The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago: All-Stars October 24, 2010

The Joffrey Ballet's 2010-2011 Season opens with a mixed repertory program of Company Premieres, highlighting 20th century New York icons. The program will include Christopher Wheeldon's emotionally resonant 'After the Rain (2005).' Set to the minimalist, classical music of Arvo Part, 'After the Rain' is in two sections that are strikingly different in tone, with the first section marked by steel gray costumes and backdrop with three couples creating bold lines and intricate lifts. The second section shifts to a warmer palette as dancers embody an emotional relationship, at times becoming tender and connected while at other times pulling away or struggling to find each other. The bill will also offer George Balanchine's 'Stravinsky Violin Concerto,' which was revised in 1972 from a previous choreographic endeavor titled Balustrade that premiered in 1941. Using the opening Toccata, two central Arias and the final Capriccio from Stravinsky's 'Violin Concerto in D,' Balanchine forms contrasting pas de deux for two different couples. Dancers resemble musical notes floating over the stage in Balanchine's sensual and saucy homage to the genius of Igor Stravinksy.