Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/553637
photography by anjali pinto Pas de Deux Over dinner at dOlce italian, JOffrey Ballet artistic directOr Ashley WheAter and fashiOn designer PAmellA DeVos gather tO celeBrate the JOffrey's 60th anniversary—and the start Of a stylish new seasOn. by j.p. anderson Ashley Wheater and Pamella DeVos at Dolce Italian. below, from left: One of the restaurant's signature Northern Italian–style pizzas, featuring a distinctive upturned crust; orange leather accents give the dining room a chic pop of color. Dance is an obvious passion for Ashley Wheater, the veteran artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet, but it's also something that Pamella DeVos, the designer behind sumptuous women's fashion line Pamella Roland, is wholeheartedly committed to. As the Joffrey celebrates its 60th anniversary and longtime Joffrey supporter DeVos prepares for New York Fashion Week, the pair met up for a lively dinner at River North hot spot Dolce Italian to discuss fashion, food, and the excitement of the coming season. How did you two first connect? Pamella DeVos: I danced, and my children were involved with the Grand Rapids Ballet. And we got involved with the Joffrey when we did a benefit fashion show. Ashley Wheater: Yes, in '08 or '09. PD: We did that very first show—we've done several at this point—and it was so much fun. And now my husband, Dan, and I are part of the board, and we got to know each other through that. It's a big year for the Joffrey. AW: I was looking back to when we had the 30th anniversary of the Joffrey, and I happened to be in the company at the time. And it was the same thing—Robert Joffrey kept looking forward, and we're also looking forward. In September we have the Millennials program, which closes with Christopher Wheeldon's Fool's Paradise, which is beautiful. We're in for a really good year. PD: Talk about what Christopher is doing for the Joffrey. AW: The end of the 2015–16 season will be the premiere of a new Nutcracker by Christopher Wheeldon. I think it's going to be a Nutcracker for today—it will be very relevant for everyone today. The Joffrey is also being honored this month. AW: On the opening night of our Millennials program on September 16, we will be receiving the Fifth Star Award, which is the city's Kennedy Center Honors. So that's going to be a big night. How meaningful is that? AW: I think it's huge, coming from the city, since Chicago has so many people to celebrate and recognize. It's wonderful. September 16. PD: Fashion week. [Laughs] AW: So it's a crazy week for you. PD: Our show is actually September 11 at the Whitney in New York. Isn't that great? But the craziest thing is on September 19, my daughter is getting married. That's quite a week! So what do you think of Dolce Italian's space? PD: I love the location, because my townhome is in River North. It's a great neighborhood. AW: Yes, very cool, very clean, slick. But coNtiNued oN Page 106 104 michiganavemag.com taste On the town