Gerald Arpino, associate director and principal choreographer of the Joffrey Ballet, has been named the company's new artistic director, replacing Robert Joffrey, who died March 25 at 57. Arpino co-founded the company with Joffrey in 1956, starting with six dancers.
Building upon ideas that he and Joffrey discussed together, Arpino has plans for the next few years pretty well made. These include a full-length "Cinderella," possibly the Frederick Ashton version. This fall will see the premiere of "Billy the Kid," and Balanchine's lost ballroom ballet, "Cotillon," put together by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer. The company wil also perform its new "Nutcracker" at the Los Angeles Music Center, opting for May and December seasons in its second home.