and Patrick Leemputte

Susan G. Oleari

Sherren Leigh Leslie Logsdon and Duncan Bourne Lisa Klimley Malkin and Cary J. Malkin Joan Malliband and David Malliband

Christine Ruttenberg and David Ruttenberg

Thomas O’Keefe

Virginia Owens and James Owens Catherine Perez and William Perez Victoria Poindexter and Joseph P. Gaynor III Carol Pollock

Elizabeth Marcus and Ira Belcove

Bonnie Price and Jack Hirsch

Heather Martin and Sean Martin

Mickey Rolfe

Lynda Silverman and Howard Silverman Dawn Stanislaw Constance and Orin Steinhaus Liz Stiffel Dr. Lauren Streicher and Mr. Jason Brett Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Tatar Carol Trapp and James Trapp Mr. and Mrs. John R. Walter Leslie Warner and Stephen Warner Elizabeth Wippman and Tom Wippman Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Zentner Julie Zuckerman and Daniel Zuckerman

Leticia Rodriguez-Marsico

Ashley Wheater with Margot Lakonishok, Elliana, Hadas, and Kayla Teuscher. Photo by Dan Rest.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 25

DONORS

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT (continued) $1,500–$2,499

Anonymous (3) Greg Albiero Patty Perkins Andringa Abbe Aron and Adam Aron Carey August and Brett August

Jamie-Clare Flaherty Arthur Frank Darcy Goldfarb, MD Keith Goldstein and Rodney Goldstein

Gary and Linda T.† Blumenshine

Deborah Gross and John Gross

Ms. Evelyn Bosenberg

Shana Guthman and David Guthman

Suzette Bross Bulley and Allan E. Bulley III Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Callahan, Jr. Gerald Carter Marge† and Lew Collens Pamela Conant Ray Coronado Lawrence Corry Bette Jane Crigger Pamela Crutchfield Dr. John Dainauskas Amina Dickerson and Julian Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Terence Donnelly Rees Donofrio and Joseph Donofrio Maia Dunkel Wendy Eager Christine Du Boulay Ellis Dr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Finder

A. Sue Samuels

Deej and Hunter Leggitt

Ms. Maggie Scheyer and Mr. Eric J. Scheyer

Dr. Richard E. Leithiser

Anthony and Susan Grosch

Tamara Buday and Robert Buday

Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Lawson III

Ann Gootee and James Gootee

Jennifer Birmingham

Carolyn Bucksbaum

Adrianne Rotfeld and Steve Rotfeld

Alexandra Leichtman

Stephanie Grinage and Richard Grinage

Anastasia and Gary Gutting Christy Hand and Matthew Hand Odele and Brent Hawkins K. Susan Heintz Cynthia Helle and Dan Helle Jim Henry Mr. and Mrs. John W. Higgins Sarai Hoffman and Stephen Pratt Alan J. Hommerding and Robert K. Personett Brooke Hubbuch and Nick Hubbuch Myrna Kaplan Sherry Kaplan and Barry Kaplan Masahiro Kasai and William Myers Marilyn Katz and Scott Chambers

Jennifer Ross

Robin and Jack Lavin

Sue-Gray Goller

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Beider lll

Anthony Bruck

Sarah Ladgenski and Derek Ladgenski

Dana Levinson and James Noonan

Sarah Schrup Terry Schwartz Glenn Selander

Mia Levy and Paul Levy

Thomas G. Sinkovic

Mr. and Mrs. Barry Litwin

Beth Smetana and Gerard Smetana

Beth Loeb Colleen Loughlin and John Sirek Judy and John MacLeod Mr. and Mrs. E. Barry Mansur George Mariner and Michael Payette Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Marks Jean McCabe and Joseph Missbrenner James D. McDonough Astrid A. McKinnon and McKay McKinnon Lynne Mcnown Jazelle Morriss and Daniel L. (D.L.) Morriss Barbara and Jonathan Moss Ken Norgan Sharon Olson and Fred Fleischbein Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pacholick Beth Parin Kristie Paskvan

Wendy Kilcollin and T. Eric Kilcollin

Mary Ellen Pavone, MD and Christopher Novak

Roberta Killeen and Timothy Killeen

Kathleen Pipala and Michael Pipala

Polly Kintzel

Bluford Putnam

Shirley A. Kubly

Stephen Reiss and Rena Hozore Reiss

Kathy Kalesperis Smith and Dion Grimes Smith Melissa and Chuck Smith Patricia Smith Shirley Stanley and Paul Stanley Patricia Sternberg Carol Stone and David Stone Lauren D.W. Tatar and Scott Borstein Courtney Thompson Nancy Timmers and Michael Timmers Dana Shepard Treister and Dr. Michael Roy Treister Richard and Noren Ungaretti Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Vail, Jr. Debbie Wang and David Hoyt Karen and Richard Weiland Olga Weiss and George Honig Mary Agnes Welsh William Ziemann

DONORS

Anonymous

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Krehbiel

Anne and Mark Bagan

Lew and Laurie Leibowitz

Sandra Bass

Peggy Lim and Yung Bong Lim

$1,000–$1,499

Christopher Begy Anne Searle Bent and Stephen Bent Judy Block and Philip Block †

Shaun Block and Andrew Block Virginia Bobins and Norman Bobins

Natalie Matwijiszyn Sue Mazzone and Don Mazzone Lisa Mezzetti Julie Moller and Scott Moller Amy Morrison Mary Nixon and Ted Nixon

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph A. L. Bogan, Jr.

Joanna Norcross

Debbie Buckley

Marcia Nowak and Gerald Nowak

Stephen Burns Carter Chinnis

Sheila Pizer and Howard Pizer

Michelle L. Collins

Madeleine Plonsker and Harvey Plonsker

Mrs. John C. Colman

Richard and Charlene Posner

Corinne Corky and Larry Richman

Lisa and Seth Prostic

Theresa Corrao

Christine Riker and Walter Riker

Chrissy Davis and Matt Davis

Carol Roberts

Margaret Duncan

Lois Scott and David May

Sue and Melvin Gray

Anne Shonk

Tracy Hamilton and Jay Hamilton

Marcey Siegel and Kenneth Siegel

Patricia and O.J. Heestand

Julia Simpson

Kathleen Henson

Craig Sirles

Dennis Holtschneider

Mary Sutherland

Zach Huesling and Jonathan Lehman

Mr. and Mrs. Todd Vieregg

Anne and Zach Lazar, Cheryle and Joel Williamson. Photo by Dan Rest.

John Walcher

Patricia Huffman and Robert Huffman

Joyce M. Wippman

Avril Klaff

Susan Schaalman Youdovin and Charlie Shulkin

Patricia Koldyke and Martin Koldyke Susan Koltun and Thomas Koltun

† Deceased Erica Edwards and Jamie-Clare Flaherty. Photo by Barry Brechstein.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 –2016 | 27

DONORS

Nutcracker Sponsors The Joffrey Ballet would like to thank our generous Nutcracker sponsors who made gifts through the 2015â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2016 season to support the creation and production of Christopher Wheeldonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nutcracker. Producing Sponsors

Margot and Josef Lakonishok Hancher Auditorium, The University of Iowa Sponsors

Additional support provided by

The Ann Barzel & Patrick Henry Arts Fund Meta S. and Ronald Berger Family Foundation with Rebecca and Jonathan Berger Joyce and Bruce Chelberg City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Suzanne and Albert M. Friedman Coco B. Meers and Ethan Meers Martha and Rich Melman

Mary Jo and Doug Basler

Ann and Tom Nash

Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock

National Endowment for the Arts

Conagra Brands

Polk Bros. Foundation

Sandy and Roger Deromedi

Prince Charitable Trusts

Pamella Roland DeVos and Daniel DeVos

Charles and Joann Raymond

Sonia Florian The Walter E. Heller Foundation Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Bill and Orli Staley Foundation

Ron Allen, Kathleen Hechinger, Kim and Chuck Swanson. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

Illustration by Julian Crouch.

DONORS

Memorial Gifts

Dale Cherry

Liz Sharp

Dr. and Mrs. David L. Faulk

Howard Clauser

Courtney Shea

Mrs. Patricia H. Gerber

Joan Colmar

Ross Shellman

Mr. Michael Goldberger

Robert Albee

April Daly

Scott Speck

Ms. Sue-Gray Goller

Gerald Arpino

Adam, Merritt, Abbey, Chase, and Maya DeWitt

Marina Tatar

Barbara and John Henigbaum

Muriel Auerbach Donna Bast Urby L. Hobbs Joyce Leonardi Brenda Sollitt Walter F. Tama Richard Wippman Pera Wirzup

Tribute Gifts Yoshihisa Arai Annie Atzeff Brett Batterson Christina Bourne Greg Cameron

Erica Edwards

Mr. Richard Higginbotham

Olga Thorrens

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Holzer

Patti Eylar

Ashley Wheater and Brian Johnson

Taylor Fikes

Diana Widman

Ms. Darlene Johnson

Jamie-Clare Flaherty

Darrell Windle

Mr. Stuart Kane

Charlie Gardner

Joel and Cheryle Williamson

Sue Gray-Goller

Liza Yntema

Jacqueline Jaffe Yvette Karaba Julie and Guy Lakonishok

Ms. Linda Levey Mr. John McAllister Mr. and Mrs. Keith Moffat

Sandi Hartstein Sarai Hoffman

Mr. Joe Hopper

Star Society

Drs. Bill and Elaine Moor Mrs. Jane Ellen Murray and Mr. Edwin R. Wentz Mr. Jonathan F. Orser Mr. and Mrs. Orin Steinhaus

Erin and Peter Lane

Mr. and Mrs. Brian W. Babcock, Sr.

Zach Lazar

Mr. D. Jeffrey Baddeley

Ms. Marilyn J. Ward

Barry Litwin

Mr. Paul Chasnoff and Mr. Joe Hopper

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Widman

Helen Melchior Jeff Rubenstein Camille Rudy

Ms. Elisabeth W. Szegho

Mrs. Anna Mary Zarrelli

Mrs. Christine Du Boulay Ellis Ms. Patti S. Eylar and Mr. Charles Gardner

Photo by Cheryl Mann.

THE JOFFREY BALLET | ANNUAL REPORT 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2016 | 29

DONORS

Sponsors SEASON SPONSORS

Abbott Fund Alphawood Foundation Chicago Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation NIB Foundation SEASON PARTNERS

Fox Ford Lincoln pamella roland Official Hotel

JW Marriott Official Provider of Physical Therapy

Athletico Physical Therapy Official Health Club

Chicago Athletic Clubs Domestic Airline Partner

Southwest Airlines

MILLENNIALS SPONSORS

Dancers Lucas Segovia, Amanda Assucena and Yoshihisa Arai. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

BOLD MOVES SPONSORS

COMMUNIT Y ENGAGEMENT

WINNING WORKS SPONSOR