The Joffrey’s Feet Firmly Planted on Both Coasts

Word around the Music Center is that the Joffrey Ballet--which has been touted as an L.A. resident company since David Murdock spearheaded its arrival here several years ago--will continue to be based in New York. Starting July 1, the Joffrey--which, even though it was called a “resident” company, never moved here--will be formally “located” in Manhattan. And, once again, it will have that New York location in name also, along with the name of its leader, Robert Joffrey.

The reported name--Joffrey Ballet, New York/L.A.

The Music Center reportedly will still give $1 million yearly to subsidize the Joffrey’s L.A. appearances--and the Joffrey will perform here for six weeks (for those of us not good at simple math, that comes down to about $25,000 a performance). And they aren’t even ours.

THE MORE THE MERRIER--Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kans.) is wasting no time. He’s got a quick way to make deep inroads into states across the nation while raising that important first $5 million. Dole will soon announce 100 co-chairs for his presidential campaign--the primary job of each is to raise $50,000. That fast-and-up-front presidential money is important, since it means early matching funds.

MIXED MARRIAGE--Today’s seminar for local key business leaders and visiting officials from the People’s Republic of China should give the visitors an interesting look at the marriage of government and capitalism. The meeting at the Sheraton Grande is being sponsored by the County of Los Angeles and by Arthur Andersen and Co., whose West Coast managing partner is Sheldon Ausman. Among the county representatives on the visit will be Chief of Protocol Sandra Ausman, his wife. Which just shows how closely private business and government can work. The Ausmans will also host a dinner Saturday night at Chasen’s.

HEAD SOUTH--It could be a new social term. Try it: the La Costa 400. When the May 1 bi-coastal glitz-ridden benefit--for NYU medical center AIDS programs, the French American scholarship fund and Friends of French Art--debuts at the Southern California resort, what a group will be seen for the three days: Betsy Bloomingdale with social moth Jerry Zipkin, Wallis Annenberg, Wendy and Leonard Goldberg, former U.N. Ambassador Marietta Tree, Howard and Judy Keel, New York’s Donald and Ivana Trump, S.F.’s Denise and Prentis Hale, former Ambassador John Gavin with his actress-wife Constance Towers and attorney Mickey and Mary Carol Rudin. Four hundred guests in all--there because they bought $10,000 tables to the May 5 Embassy Ball at New York’s Plaza. La Costa is underwriting the entire weekend--and in New York, under the close supervision of party-master Clive David, the festivities will be underwritten by La Costa, Henry and Caroline Roehm Kravis and florists Mel Atlas and Jack Millard.