`THE CHEMISTRY WAS JUST RIGHT' : WHY MERGER OF JOFFREY BALLET, `PURPLE RAIN'-MAKER SUCCEEDS.``Purple Rain'' and the Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Ballet, one of the major American dance companies. It was founded in New York City in 1954 by the dancer-choreographer Robert Joffrey. From 1956 to 1964 it made yearly tours of the United States. ? Call it divine intervention. How else, asks the Joffrey's artistic director, could one explain the hugely successful merging of ballet and the sensual sen·su·al adj. 1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory. 2. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites. compositions of the artist formerly known as Prince? Gerald Arpino Gerald Arpino' (born January 14,1928) is an American dancer, choreographer, and the artistic director and co-founder of The Joffrey Ballet. Born in Staten Island, New York, Gerald Arpino studied ballet with Mary Ann Wells, while stationed with the Coast Guard in Seattle, , who also co-founded the Joffrey, is convinced that a hand from above mastered the creation and endurance of ``Billboards,'' which is set to begin its third Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. run tonight at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center (which is one of the three largest performing arts centers in the United States). The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. . ``It was all divinely ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. that the two of us met,'' Arpino says. ``The chemistry was just right. We probably would not have done `Billboards' without Prince.'' The duo first met in 1991 at a gala evening of mixed repertoire at the Music Center. Mr. Androgyny Androgyny Hermaphrodites half-man, half-woman; offspring of Hermes and Aphrodite. [Gk. Myth.: Hall, 153] Iphis Cretan maiden reared as boy because father ordered all daughters killed. [Gk. Myth. Symbol was so inspired by his first time at the ballet that he skipped the gala dinner that followed, opting instead to begin composing music for the Joffrey. The result - a ballet of four separate parts set to 14 new and previously recorded compositions by the Purple One himself - debuted in Iowa in 1993 and has been capturing audiences from here to Seoul ever since. As the dancers perform, billboards designed by Herb Migdoll that symbolize the current piece hang in the background. Just like at a rock concert, the audience sways and dances to the music right through to the end, Arpino says. The response is not lost with the dancers, who feed off the audience's enthusiasm as they perform to such well-known hits as ``Purple Rain'' and ``Gett Off.'' ``After a while it becomes wonderful and you ride on their responses,'' says dancer Adam Skulte. ``The energy is infectious and the audience is screaming at the end. It's really about high-voltage energy.'' THE FACTS The show: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Program: ``Billboards.'' Tickets: $15 to $55. Call Ticketmaster at (213) 365-3500. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Tom Mossbrucker of the Joffrey Ballet. |
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