Former Joffrey Ballet Company Member Joins Board

Joffrey Board Chair Zachary Lazar and President & CEO Greg Cameron are thrilled to welcome former Joffrey dancer John Mark Giragosian to the Joffrey Board of Directors. Giragosian becomes the first former Company-turned-Board member in Joffrey history. Board members serve as the governing body of the Joffrey, providing leadership, overseeing policy and direction, and are responsible for the fiscal accountability of the organization. Mayor Rahm Emanuel serves as the Honorary Chair of the Joffrey's Board.

"Under Zach's leadership we continue to develop a Board of Directors that mirrors the commitment to excellence of our Company artists," said Cameron. "To see Mark return in this capacity speaks to his belief in the Joffrey mission and his desire to share his business acumen with an organization that serves aspiring and accomplished artists, as well as its diverse and expanding audience."

"I have known Mark since his early days as a featured member of the Company," added Lazar. "I was in awe then and I am in awe now. His diverse background puts the Joffrey in a unique position to address certain needs from the perspective of someone who knows the territory intimately. Mark's ideas will be invaluable for shaping the future of the Joffrey."

Giragosian joined the Joffrey as an apprentice in 2007 and was promoted to the main Company later that year. He danced for eight seasons before retiring to pursue a second career in finance. While at the Joffrey, Giragosian performed roles in Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince, Snow Prince), George Balanchine's Prodigal Son (Prodigal Son), Christopher Wheeldon's Swan Lake (Pas de Trois), Frederick Ashton's Cinderella (Jester), Stanton Welch's La Bayadere (Fire God), Wayne McGregor's Infra, and works by other choreographers including Val Caniparoli, James Kudelka, Edwaard Liang, Lar Lubovitch, Yuri Possokhov, Jerome Robbins, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp. He represented the Joffrey at the 2009 New York International Ballet Competition, where he won the silver medal. He is a recipient of the 2006 Princess Grace Award for Dance and won third prize at the 2006 Seoul International Ballet Competition.

Giragosian is currently a Private Equity Associate at Linden Capital Partners, where he evaluates and executes investment opportunities across the healthcare sector and supports the firm's portfolio investments. Prior to joining Linden in 2017, he worked as an Investment Banking Analyst with Morgan Stanley, focusing on M&A advisory and capital raising transactions across the healthcare, consumer retail, and industrials sectors.

Giragosian holds a BS in Economics, magna cum laude, from Northwestern University. In addition to the Joffrey Board, he has served on The Joffrey Ballet Auxiliary Board since 2015 and he serves actively on the NorthShore University HealthSystem Associate Board. He and his wife Alexis (also a former Joffrey dancer) have two sons, Gabriel and Noah, and live in the South Loop.

About The Joffrey Ballet

Classically trained to the highest standards, The Joffrey Ballet expresses a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudly reflecting the diversity of America with its company, audiences, and repertoire which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces, and contemporary works.

The Company's commitment to accessibility is met through an extensive touring schedule, an innovative and highly effective education program including the much-lauded Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, Community Engagement programs, and collaborations with myriad other visual and performing arts organizations.

Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley Wheater and Executive Director Greg Cameron.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of 2017-2018 Season Sponsors: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, NIB Foundation, and the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Live Music Sponsor The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music, and 2017-2018 Season Partners: Pamella Roland and Fox Ford Lincoln, Clear Channel Airports, Chicago Athletic Clubs, JW Marriott, and Official Provider of Physical Therapy, Athletico.

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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