The Joffrey Ballet is proud to announce that a dynamic video installation featuring members of the company will animate the acclaimed 150 Media Stream public art exhibition at 150 N. Riverside Plaza as the inaugural output of Action Lines, a new production company formed here by a pair of Joffrey Ballet Company Artists, Xavier Núñez and Dylan Gutierrez, and writer and film producer Eric Grant. Established in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, Action Lines was created as a company by and for independent performing artists. Its goals are to bring new perspectives to dance films, and to provide opportunities to strengthen the bonds between the performing arts and digital media.
Its inaugural work, Interim Avoidance, is a seven-minute piece featuring six members of The Joffrey Ballet: Edson Barbosa, Olivia Duryea, Dylan Gutierrez, Dara Holmes, Hyuma Kiyosawa, and Jeraldine Mendoza. It will be on view at 150 N. Riverside Plaza from Feb. 1 – April 30.
As described by Gutierrez and Núñez: “Interim Avoidance seeks to provide a sense of closeness during the waning days of the pandemic. The dancers of The Joffrey Ballet have found themselves all dressed up with nowhere to perform. Six dancers emerge in a void, unsure of their purpose. A beam of red light beckons them like a stage manager on opening night, offering a moment of respite from their collective solitude. Never ones to give up an opportunity, they launch into the movements and shapes for which they have trained so long. A determination to bring joy, to excite, to spark inspiration with dance, the performers urge us all to remember that even in the darkest times, loneliness is nothing more than an Interim Avoidance.”
“The Joffrey was founded with the intention of being more than a dance company,” said Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of the Joffrey. “This collaboration speaks to that. As difficult as it has been to get through the pandemic, several of our artists are putting creative energy toward different passions and interests—from education to graphic design to film. Action Lines and 150 Media Stream have created a brilliant installation that highlights the beauty of our company. It is a thrill to support it and to see it come to life.”
“An important part of our mission is to provide a platform for Chicago artists and organizations,” said Yuge Zhou, Curator of 150 Media Stream. “We are excited to open our 2021 arts program with this mesmerizing video installation that merges performing arts and technology on a unique stage.”
Viewing Hours
Interim Avoidance showings will take place Feb. 1 – April 30 at 150 N. Riverside Plaza, Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 9:30 AM, and 4:30 – 8:00 PM, and Saturdays: 1:00-7:00 PM. All attendees are required to wear a face covering.
About 150 Media Stream
The 150 Media Stream, located in the lobby of 150 N. Riverside Plaza, is a unique public media art installation divided into 89 LED blades. It stretches over 150 feet long and reaches 22 feet high, the largest structure of its kind in the city. Launched in 2017, the 150 Media Stream showcases commissioned work by emerging and renowned local and international artists on a monthly basis. The 150 Media Stream Arts Program also includes strategic partnerships with many major cultural institutions and universities, engaging a cross-section of diverse communities. Visit www.150mediastream.com to learn more.
The Joffrey Crisis Stabilization Fund
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of the Joffrey’s 2020 Spring production of Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote and all performances of the 2020-2021 season — an estimated earned revenue loss of more than $9 million. The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, and Joffrey Community Engagement have moved to virtual programming and limited in-person classes indefinitely.
This season, the Joffrey will rely almost entirely on contributed revenue to meet its financial commitments. The establishment of the Joffrey Crisis Stabilization Fund attempts to recoup lost funds stemming from Covid-19 and maintain basic operations through October 2021. To date, the Joffrey has raised $9.5 million of its $12 million goal.
About The Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for more than 60 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.
Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.
The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2020-2021 Season Sponsors: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, The Florian Fund, and Live Music Sponsors Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners Chicago Athletic Clubs, and Athletico Physical Therapy, official provider of physical therapy for The Joffrey Ballet.
For more information on Action Lines, The Joffrey Ballet and its virtual programs, visit www.joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.