The Joyce Theater

The Joyce Theater has proudly served the dance community for four decades. Under the direction of founders Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, Ballet Tech Foundation acquired and renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea. Opening as The Joyce Theater in 1982, it was named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. The theater is one of the only theaters built by dancers for dance and has provided an intimate and elegant home for over 400 U.S.-based and international companies.

The Joyce has expanded its reach beyond its Chelsea home through off-site presentations at venues ranging from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater to Brooklyn’s Invisible Dog Art Center, and to outdoor programming in spaces such as Hudson River Park. To further support the creation of new work, The Joyce maintains longstanding commissioning and residency programs. Local students and teachers (K–12th grade) benefit from its school program. The Joyce’s annual season of about 48 weeks of dance now includes over 340 performances for audiences in excess of 150,000.

Photo : © Eric Vitale