Choreographer and artistic director Ib Andersen is dancing away from Ballet Arizona. Everyone is mum as to why.
World-renowned dancer and artistic director Ib Andersen was busy choreographing his next performance for Ballet Arizona, according to the company’s press rep, and had no time to discuss his departure from the troupe after 24 years. Likewise, no one at Ballet Arizona was keen to comment on their longtime artistic director’s nearly a quarter-century of service, or the process they’ll use to find his replacement.
During that time, Andersen oversaw classical, contemporary and original productions including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Coppélia. After next season, he’ll become artistic director emeritus; in the meantime, the board has launched a nationwide search for Andersen’s replacement – but has nothing to say publicly about the matter.
Even people who admire what Andersen brought to Ballet Arizona are reluctant to talk about his departure.
“Ib has done a heck of a job,” says a longtime dance-community maven and Ballet Arizona founder who doesn’t want to be identified. “He brought high standards and a certain mystique as a Balanchine person. He’s incredibly talented, and the company has thrived with him as director.”
Andersen studied at the Royal Danish Ballet School at age 7 and apprenticed at the company after graduating. By age 20, he became the youngest principal dancer in the company’s history. George Balanchine invited Andersen to join the New York City Ballet, where Balanchine created principal roles for the dancer; Peter Martins and Jerome Robbins did, too.
In the late ’90s, Andersen, a prolific painter, settled in Phoenix, where he planned to take advantage of the scenery and bright sunlight. In 2000, he signed on with Ballet Arizona.
It’s unlikely Andersen’s replacement will be a choreographer of the same caliber. “Really great artistic directors tend to stay put,” says another source hesitant to speak publicly about Andersen. “But Ib has left Ballet Arizona in such strong artistic shape, the company will be fine.”
