Ethan Steifel, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theater, has been chosen to become the artistic director of Ballet Pacifica in California.

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A spokesman for Ballet Pacifica, a small, 40-year-old professional ballet company headquartered in Orange County, said Steifel, 31, will take over the position next September but will continue his schedule as a performer with ABT. He has named Amanda McKerrow, also an ABT principal, and her husband John Gardner, a former ABT dancer, to oversee the company for him when he is absent.

Steifel danced with the New York City Ballet before joining ABT and is considered one of the nation's leading classical dancers.

"As an American, to be able to develop and build a ballet company in Southern California is a huge opportunity," Steifel said in a statement accompanying the announcement Monday. "The idea of creating a company that is a role model for dance in America is what entices me."