- Arpino, Gerald
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▪ 2009Gennaro Peter ArpinoAmerican ballet choreographerborn Jan. 14, 1923, Staten Island, N.Y.died Oct. 29, 2008, Chicago, Ill.was a leader of the Joffrey Ballet from its founding in 1956 until 2007. He joined the Coast Guard in 1942, and while stationed in Seattle in 1945, he met dancer Robert Joffrey and began his study of dance. After training and performing in New York City, he toured with the Ballet Russe and appeared in Broadway musicals before helping Joffrey found the Joffrey Ballet. In 1961 Arpino created his first choreography, Ropes, and soon afterward he became the company's resident choreographer. He was best known for his fast, youthful ballets, including Olympics, Trinity, Kettentanz, and Viva Vivaldi, but also created such pieces as the anti-nuclear-war Clowns and the romantic Sea Shadow and Secret Places. Arpino became artistic director after Joffrey's death in 1988 and, except for a period in 1990, continued serving in that position. He moved the company to Chicago in 1995, and in 2007 he became director emeritus.
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▪ American choreographerin full Gerald Peter Arpinoborn Jan. 14, 1928, Staten Island, N.Y., U.S.died Oct. 29, 2008, Chicago, Ill.American ballet choreographer, a leader of the Joffrey Ballet from its founding in 1956 until 2007.While serving in the U.S. Coast Guard (1945–48), Arpino met dancer Robert Joffrey (Joffrey, Robert) in Seattle, Wash., and learned dancing in his spare time. Later, after training and performing in New York City, he toured with the Ballet Russe and appeared in Broadway musicals. He helped Joffrey to found the Joffrey Ballet in 1956, and in 1961 he offered his first choreography, Partita for 4 and Ropes. Over the years he became known for his hard, fast, youthful ballets. He became associate director of the company and then its artistic director after the death of Joffrey in 1988. Except for a six-month period in 1990, Arpino continued to hold that position until he became artistic director emeritus on July 1, 2007.* * *
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