Abbott Academy Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance Raymond Rodriguez announced that Christopher Marney is the new head of studio company and trainees at the academy.
Marney begins his new role Nov. 3, just eight weeks after the Joffrey Academy of Dance opened its new "Joffrey for All" studio space and training facilities at 1920 S. Wabash Ave.
Prior to this role, Marney was artistic director and choreographer at the Central School of Ballet in London, where he just finished a five-year tenure. He commissioned and programmed repertoire for five international tours that included leading industry choreographers such as Kenneth MacMillan, Frederick Ashton, Wayne McGregor, Matthew Bourne, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Jasmin Vardimon.
As a dancer, Marney has worked internationally for Balletboyz, Gothenburg Ballet (Sweden), Ballet Biarritz (France), and Matthew Bourne's New Adventures where he has danced many principal roles. He has danced works by choreographers William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato and John Cranko, among others.