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The Joffrey Ballet
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Trinity
choreographed by Gerald Arpino
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The late ‘60s early ‘70s were an exciting and tempestuous time in 20th century America. While the Vietnam War was raging, America’s youth was uniting through protests and celebrating a new sense of freedom and exhilaration. Created during The Joffrey Ballet’s residence on the campus of The University of California at Berkeley, it became the most famous of a group of ballets by Gerald Arpino known as “The Berkeley Ballets”. Trinity is a joyful tribute to youth, their passions and their rituals.
Gerald Arpino
Gerald Arpino co-founded The Joffrey Ballet with Robert Joffrey in 1956 and served as Associate Director for many years. Upon Joffrey's death in 1988, Arpino succeeded him as Artistic Director. In 1995, he moved The Joffrey Ballet to Chicago.
A leading dancer with the company in its early years, Arpino choreographed his first work for The Joffrey, Ropes, in 1961. Shortly thereafter, he became The Joffrey's resident choreographer and to date has created more than one-third of the company's repertoire. His ballets are in the repertoires of companies around the world.
Arpino is the first choreographer commissioned to create a ballet honoring the Office of the American Presidency: The Pantages and the Palace Present Two-A-Day. In 1993, Arpino produced America's first full-evening rock ballet, Billboards, set to the music of Prince. In addition, Arpino is the only choreographer to have had four of his ballets performed at the White House.
He was a recipient of the 1974 Dance Magazine award and the Vaslav Nijinsky Medal. He was honored twice by the Chicago Tribune as one of the "Chicagoans of the Year" for his important contribution to the arts in Chicago and the world.
The Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet has been hailed as “America’s Ballet Company of Firsts.” The Joffrey Ballet’s long list of “firsts” includes first dance company to perform at the White House at Jacqueline Kennedy’s invitation, first to appear on television, first American company to visit Russia, first classical dance company to go multi-media, first to commission a rock ‘n roll Ballet and first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time Magazine.
Classically trained to the highest standards, The Joffrey Ballet expresses a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudly reflecting the diversity of America with its company, audiences, and repertoire. Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley C. Wheater who was recruited as a dancer in 1985 by Joffrey and Arpino before returning to lead the company in 2007 after a heralded tenure at San Francisco Ballet. The Joffrey Ballet has become one of the world's most revered and recognizable arts organizations in America and one of the top ballet companies in the world.
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