When The Joffrey Ballet announced that Chanel DaSilva would premiere a new work on its mainstage, it marked a milestone long in the making. DaSilva is the first Black woman to choreograph a mainstage work for Joffrey, and her piece—Wabash & You—premieres November 6–9, 2025 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago. The work centers on a Chicago love story, features live on-stage music by The Main Squeeze, and extends Joffrey’s commitment to commissioning new voices on its biggest platform. (Joffrey Ballet)
Beyond the headline, this commission is a powerful signal: the pipeline from development programs to the mainstage can and should elevate artists of color to the center of the repertory. It’s visibility, resources, and trust, all at once. For audiences, it’s a chance to see ballet in conversation with the city’s streets, rhythms, and people. (Harris Theater)
Who Is Chanel DaSilva?
Brooklyn-born and Juilliard-trained, DaSilva has emerged as a distinct voice whose works marry big musicality with human stories. Her path with Joffrey began with Winning Works (she created Borders in 2020) and grew into mainstage commissions that helped redefine who gets to set the tone of a season. In 2021, her moving piece Swing Low drew critical attention for its imagery and emotional clarity; you can read Chris Jones’s review here (Joffrey repost with credit to the original) and visit the original Chicago Tribune link as well:
- Joffrey repost of the review: https://joffrey.org/behind-the-scenes/review-in-swing-low-by-joffrey-ballet-angels-arrive-to-save-a-dancer/ (Joffrey Ballet)
- Original Tribune link: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/06/01/review-in-swing-low-by-the-joffrey-ballet-angels-arrive-to-save-a-dancer/
DaSilva’s latest Joffrey feature also confirms this new milestone and offers rich rehearsal details—like the live band challenge and “split-screen” staging ideas she’s playing with—underscoring her appetite for narrative and design. (Joffrey Ballet)
About Wabash & You
Set within “Joffrey at the Harris: Matters of the Heart,” Wabash & You follows a chance encounter that grows into an unforgettable romance, unfolding across familiar downtown textures. The program runs Nov 6–9, 2025 at the Harris Theater and features the Chicago Philharmonic; performance times span Thursday through Sunday with both matinee and evening options. (Chicago Philharmonic)
The Joffrey and Harris Theater listings describe the piece as a modern twist on a classic “girl-meets-boy” arc—and crucially, the band The Main Squeeze performs live on stage, bringing a Chicago pulse into ballet’s lines and partnering. For audiences, that means you’ll feel groove and breath in real time. (Harris Theater)
Read more from Joffrey’s Behind-the-Scenes feature:
https://joffrey.org/behind-the-scenes/leading-the-way-chanel-dasilva-the-first-black-woman-to-choreograph-for-joffrey-mainstage-celebrates-chicago-in-her-latest/ (Joffrey Ballet)
Why This Moment Matters for Ballet
Programs like Winning Works are vital for opening doors to emerging choreographers of color—but a mainstage commission is different. It places an artist in front of the company’s full audience, orchestra, and production resources, which can lead to repertory staying power. DaSilva’s appointment on this program shows the pipeline functioning as it should: discover → develop → elevate → center. (Joffrey Ballet)
For students, teachers, and community members, moments like this reshape the definition of “canon.” When a Black woman’s choreography is not just programmed but anchored in a flagship weekend, it broadens the aesthetics and stories ballet holds as “central.” That ripple won’t end when the curtain falls.
The Chicago Factor
Chicago’s arts ecosystem is famously collaborative. This program—Harris Theater × Joffrey × Chicago Philharmonic × The Main Squeeze—turns a premiere into a city event. Expect high-level craft with a bit of grit and a lot of heart, reflective of the city itself. (Chicago Philharmonic)
If you’re going, check the Harris Theater page for exact curtain times and ticket details. (Tip: This is a five-performance run; if you want prime seats, plan ahead.) (Harris Theater)
Classroom & Studio Connections (for educators)
- Theme exploration: Translate everyday encounters into choreography. Prompt dancers to build a duet from a “missed call,” a passing glance, or a train-platform moment.
- Music & performance: Discuss how live music alters timing, risk, and breath compared to recorded tracks.
- Composition tools: Use three ballet principles (line, counterbalance, directional change) to stage a pedestrian-to-performative transformation.
- Representation discussion: Reflect on what it means to see a Black woman’s name on a mainstage program—and how that shapes goals for young dancers.
Reinforce the discussion with these related reads on your site:
- Misty & Nadia — your post reflecting on legacy, leadership, and how two icons open doors. With Misty Copeland Taking Her Final Bow, India Bradley Steps Into the Spotlight – My Ordered Steps
- Why Representation Is Important — practical studio/classroom examples and how representation unlocks better art. The Power of Representation: Why Skin-Tone Tights Matter in Ballet – My Ordered Steps
- 9 Black Ballerinas You Should Know — artists shaping ballet’s present and future. With Misty Copeland Announcing Her Retirement, Here Are 9 Black Ballerinas You Should Know – My Ordered Steps
- 5 Black Dance Companies You Should Know — essential companies touring new voices and bold repertory.5 Trailblazing Black Dance Companies (Other Than Alvin Ailey) You Should Know About – My Ordered Steps
What to Watch For in the Choreography
- Musicality with pulse. Expect phrasing that sits comfortably inside contemporary grooves—ballet lines meeting funk rhythms. (Joffrey Ballet)
- Split-screen staging. A “two places at once” device—club vs. apartment—that keeps narrative tension high. (Joffrey Ballet)
- City as character. The L tracks, downtown flow, and everyday gestures elevated into stage language. (Harris Theater)
- Dancers as storytellers. Joffrey’s artists excel at narrative clarity without losing technical bite; watch how they carry character through transitions.
If You Go (Quick Details)
- Program: Joffrey at the Harris: Matters of the Heart
- Dates: Nov 6–9, 2025 (five performances only)
- Venue: Harris Theater for Music and Dance (Chicago)
- Featuring: The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Philharmonic, and The Main Squeeze (live on stage)
- Learn more / tickets: Harris Theater event page; Chicago Philharmonic listing. (Harris Theater)
Final Thoughts
Chanel DaSilva’s Wabash & You isn’t only a new title on a season brochure—it’s a blueprint for how major institutions can center new voices on their largest stage. It’s also a love letter to Chicago, reminding us why ballet feels most alive when it reflects the city it serves. Here’s hoping this is not an exception, but a new normal.
Sources & Further Reading
- Joffrey Behind-the-Scenes feature (Nov. 3, 2025): “Leading the Way: Chanel DaSilva, the First Black Woman to Choreograph for Joffrey Mainstage, Celebrates Chicago in Her Latest.” (Joffrey Ballet)
- Harris Theater event page: “Joffrey at the Harris: Matters of the Heart.” (Harris Theater)
- Chicago Philharmonic listing: Performance dates and program overview. (Chicago Philharmonic)
- Review (Chris Jones) of Swing Low: Joffrey repost (with credit to Chicago Tribune). Original Tribune link you asked to include: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/06/01/review-in-swing-low-by-the-joffrey-ballet-angels-arrive-to-save-a-dancer/ (Joffrey Ballet)
Happy Dancing!
Taylor B
