Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance
Robert Joffrey, with the help of Jerry Arpino changed dance forever with their influence in the ballet world. By following their adolescent dreams of having their own dance company, Americanized ballet from the ground up.
I found that the idea that a young 10-year-old Robert Joffrey wanted to create his own dance company and actually made his dream into a reality. Beginning with just six dancers and touring to various high schools and colleges, Joffrey was able to showcase his dancers and choreography to many audiences that had yet to hear of ballet. As time went on, Joffrey developed his company by bringing in different modern dance choreographers to work with his dancers and allow their movement to evolve. By 1962, his company endured a mid western tour where they made an appearance in Afghanistan. Since Joffrey’s father was born in Afghanistan, it particularly meant a lot to him to have the opportunity for his company to perform there. While on this tour, Joffrey’s company also visited Russia where they were able to show their citizens a new side of ballet.
One aspect of Robert Joffrey that I particularly love is his approach to his dancers. I was surprised and excited to see his male dancers as dancers rather than just being paired off with female dancers as their props. I loved the idea of male dancers dancing together with solely other male dancers and being given the opportunity to showcase their talent. I also took notice in the aspect that Joffrey did not measure his dancers as many other Ballet companies at the time did but base his dancers on what they were.
By 1969, Robert Joffrey’s company began to develop and perform pieces in response to the war. This point in time allowed for an important jump from the way Ballet was in the past and continue to evolve. I loved how Joffrey was able to have his dancers work with Twyla Tharp and create the opportunity to combine ballet with modern dance. This was brought to his company before dancers cross trained with other dance styles, allowing his dancers to become well-rounded in different ways of moving. This chance that Joffrey took with his company ended up launching Tharp’s career with ballet, giving her further opportunities to work with other ballet companies.
When learning about other ballet companies and their directors during this time, many of the dancer and teacher relationships were not allows appropriate or positive. Towards the end of the film, Robert Joffrey dies of AIDS. In the film when his dancers were talking of his death, they became very emotional and explained how Joffrey was like a father to them. Even with the many years that have passed, Joffrey’s dancers still felt the grief that they had felt return to them which shows just how much of a positive impact he had made to their lives.
