There’s a lot buzzing these days behind the scenes at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The company is preparing for its premiere performance in Chicago this month and a mainstage season rich with new additions to the repertoire.
“I think the company is stronger than it’s ever been,” says artistic director Terrence Orr.
Where: Hartwood Acres Middle Road performance area, Hampton.
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Free family activities begin at 5 p.m. VIP dinner with the dancers is 5-7 p.m.
Tickets: $75 for adults and $20 for children ages 12-18 for VIP dinner at www.pbt.org. All other activities are free and open to the public.
Pittsburghers don’t have to venture to Chicago or wait until PBT’s next engagement at Benedum Center in October to see for themselves. Audiences can get their first look at the company roster for the 2015-16 season Sunday at “Ballet Under the Stars,” the annual free program at Hartwood Acres that’s often dubbed the unofficial start of PBT’s season.
The lineup will be packed with highlights, Mr. Orr says, with excerpts from “Swan Lake,” “Giselle” and “La Bayadere” sprinkled throughout the show. It also will include a first look at a new piece in progress by PBT principal dancer Yoshiaki Nakano.
“I’ve been watching Yoshi for a couple of years do choreography,” Mr. Orr says, adding that he’s been impressed by works he’s set on Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School dancers. His latest work, choreographed for five couples and danced to Mozart, will be the first by Mr. Nakano to be performed by the company.
PBT also will treat audiences to an encore of Mark Morris’ playful “Sandpaper Ballet,” staged in March as part of the “PBT Premieres” mixed repertory program, before taking the piece on the road to the Chicago Dancing Festival (Aug. 25-29).
Co-produced by renowned choreographer Lar Lubovitch and dancer Jay Franke, the event, now in its ninth year, is an international destination for dance that attracts such prestigious companies as The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Martha Graham Dance Company and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The city is PBT’s third-largest U.S. touring engagement, following appearances in New York City in 2005 and Los Angeles in 2003 and 2001.
“It’s sort of been in the works for a number of years,” says PBT executive director Harris Ferris about the invitation to join the festival. “It really boiled down to the right repertory that fit their lineup. Lar Lubovitch is very discerning about how he wants to put together a program.”
“Sandpaper Ballet” finally clinched the deal for PBT.
“It’s pretty well known among the dance world as a great work ... but it’s rarely danced and rarely seen,” Mr. Ferris says. “It’s distinctive.”
Developing its repertoire with these sorts of esteemed, distinct works is what PBT believes will help it continue to elevate its reputation on the national and international dance stage. A mixed rep program in October with the PBT orchestra featuring “Western Symphony” (Balanchine), “In the Middle Somewhat Elevated” (Forsythe) and “Sinfonietta” (Kylian) and the classical full-length ballet “Le Corsaire” (Petipa) with the orchestra in April 2016 are a few examples of such works on tap for the season ahead.
“It does boil down to what’s being danced on stage. We take risks, and sometimes people question the risks because we know ticket sales might not be as robust as something that’s conventional,” Mr. Ferris says. “But people notice.”
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: August 13, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
