ARTS

ABT Names Co-Directors: Jane Hermann, 53, and Oliver Smith, 72, were named co-directors of American Ballet Theatre, it was announced Thursday. Smith held the title of co-director with Lucia Chase from 1945 to 1980. The announcement by the ABT board confirms that Hermann will continue to run the company artistically as well as administratively. Named ABT executive director last September, Hermann said that she originally intended to work together with artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov. She assumed total control after Baryshnikov abruptly quit. The company performs in Costa Mesa through March 18. “I think I have an enormous amount to do,” Hermann told The Times Thursday, “but I’m going in to this tremendous challenge with enormous backing from the board. It is a great trust and I take it very, very seriously.”