Susan Jaffe Named Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Artistic Director

By Steve Sucato Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre announced today that former American Ballet Theatre principal Susan Jaffe will succeed Terrence Orr as artistic director of the company, effective July 1. Jaffe becomes PBT’s seventh artistic director and only the second female director in the company’s history. Dubbed “America’s Quintessential American Ballerina” by The New York Times, Jaffe comes to PBT after eight years as dean of the … Continue reading Susan Jaffe Named Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Artistic Director

North Pointe Ballet Production Celebrates The ‘Why’ Of What They Do

By Steve Sucato Why artists do what they do is a constant source of curiosity for many.  It is perhaps in trying to understand their motivations that we gain a better understanding of them and their art.  In North Pointe Ballet’s program What’s Your Why?, March 14 and 15 at the Lorain Palace Theater, the West Side ballet company seeks in part to answer those … Continue reading North Pointe Ballet Production Celebrates The ‘Why’ Of What They Do

Ballet Legato’s Debut Production a Bold Take on a Familiar Storybook Character

By Steve Sucato With the popularity of recent movies and television shows taking familiar storybook characters and inventing new storylines such as Hansel & Gretel being witch hunters and Peter Pan being an evil lad looking to harvest the “heart of the truest believer” on the TV series Once Upon a Time, it was only a matter of time before the dance world got onboard … Continue reading Ballet Legato’s Debut Production a Bold Take on a Familiar Storybook Character