Ib Andersen, 65

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BALLET ARIZONA

This year marks Danish ballet legend Ib Andersen’s 20th anniversary as artistic director of Ballet Arizona. “When I started, I thought [Phoenix] was like a very big city, behaving like a very small city,” he says. “Culturally, it wasn’t super sophisticated… That, for sure, has changed a lot since then.” He’s helped our progression with a steady stream of classic ballets and more daring, modern productions, including his pioneering “ballet in the round” series at Desert Botanical Garden. “What I have always liked about Arizona is the audience has always been hungry, from day one. Whatever I’ve served them, they have eaten.” We’ll have seconds, please.

FUN FACT
Last book read: Jerusalem: A Cookbook

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