Category: Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh City Paper

Texture Contemporary Ballet’s Season-Ender a mix of Old and New

By Steve Sucato Texture Contemporary Ballet wraps up its fourth season with Unleashed Emotion. The program in three acts at the New Hazlett Theater features five ballets that run the gamut of emotions, including the premiere of Texture associate artistic director Kelsey Bartman’s “Old Skin.” The 25-minute “earthy” ballet for five dancers, set to music by Olafur Arnalds, Patrick Wolf and others, explores the idea of … Continue reading Texture Contemporary Ballet’s Season-Ender a mix of Old and New

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Under its new dance chair, Conservatory Dance Company seems headed in a new direction

By Steve Sucato Audiences most often get a feel for a new dance-company director from his or her choices in repertory. In the case of Point Park University’s new dance-department chair, Rubén Graciani, an indication of the direction he’ll take the student dance company can be seen in the Conservatory Dance Company’s annual At the Byham program, in four performances March 20-22. Graciani has said … Continue reading Under its new dance chair, Conservatory Dance Company seems headed in a new direction

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre offers 3 masterworks by 3 choreographic giants

By Steve Sucato If Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre‘s 45th-anniversary season were wine, it would be a vintage year: Every production is a most desirable bottle, none more so than PBT Premieres, to be performed with the PBT Orchestra, March 6-8 at the Benedum Center. The program of three masterworks by three choreographic giants ranks among artistic director Terrence Orr’s finest offerings in the 18 years he … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre offers 3 masterworks by 3 choreographic giants

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Cuban troupe Malpaso makes its Pittsburgh debut

By Steve Sucato The members of Havana’s Malpaso Dance Company were still decades from being born when, 54 years ago, the U.S. enacted a trade embargo with Cuba. But the effects of that embargo have overshadowed their lives and the lives of other Cuban artists ever since. But while the two nations, separated by 90 miles of water, have been politically at odds for more … Continue reading Cuban troupe Malpaso makes its Pittsburgh debut

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Attack Theatre co-founders Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope return to the stage

By Steve Sucato For most people, turning 20 is a minor milestone. But for dance companies, whose ages are measured in something more like dog years, it’s a pretty big deal. Attack Theatre’s co-founders, Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope, say their company’s 20th anniversary was the perfect excuse to get the old gang back together on stage. That’s something de la Reza, Kope … Continue reading Attack Theatre co-founders Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope return to the stage

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Glass, Confetti and Funny Faces

By Steve Sucato Fortune smiled on Monica Bill Barnes when she met Ira Glass, host of public radio’s This American Life, in 2012. She and her 18-year-old New York-based dance troupe, Monica Bill Barnes & Company Productions, have since enjoyed life-altering success, teaming with Glass for Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. In its second year of touring, the 90-minute, intermissionless extravaganza blends music, … Continue reading Glass, Confetti and Funny Faces

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Bodiography founder Maria Caruso stages her swan song as performer with her company

By Steve Sucato After 14 years as Bodiography Contemporary Ballet’s most prominent and compelling dancer, Maria Caruso is retiring as a performer with her company. She will take her final bows in the Bodiography program My Journey, Feb. 20 and 21, at the Byham Theater. A fixture on the Pittsburgh dance scene, Caruso will carry on as director/choreographer of the company and school she founded … Continue reading Bodiography founder Maria Caruso stages her swan song as performer with her company

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Ben Sota and Jil Stifel present the hybrid dance event ‘WaywardLand’

By Steve Sucato There are journeys in life, and then there are journeys of being. Jil Stifel and Ben Sota’s new work,WaywardLand, explores the idea that we’re on a journey in our human evolution. The 55-muinute abstract work combines circus, dance and physical theater, says Sota, 34, artistic director of the Zany Umbrella Circus.WaywardLand, part of The New Hazlett Theater’s Community Supported Art Performance Series, … Continue reading Ben Sota and Jil Stifel present the hybrid dance event ‘WaywardLand’

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Ronald K. Brown/Evidence brings 30th Anniversary Tour to Pittsburgh

By Steve Sucato Dance artists find inspiration just about anywhere, from fairy tales to world conflicts. But perhaps the most fertile area for inspiration is human relationships. For dancer/choreographer Ronald K. Brown, the death of close friend and mentor Sherrill Berryman Johnson from cancer, in 2010, and her memory inspired the positive messages behind the two works his company Ronald K. Brown/Evidence will perform Feb. … Continue reading Ronald K. Brown/Evidence brings 30th Anniversary Tour to Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre begins moving up to the majors with ‘Beauty and the Beast’ 

By Steve Sucato In his 18 years as Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre‘s artistic director, Terrence Orr has seen the company through myriad ups and downs. They ranged from rough financial periods and a Pittsburgh Musicians Union labor dispute, in 2005, to onstage triumphs, including the first-ever sensory-friendly production of The Nutcracker and the recent expansion of PBT’s Strip District facility. In its 45th season, Orr feels, … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre begins moving up to the majors with ‘Beauty and the Beast’ 

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