Wilkins and Shives final bow with Mr. Arpino and Artistic Director Ashley Wheater

On May 25th the Joffrey ended its 2007-2008 season at the Auditorium Theater with a farewell performance honoring Maia Wilkins, Michael Levine and Willy Shives. Three major dancers who have influenced and shaped the Joffrey as the company it is today. Shives will stay within the Joffrey family as a ballet master next season and Levine and Wilkins will continue their artistic endeavors guesting nationally and internationally. As a dancer, I feel so fortunate to have shared the stage with such incredible artists and will miss them immensely! It was such a memorable event watching their final performance amongst my peers…having seen numerous retirement performances as a student in new york it is quite a different feeling when experiencing firsthand. Levine and Wilkins performed Aprino’s “Sea Shadow”, Wilkins and Shives performed Arpino’s ” Ruth Ricordi per due”, and Shives surprised everyone with a solo choreographed by fellow dancer Brian McSween. Additional ballets from Joffrey’s spring season buttressed this special program; Twyla Tharp’s “Waterbaby Bagatelles”, Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom”, and Lar Lubovitch’s “…Smile with my heart”. Tears were shed, bouts of laughter, stories told…the incredible impact of Levine, Wilkins, and Shives will never vanish. Thanks for the memories, thanks for the lessons, thanks for the inspiration!

Levine and Wilkins after Arpino’s “Sea Shadow”.

Shives and Wilkins in Tudor’s “Lilac garden”

Wilkins and I at Joffrey’s 2008 Spring Gala