following a brief stint as ballet master for pittsburgh ballet theatre, andersen moved to phoenix, arizona, attracted not only by the dramatic scenery but, he says, by the "crystal clear" sunlight that is ideal for painting, one of his enduring passions. in 2000 he was appointed artistic director of ballet arizona, where he oversees a repertory of classical and contemporary ballets, including works he has created specifically for the company. he has also staged such classics as "coppélia, swan lake," and "the nutcracker" and, as might be expected, a number of works by balanchine.