Joffrey Ballet Holds First Costume Sale, Just In Time For Halloween

Still deciding if you should go as the bubble boy for Halloween this year? Why not try something different, like a Joffrey Ballet dancer, for instance. This fall, for the first time in their 53-year history, Joffrey Ballet is opening its costume vault to the public for a sale starting at 8 a.m. on Oct. 28. More than 200 men's and women's costumes will be available for purchase, with prices starting at $25.

Although most dancers tend to be athletic and in shape, Joffrey's executive director Christopher Clinton Conway said to the Chicago Sun Times that there will be something for everyone. "Yes, the fitting for a traditional tutu is going to be a size 2 to 4, but we also have a lot of capes and jackets that someone of any size could wear," he explained. As for men, Conway said that there is a good range of men's sizes because "It's rare to have a skinny male dancer. Most of our male dancers are big, brawny and tall."

Another additional treat for ballet fans is their tradition of stiching the name of the dancer into the costume. "Some of the people who have worn these things might not be household names, but it's still cool to have that personal connection," Conway said.

A preview sale reception and silent auction will take place on Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Joffrey building, 10 E. Randolph. A $20 donation is suggested for the preview and reservations are required by calling (312) 386-8979 or going to www.joffrey.org.