Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Don Quixote’ returns with fresh faces in the lead roles

By Steve Sucato Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre closes its 44th season with an updated production of the comedic classic Don Quixote, to be performed with the orchestra April 11-13 at the Benedum Center. Last staged in 2007, PBT’s production of Miguel de Cervantes’ familiar story of young Spanish lovers Kitri and Basilio, and their encounter with the eccentric Don Quixote on his quest to find Dulcinea, gets a … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Don Quixote’ returns with fresh faces in the lead roles

Pittsburgh Ballet soloists sound off on ‘Swan Lake’

By Steve Sucato Like professional sports teams, ballet companies go through ups and downs when it comes to talent. While the Steelers have struggled lately with a lack of it, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has been loaded with it. Most impressive have been PBT’s major story ballets. In 2012, the company wowed audiences with Giselle, and followed up with an engaging Cinderella this past April. Now it offers another … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet soloists sound off on ‘Swan Lake’

Nationally rising talent Alan Obuzor debuts a new dance work

By Steve Sucato Ever since Alan Obuzor was young, his mother, Marjorie Liese, encouraged her children to try different things. Having enrolled Alan and his three sisters in gymnastics at Gymkhana, in Point Breeze, Liese had them also try dance classes at a studio in the same building. The move would change Obuzor’s life. “After my first ballet class, I told my mother I wanted … Continue reading Nationally rising talent Alan Obuzor debuts a new dance work

2013’s Seven Most Transportive Dance Programs in Pittsburgh

By Steve Sucato In a year filled with great dance programs in Pittsburgh, here are seven that transported audiences from their seats to worlds away. Soap Opera (Attack Theatre, Feb. 2-10). Soap Opera mixed dance, mythology and opera music to tell the fictitious story of a terminally ill concert pianist — and his opera-singer lover’s bedside efforts to keep him alive by reading colorful stories aloud. The work … Continue reading 2013’s Seven Most Transportive Dance Programs in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s father of professional ballet and Point Park’s dance program retires — Conservatory Dance Company honors longtime teacher by staging his ‘Romeo and Juliet’

By Steve Sucato When Nicolas Petrov assumed the directorship of the Pittsburgh Playhouse‘s ballet school, in 1967, no one could have foreseen that within a few years, the Yugoslavian-born dancer and choreographer would forever alter the Pittsburgh dance landscape by founding two of its major institutions: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Point Park University‘s renowned dance department.  Now, on the eve of Professor Petrov’s retirement from Point … Continue reading Pittsburgh’s father of professional ballet and Point Park’s dance program retires — Conservatory Dance Company honors longtime teacher by staging his ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Pittsburgh’s Fall dance season brings everything from showcases of local talent to international touring companies

By Steve Sucato Pittsburgh’s dance scene has seen lots of changes of late, including the addition of new dance troupes Geeksdanz, Maree ReMalia/merrygogo and Yes Brain Dance Theater. Most recently there is ReedDance, the retooled successor to the now-defunct August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, still headed by Greer Reed. The fall dance season includes both the new and the familiar. Texture Contemporary Ballet goes Nearly Wild in its … Continue reading Pittsburgh’s Fall dance season brings everything from showcases of local talent to international touring companies

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre delights at Chautauqua Institution

From a prior performance in March 2013: Luca Sbrizzi & Alexandra Kochis in Antony Tudor’s “Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden)”. Photo by Rich Sofranko. By Steve Sucato News Contributing Reviewer  Following in the footsteps of the many Pittsburghers who annually make the Chautauqua Institution their summer retreat, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre lit up the institution’s amphitheater and the spirits of those in attendance Wednesday night with a marvelously … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre delights at Chautauqua Institution

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School’s pre-professional showcase glimpses ballet’s next wave of dancer talent

By Steve Sucato While Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is one of the nation’s top ballet companies, its school also has a reputation for turning out top talent. The school draws dancers from around the world to hone their skills in preparation for a professional career. A highlight of that training is the annual Pre-Professional Showcase, May 17-19 at Point Park University’s George Rowland White Performance Studio. … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School’s pre-professional showcase glimpses ballet’s next wave of dancer talent

Socks, Boots & Cheese

By Steve Sucato The American Dairy Association may have been onto something in its ads touting “the power of cheese.” Anecdotal reports of increased creativity by Texture Contemporary Ballet’s dancers and choreographers from eating cheese led to the tongue-in-cheek title of their latest program, There’s Something About Fontina. The troupe presents the mixed-repertory program featuring six premiere works April 3-5 at the New Hazlett Theater. Among … Continue reading Socks, Boots & Cheese

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Unspoken’ a gem of a program

Reviewed by Steve Sucato March 13, 2013 A year after he co-founded New York’s School of American Ballet in 1934, George Balanchine created “Serenade” (1935), a ballet that began as a lesson for his advanced students at the school on how to perform on a stage. Since then the iconic ballet has become a mainstay in the repertories of professional and pre-professional ballet companies across … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Unspoken’ a gem of a program