Joffrey Ballet Expands Presence and Studio Space in Chicago's South Loop Neighborhood
The Joffrey Ballet is pleased to announce the establishment of new studio space and training facilities at 1920 South Wabash Avenue (formerly the Chicago Dance Academy studios), expanding the Joffrey’s reach to the South Loop and beyond, and marking a major step towards the completion of the organization’s five-year “Joffrey for All” strategic plan.
“The Joffrey’s expansion to the South Loop is another sign that Chicago’s Third Ward is a destination for lively, energetic culture and community building that encourages a diverse range of people, voices, and vocations" said Alderman Pat Dowell. "We are overjoyed to welcome Chicago’s iconic Joffrey Ballet to the neighborhood, adding to the many cultural institutions that make this particular part of the city so vibrant.”
An Expanded Presence in the South Loop
The expansion of Joffrey’s presence includes the purchase and re-energizing of the former studios of the Chicago Dance Academy, located at 1920 South Wabash Avenue. The space totals 5,314 square feet, with fully equipped studios with sprung floors, harlequin surfaces, and professional-grade sound equipment. The space—which conforms with all American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements—also includes a reception desk and waiting area, as well as two large locker rooms and break room with an expansive foyer, with nearby access to public parking and Chicago Transit Authority Green and Red Lines stops (within a two-block radius) and several CTA bus routes.
Joffrey Tower (10 East Randolph Street) will remain the company’s main headquarters. With its new performance home at the Lyric Opera House situated on the western edge of the downtown business district, this new studio space in the South Loop completes an easily accessible and highly visible triangle of locations. The Joffrey has spent its 25 years in Chicago deepening its roots in the city, building relationships with schools and educators, and providing a world-class dance education to thousands of students.
A Growing Academy and a “Joffrey for All”
In the midst the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, under the leadership of Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director, and Greg Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Joffrey developed a five-year strategic plan, set for completion in 2025, that rebrands educational programming at the Joffrey Academy and Joffrey Community Engagement under the mission “Joffrey for All.”
“Joffrey for All” envisions a three-tiered approach for a holistic Joffrey education, which include:
• Tier 1: A prospective students’ first exposure to dance via Joffrey Community Engagement
• Tier 2: Scholarships and further training at the Joffrey Academy of Dance
• Tier 3: A professional contract with The Joffrey Ballet or other major professional dance company
The establishment of the new Joffrey studios at 1920 South Wabash allows the Joffrey to offer more classes, provide more teaching opportunities, and reach more students in the Chicago region with a passion for dance than at any time in its history, while also increasing revenue through scholarship support.
