the new company was called the joffrey ballet. following a successful season at the new york city center in 1966, it was invited to become city center's resident ballet company with joffrey as artistic director and arpino as chief choreographer. in 1973 joffrey asked twyla tharp to create her first commissioned ballet, "deuce coupe". the company continued as city center joffrey ballet until 1977. from 1977, it performed as the joffrey ballet, with a second home in los angeles from (1982-1992). in 1995, the company left new york city and moved to chicago. at first, the joffrey had financial difficulties in chicago. but then it became successful. in 2005 the joffrey ballet celebrated its 10th anniversary in chicago. in 2006 and 2007, it held two-season-long 50th anniversary celebrations. the celebrations included "river to river" tour of free, outdoor performances across iowa, sponsored by hancher auditorium at the university of iowa.