Artistic Director Joseph Cipolla

Joseph Cipolla was born, raised and trained in Buffalo, New York. The New York Times described his technique as crisp and stylishly deft. The Birmingham Post called his stage presence "charismatic and sexy." The Village Voice admired his acting ability. He was a principal star for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet, and a favorite with choreographers and audiences for his ability to portray any role, the touchstone by which others are compared today when recreating his original roles. Nominated for an Olivier Award in 1993, he returned to perform with Catherine Batcheller in 1994, Marion Tate OBE (Order of British Empire) in 1995, and as a presenter in 1996. He performed in Royal Ballet and BBC televised productions, i.e., Margot Fonteyn's Magic of Dance, Hobsons Choice, The Nutcracker, Nutcracker Sweeties, and for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Cipolla founded Configuration Dance Theatre with Catherine Batcheller in 1999, retired in 2002, but returns to BRB for administrative and dancing roles, i.e., in 2007, BalletDance Magazine reported "the welcome return of long time favorite, Joseph Cipolla, as De Guiche in David Bintley's 'Cyrano,' where even under costume and heavy make-up, there is no mistaking his commanding presence." In 2006, his alma mater, St. Josephs Collegiate Institute, inducted him into the Fine Arts Wall of Honor for his achievements in the arts at home and abroad. In 2009, he co-founded the Configuration School of Ballet in Buffalo, New York. ARTVOICE described Configuration Dance Theatre choreographers in the article, "Balanchine and Beyond" (9/20/2009): "As their name implies, their emphasis widens the scope of dance and the dramatic, a certain noir-ness, they lay bare emotions, startle the senses, make one think," qualities Dance Magazine experts saw, and more, giving them their unique, descriptive moniker, "A Living Art Gallery." CONFIGURATION choreographers and dancers were featured in "DANCE SPECTACULAR" (9/22/09) by its producer, New York City Ballet star, Daniel Ulbricht, with Boston Ballet and New York City Ballet stars in "Apollo," "Who Cares, "Diamond," "Tarantella" authorized by the Balanchine Foundation, and presenting "What's the Pointe" by Michael Shannon, "Royenne" by Susan Jaffe, "Breathless" by Joseph Cipolla, "whose acclaimed company," said Ulbricht, "is known for its cutting-edge contemporary choreography." THE BUFFALO NEWS (1/02/09) named Artistic Director Joseph Cipolla and his Resident Choreographer Michael Shannon, "THE DREAM TEAM," each highly respected from their international careers in legendary institutions, and as principal stars for the Birmingham Royal Ballet under the patronage of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince of Wales, Lady Sarah Chatto, and Artistic Director, David Bintley (CBE). In 2007, SUSAN JAFFE, principal star for American Ballet Theatre, and guest artist for the Kirov, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Royal Swedish Opera Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Ballet of Covent Garden, English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Munich State Opera Ballet, La Scala Ballet in Milan, Dance Magazine Awardee, author, actress, TV host, educator, Advisor to American Ballet Theatre's Board of Governing Trustees Chairman 2002-2007, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School faculty since 2002, Duke Corporate Education Lecturer on Excellence, joined Configuration Dance Theatre's National Advisory Board and is Principal Guest Choreographer. In 2010, she was appointed Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre. Shannon retired from dancing and joined Cipolla's company in the United States after his last roles for Birmingham Royal Ballet as Lancelot in David Bintley's "Arthur" and Prince Siegfried in Sir Peter Wrights "Swan Lake." Shannon was a principal star in the Bolshoi Ballet for the legendary Artistic Director Yuri Grigorovich; Stars of the Bolshoi tours for Maya Pliesetskaya, Madame Sophia Golovkina; Natalia Bessmertnova; Ekatrina Maximova and Vladimir Vasiliev; Vienna State Opera Ballet for Artistic Director Elena Tchernichova (ABT, Kirov); Kremlin Palace Ballet for Director Andrei Petrov, Vladimir Vasiliev, Ekatrina Maximova; and others, i.e., Royal Ballet 1979; Los Angeles Ballet 1980, American Ballet Theatre 1981; Boston Ballet 1983; National Ballet of Canada 1984; Royal Swedish Opera Ballet 1986; Hungarian State Opera Ballet; Awarded Silver Medals in Paris France 1992 and Budapest Hungary 1993 International Ballet Competitions; Town Hall of California Honoree 1986, 1990; Honored by President George H. W. Bush 1990, and President William J. Clinton 1993; Best Play of 1995, "Monday After the Miracle" televised at the Moscow Art Theatre; Awarded Professor of Choreography, Ukrainian State Academy of Ballet 1999; 2008 YAGP Outstanding Choreographers Award." In 2010, he was appointed Artistic Director for the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium.