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Tribute to Frida Kahlo by the Joffrey Ballet in "Broken Wings" at the Harris Theatre in Chicago
28 October 2025
"Broken Wings", by choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, is a narrative ballet inspired by Frida Kahlo’s life and art. The ballet features surrealist elements, Mexican folk music, and a musical score by Peter Salem, all of which are inspired by Kahlo's paintings.
Three human characters appear in the narrative, and other dancers stand in for Kahlo's self-portraits, representing her resilience and solidity. The ballet emphasizes Kahlo's unapologetic nature and strong ties to her Mexican heritage while highlighting her ability to turn personal suffering into art. A key character in this ballet is Diego Rivera, Kahlo's spouse and creative collaborator. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa offers a potent depiction of Kahlo's legac honoring her tenacity and the indigenous influences in her work.
"Broken Wings" is part of the Joffrey Ballet's "Matters of the Heart" program showcasing female choreographers, including the premiere of “Wabash and You,” a Chicago-set love story accompanied by funk music and choreographed by Chanel DaSilva.
Performances take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. 6-9 Nov. 2025.
Read here an interesting article where Ochoa says: “Everybody wants a piece of Frida. They’re inspired by her story, not just the ballet.”
How to depict Kahlo's injury and disability in a style practiced by artists capable of the highest level of physicality in ballet was Lopez Ochoa's main choreographic challenge when creating the dance. Similar to the quasi-surrealist imagery in her paintings, she skillfully resolved the issue by adding fantastical episodes.
“It’s like you go into dreams, like in our dreams we can do everything,” she says. “There’s no gravity. And that is what dancers are after, defying gravity.”
Other info and tickets at the Harris Theatre website below.
Click here for a review by Third Coast Review.
