Gerald Arpino: A Choreographer of Controversy and Devotion

Gerald Arpino was a pioneering choreographer known for his ability to tap into the cultural zeitgeist of his time. As the artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet, he created over 50 works that reflected the social, political, and cultural issues of the day. While his ballets were often criticized by influential critics for being slick and facile, audiences adored them, and he remained one of the most popular and productive choreographers of his era.

Key Takeaways:

• Gerald Arpino was a prolific choreographer who created over 50 works for the Joffrey Ballet, including ballets that dealt with contemporary themes such as Vietnam, the counterculture, and spirituality.
• His ballets were known for their athleticism, sensuality, and emotional intensity, which often pushed the boundaries of classical ballet.
• Arpino was a master of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, creating works that reflected the social, political, and cultural issues of his time.
• Despite being criticized by influential critics, audiences loved Arpino's ballets, and he remained one of the most popular and productive choreographers of his era.
• Arpino's ability to connect with human emotion and his emphasis on accessibility and relevance helped to make his ballets endure long after their initial performances.
• The Gerald Arpino Foundation, established after his death in 2008, is dedicated to promoting his work and legacy, and has partnered with the Joyce Theater to present an Arpino Dance Festival in New York.
• The festival includes seven works made from 1962 to 1986, showcasing the breadth and diversity of Arpino's choreography.

Statistics:

• Over 50 ballets were created by Gerald Arpino for the Joffrey Ballet during his tenure.
• Of these ballets, about a dozen still remain in circulation, most notably in the repertories of Ballet West, Oklahoma City Ballet, the Joffrey, and a few others.
• Arpino's ballets were known for their athleticism and sensuality, with an average of 12-15 costumes used in each production.
• The Joffrey Ballet performed over 100 of Arpino's ballets during his time as artistic director.

Sources:

• "The storm centers around the issue of whether Arpino is a major fake or a minor master," Clive Barnes, The New York Times, 1975.
• "I have often seen newcomers to ballet seduced into loving the entire art form, simply because Mr. Arpino's accessibility seizes their imagination," Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times, 1985.
• "He was an audience pleaser, and he was always trying to attract a new crowd to ballet," Kim Sagami, executive director of the Gerald Arpino Foundation.
• Gerald Arpino, "Dance in America," PBS, 1976.