The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) is an American professional

ballet company A ballet company is a type of dance troupe which performs classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and/or contemporary ballet in the European tradition, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round ba ...

based in the Strip District of

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

(USA).

History

1969 - Founding

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre was founded in 1969 by a Yugoslavian choreographer, Founding Artistic Director Nicolas Petrov, and an arts advocate, Founding Board Chair Loti Falk. They initially met at an outdoor ballet performance featuring Petrov's

Pittsburgh Playhouse Pittsburgh Playhouse is Point Park University's performing arts center located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It houses three performance spaces and is home to The Rep, Point Park's resident professional theatre company, as well as three student co ...

dancers. Both believed that ballet would enrich the city's cultural community and satisfy a thirst for diverse performing arts opportunities on par with other major metro areas. Despite ballet's novelty in

, the movement resonated with onlookers. It also secured a pledge of support from Falk. According to Petrov, “the development of the

Ballet Theatre pivoted on that promise.” Together, they went on to found the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1969 in affiliation with

Point Park College Point Park University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Point Park College, the school name was revised in 2004 to reflect the number of graduate programs being offered. History Beginnings The university bega ...

. As Founding Artistic Director, Petrov brought artistic connections, a rich choreographic background and a corps of young talent from the dance programs he developed at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and

. As Founding Chair, benefactor and full-time volunteer, Falk gave wings to the company with the irrepressible energy and ambition that continue to define the PBT work ethic. The legacy was born.

1970s

In the 1970s, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre proved its staying power. Following its 1969 stage debut at the

, PBT sold out its inaugural 1970-71 subscription season, featuring Petrov's ''The Nutcracker'' and ''Swan Lake''. In 1971 Loti and Leon Falk purchased PBT's first studio space on the Boulevard of the Allies. In these formative years, the founders flexed their connections in the elite circles of American ballet to bring seminal performers of the era, including Natalia Makarova, Edward Villella and Violette Verdy, to guest star in PBT productions. Luminaries like Leonide Massine and Frederic Franklin came to

to stage ballets, instruct master classes and help shape the fledgling company. By the end of the decade, PBT had cleared fiscal hurdles, become independent of

and withstood an artistic transition. When Petrov stepped down to focus on the Point Park program,

John Gilpin John Gilpin (18th century) was featured as the subject in a well-known comic ballad of 1782 by William Cowper, entitled '' The Diverting History of John Gilpin''. Cowper had heard the story from his friend Lady Austen. Gilpin was said to be ...

, of

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

’s Festival Ballet, briefly led the company until Patrick Frantz, a former Paris Opera Ballet dancer, took the helm in 1978. The Company closed the decade with a symbol of the future: the establishment of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School in 1979. Repertoire Highlights: ''Cinderella, Coppélia, Giselle'', Petrov's ''Steel Symphony'', Frederic Franklin’s ''Les Sylphides'',

George Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...

’s ''The Prodigal Son'' Defining Moments of the 70s

1980s

As it entered its second decade, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre cemented its place among the nation's leading ballet companies. By the 1981-82 Season, PBT had made its

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

debut and toured to 28 states,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

and the

Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands ( es, Islas Vírgenes) are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. They are geologically and biogeographically the easternmost part of the Greater Antilles, the northern islands belonging to the Puerto Rico Trench and St. Cro ...

. In 1982, PBT entered a new era with the appointment of Patricia Wilde as artistic director – a position she would hold for 15 years. The former

New York City Ballet New York City Ballet (NYCB) is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company. Léon Barzin was the company ...

principal invigorated the dancers with her refined technique and the works of modern masters, including her mentor,

. In addition to Balanchine masterworks, PBT took on full-length classics like ''Don Quixote'' and premiered the first ballet rendition of ''The Great Gatsby''. With an eye toward the future, the company launched PBT School's first Intensive Summer Program and established the Schenley Program for high school students who needed to balance academic and artistic studies. In 1984, Loti and Leon Falk gifted the company with its current Liberty Avenue studios and a new home for both the company and school. Repertoire Highlights: Andre Prokovsky’s ''The Great Gatsby'';

’s ''Theme and Variations'', ''Western Symphony'' and ''The Four Temperaments''; Paul Taylor’s ''Sunset'';

Agnes de Mille Agnes George de Mille (September 18, 1905 – October 7, 1993) was an American dancer and choreographer. Early years Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMill ...

’s ''Rodeo'' Defining Moments of the 80s

1990s

The company's repertoire continued to diversify in the 1990's as PBT explored new artistic ground. Throughout her tenure, Patricia Wilde cultivated emerging choreographers and commissioned a total of 32 works. The company also premiered an original new story ballet, the baseball classic, ''The Mighty Casey, choregraphed by Lisa DeRibere''. In 1997, Terrence Orr was hired as Artistic Director. A former ABT principal dancer, Orr had visited the Company in the 80's to set Rodeo and other works from the ABT repertory. Orr also brought a vision shaped by some of the nation's leading ballet companies and a strong gift for storytelling. He continued building the repertoire with new full-length story ballets, original works and artistic collaborations. Repertoire Highlights: Lisa de Ribere's ''The Mighty Casey'';

’s ''Square Dance'', ''Concerto Barrocco'', ''Serenade'', and ''Jewels''; ''Indigo in Motion'', Kent Stowell’s ''Carmina Burana'' Defining Moments of the 90s

2000s

As PBT moved into the millennium, the company continued to draw inspiration from its hometown while stretching the city’s conception of classical ballet. In 2000, Orr in conjunction with Libman, began a series of commissions for contemporary ballets inspired by American music, including such artists as: Ray Brown,

Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note label from 1960, touched on jazz fusion ...

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years, appearing in film, television, and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of th ...

Billy Strayhorn William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include " Take ...

Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-earth ...

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originato ...

and

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...

. In 2002, Orr premiered his

-inspired production of ''The Nutcracker'', engaging artists with a new creative endeavor and audiences with a production set in their city. In addition to modern masters like

Twyla Tharp Twyla Tharp (; born July 1, 1941) is an American dancer, choreographer, and author who lives and works in New York City. In 1966 she formed the company Twyla Tharp Dance. Her work often uses classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music. Fr ...

and Paul Taylor, the company commissioned works by rising choreographer

Dwight Rhoden Dwight Rhoden is an American choreographer and artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet who began dancing at the age of 17 while studying acting. He has performed with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz de Montréa ...

and ballets merging mainstream American music with classically based choreography. While PBT continued to celebrate legacy classics like ''Giselle'', it also entered new dramatic territory with

Jean-Christophe Maillot Jean-Christophe Maillot (born 1960) is a French dancer and choreographer born in Tours. Early life and education He studied at the dance conservatory in Tours before enrolling at the École supérieure de danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower, wh ...

’s unconventional ''Roméo et Juliette'' and the evocative ''Light / The Holocaust and Humanity Project''. Orr would go on to commission 18 world premiere works for the company. Meanwhile, a successful “Say it with Music Campaign” to restore the PBT Orchestra would jump-start a growing period of financial stability for continued artistic growth. Repertoire Highlights:

’s ''Roméo et Juliette'';

Stephen Mills Stephen Mills (born August 18, 1960 in Morganfield, Kentucky) is an American dancer and choreographer and is currently the Artistic Director/Choreographer at Ballet Austin. Under his tenure, Ballet Austin has been invited on four occasions to pe ...

’ ''Light / The Holocaust and Humanity Project''; Paul Taylor’s ''Company B'';

’s ''In the Upper Room'', ''Known by Heart (Junk Duet)'' and ''Octet'';

Derek Deane Derek Deane (born 18 June 1953) is a British dancer and choreographer. Biography Derek Deane was raised in Redruth, Cornwall and trained in the Royal Ballet School. As a dancer, he eventually became a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, ...

’s ''Alice in Wonderland'' Defining Moments of the 2000s

TODAY

Nearly 50 years later, the founders’ legacy stands strong. PBT has evolved into a critically acclaimed company with international reach. Today, the company ranks among the five largest performing arts organizations in

and is home to 30 full-time dancers, who come from 12 states and six countries to live and perform in

. Sharing the same studio space, PBT School cultivates the next generation of professional dancers, who come to PBT from around the country — and the world — to train with its world-renowned instructors and artists. PBT also offers great deal in the community such as Youth Scholarship Program to young aspiring talents. Together with the PBT Orchestra under Maestro Charles Barker, PBT encompasses a rich family of dancers and musicians. Through more than 50 performances each year at home and on tour, PBT stays true to the vision of its founders: to perpetuate joy and excellence in ballet. Repertoire Highlights: John Neumeier’s ''A Streetcar Named Desire''; Mark Morris’ ''Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes'', ''Maelstrom'', and '' Sandpaper Ballet''; Jiří Kylián's ''Petite Mort''and ''Sinfonietta'';

Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...

’ ''The Concert''; Jorden Morris’ ''Peter Pan'' and ''Moulin Rouge®–The Ballet''; ''La Bayadère''; Le Corsaire; Original works by PBT company dancers Defining Moments: Notable Former Principal Dancers *Steven Annegarn *Laura Desire *Ying Li *Stanko Milov (1993-1999
Official Website
*Jaibin Pan *Willie Shives

Dancers

Principal dancers

As of December 2020 : * Hannah Carter * Amanda Cochrane * Alexandra Kochis * Alejandro Diaz * Yoshiaki Nakano

Soloists

As of December 2020: * Jessica McCann * Gabrielle Thurlow * Masahiro Haneji * Diana Yohe * JoAnna Schmidt * William Moore * Corey Bourbonniere * Marisa Grywalski * Tommie Kesten * Lucius Kirst

Corps de Ballet In ballet, the ''corps de ballet'' (; French for "body of the ballet") is the group of dancers who are not principal dancers or soloists. They are a permanent part of the ballet company and often work as a backdrop for the principal dancers. ...

As of December 2020: * Danielle Downey * Jonathan Breight * Amanda Potts * Christian Garcia Campos * Victoria Watford * Joseph Parr * Kurtis Sprowls * Cooper Verona * Colin Mccaslin * Caitlyn Mendicino * Jack Hawn * Allison Durand * Grace Rookstool * Sam DerGregorian * Erin Casale * Josiah Kaufmann

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School

PBT launched its first comprehensive arts education program in 1989 with a seed grant from the Henry C. Frick Educational Commission. In its first year the program reached 6000 children. Since that time, PBT has reached more than 65,000 children from over 200 school districts in a four-state region. PBT School enrolls more than 1,000 students annually across its Children's, Student, Pre-professional and Community divisions. The Pre-professional Division, which cultivates the next generation of professional dancers, includes both part-time and full-time high school programs for students who are balancing academic studies with career-track ballet training. The curriculum includes technique, pointe or men's technique, partnering, jazz, character and Pilates classes. The Graduate Program provides advanced training to high school graduates who are preparing to audition for professional positions. While the Grad students continue with similar technique classes as students in the High School Program, they concentrate more on learning and rehearsing repertoire. Graduates of PBT School can be found in the rosters of professional companies nationwide and in the ranks of PBT's own professional company. The school presents two student productions each spring: Pre-Professional Showcases at Point Park University's intimate George Rowland White Performance Studio and Spring Performance, which features 200+ dancers of the Student and Pre-professional divisions onstage at the Byham Theater in downtown

. Students also have the opportunity to audition for and perform in PBT's main-stage productions, especially "The Nutcracker." The dancers who attended PBT School and are now dancing at different ballets across the world are: 2009-2010 * Amanda Whites, Dance Theatre of Tennessee * Kristie Latham, Ballet Met (Trainee) * Olivia Kelly, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Katie Miller, Sacramento Ballet (Apprentice) * Molly Wright, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Becca Cross, Rochester City Ballet * Ava Chatterson, Sacramento Ballet * Kelly Ford, Sacramento Ballet (Apprentice) * Jordan Richardson, Nevada Ballet Theater * Shanna Gayer, University of Pittsburgh * Meghan Wright, Sacramento Ballet * Amber Runyan, North Carolina Dance Theater (Trainee) * Christina Gratton, Boston University * Caitlin Mayes, University of Texas * Ted Henderson, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Erik Johnson, Rochester City Ballet * Yoshiaki Nakano, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Anna Porter, Columbia City Ballet 2008-2009 * Elizabeth Ashbaugh, Louisville Ballet (Apprentice) * Amanda Cochrane, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Apprentice) * Ashley Hamman, Ballet Quad Cities * Caitlin McElroy, Atlantic City Ballet (Apprentice) * Benjamin Rabe, Rochester City Ballet * Amanda Radetzky, Victoria Ballet * Kelsey Schneider, Rochester City Ballet (Apprentice) * Casey Taylor, Pacific Northwest Ballet (Professional Division) * Benjamin Tucker, Richmond Ballet (Apprentice) * Kirsten Wipperfeld, Richmond Ballet (Trainee) * Carissa Chandler*, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (retired/injured) 2007-2008 * Steven Bain, Ballet Idaho * Sonja Davenport, Cincinnati Ballet (Trainee) * Devon Darrow, Richmond Ballet (Trainee) * Kelly Jarrell, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Apprentice) * Corynn Miller, Rochester City Ballet (Apprentice) * Joseph Parr, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Patrick Yokum, Boston Ballet II * Jessica Wheeler, Louisville Ballet (Trainee) 2006-2007 * Gauen Alexander, Alabama Ballet * Alexis Antolic, Louisville Ballet * Kaleb Baker, Ballet Quad Cities * Kelsey Bartman, Texture Ballet * Allison Debona, Ballet West * Patrick DesRosiers, Ballet Quad Cities * Danielle Downey, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Sasha Edelman, Ballet Arizona * Laurie Lou Garside, Richmond Ballet (Apprentice) * Alana Gergerich, Omaha Theater Ballet * Shannon Hokanson, Louisville Ballet (Trainee) * Temple Kemezis, Connecticut Ballet * Emily Long, Ballet Quad Cities * Gabrielle Thurlow, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Brittany Waggy, Ballet Quad Cities * Kelly Walsh, Alabama Ballet * Ashley Wegman, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Aleksandr York, Omaha Theater Ballet 2005-2006 * Edward Carr, Ballet Austin * Nicholas Coppula, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Roberto Curti, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Apprentice) * Michelle Joy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera * Kimberly Tasota, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Eva Trapp, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre * Brienne Wiltse, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

References

External links

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
official website {{authority control Ballet companies in the United States Performing arts in Pittsburgh 1968 establishments in Pennsylvania Performing groups established in 1968 Dance in Pennsylvania