PBT Adds Autism Friendly Nutcracker Performance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2013
Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

‘Tis the Season: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Celebrates the Holidays with “The Nutcracker”
PBT Premieres First-Ever, Autism-Friendly Performance During 2013 Nutcracker Season
PITTSBURGH, PA – Featuring more than 200 costumes, 100 colorful characters and Pittsburgh-inspired set design, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s grand-scale production of “The Nutcracker” illuminates the holiday season Dec. 6-29, at the Benedum Center.

For the first time this season, PBT will present a special, autism-friendly performance of “The Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, in addition to 22 public performances. PBT will be the first professional ballet company in the country to adapt this holiday classic for patrons with sensory sensitivities and their families.
Recognized as one of the most popular ballets of all time, The Nutcracker is a holiday classic based on the German tale written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. PBT has performed The Nutcracker since the company’s founding in 1969. Beginning in 2002, PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr recreated the production with an enhanced storyline, new choreography and a unique Pittsburgh theme. Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, The Nutcracker stays true to many of the original elements of Hoffman’s tale while lacing the production with iconic turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh imagery. Among a multitude of Pittsburgh references in Zack Brown’s set design, the city’s stunning Mt. Washington view serves as backdrop to the Snow Scene, the Party Scene includes prominent Pittsburghers, such as the Heinz and Kaufmann families, and the Land of Enchantment’s elaborate carousel is inspired by Pittsburgh’s historic amusement parks. Mixing magic, love and adventure, Orr’s storyline offers something for audience members of all ages.

Throughout The Nutcracker’s 23-performance run, Orr keeps each performance distinct by challenging company members to dance and develop a range of character roles. Casting is unique for every performance; one dancer can perform as many as eight roles during one season of The Nutcracker. Many of the company’s emerging talents have the chance to perform principal roles, including Marie, the Sugarplum Fairy and Snow Queen. More than 150 students, ages 7 and up, also will join PBT company dancers on the Benedum Center stage performing a  variety of whimsical roles ranging from bumblebees and mice to flowers and toy soldiers. The choreography spans the awe-inspiring synchronization of the Snow Scene to a variety of Act II variations, including the exuberant Russian Trepak, exotic Arabian dance, and elegant Grand Pas de Deux of the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier.

The more than 200 costumes of The Nutcracker mirror the variety of the choreography from the elaborate classical tutu of the Sugarplum Fairy to the exotic dress of the Russian, Spanish and Arabian dancers. This year, PBT Costumier Janet Marie Groom celebrates her 40th season with PBT – and her 40th Season of The Nutcracker. From the time of the production’s re-creation in 2002, the majority of The Nutcracker costumes were created in the PBT Costume Shop under her direction after the designs of Zack Brown. Beginning as early as October, Campbell oversees costume fittings and final wardrobe preparations for more than 150 PBT School students in addition to PBT’s professional company dancers.

Tickets start at $25.75, and can be purchased online at www.pbt.org, by calling 412-456-6666or visiting the Box Office at Theater Square.                              
                                                 

Autism-Friendly Performance
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre announces the 2013 premiere of its first-ever autism-friendly production of The Nutcracker, the first of its kind in the country to make the magic of the holiday classic accessible to children on the autism spectrum and their families. The autism-friendly performance will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 at the Benedum Center. To be autism-friendly, the entire theater will be reserved for families with individuals on the autism spectrum or other sensory sensitivities to create a fully supportive audience environment. Accommodations will include designated quiet areas and activity stations in the lobby, adjustments to potentially startling light, sound and special effects and opportunities for families and children to familiarize themselves with the production in advance. Tickets for the autism-friendly performance are available online at www.pbt.org/autism or by calling 412-454-9107 or 412-454-9101.

PBT to Host Free Nutcracker Holiday Party
To kick off Nutcracker season, PBT invites community members to its studios in the Strip District for a free, family-friendly open house on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 12-3 p.m. at PBT Studios, 2900 Liberty Ave. Activities include:
• Nutcracker -themed dance classes & performance excerpts
• Holiday crafts with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh & WQED
• The Nutcracker story time with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
• The Nutcracker stage makeup station
• Photo opportunities with costumed dancers

In the spirit of the holidays, PBT encourages guests to bring a food donation for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for a chance to win a Nutcracker gift basket!

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PBT Ticket Sales Open for 2013-2014 Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 28, 2013
Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Single Ticket Sales Open Sept. 3, for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 2013-2014 Season
PBT’s 44rd Season Premieres with “An Evening of Twyla Tharp” at the Benedum

(Pittsburgh, PA) – In anticipation of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s season opener this fall,Tuesday, Sept. 3, marks opening day for single ticket sales to 2013-2014 Season productions.  The 2013-2014 Season premieres with “An Evening of Twyla Tharp,” onstage Oct. 25-27, at the Benedum Center.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 2013-2014 Season features a PBT world premiere by choreographer Viktor Plotnikov, a mixed repertory performance at the August Wilson Center and two of classical ballet’s most masterful stories. The five-production lineup includes An Evening of Twyla Tharp, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake with the Orchestra, 3x3 and Don Quixote with the Orchestra.

Tickets start at $25.75, and can be purchased online at www.pbt.org, by calling 412-456-6666or visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Season subscriptions for three, four or five ballet packages also are available online at www.pbt.org or by calling 412-454-9107.


2013-2014 SEASON

In the Upper Room (An Evening of Twyla Tharp)
Photo by: Rich Sofranko 
Dancers: Kumiko Tsuji & Luca Sbrizzi

An Evening of Twyla Tharp | October 25-27, 2013 | Benedum Center
Choreography:  Twyla Tharp
Music (In the Upper Room): Philip Glass
Music (Nine Sinatra Songs): Various compositions sung by Frank Sinatra (Softly, As I Leave You, Strangers in the Night, One For My Baby, My Way, Somethin' Stupid, All the Way, Forget Domani, That's Life. later version of My Way)
Costumes (In the Upper Room): Norma Kamali
Costumes (Nine Sinatra Songs): Oscar de la Renta

Set to the iconic hits of Frank Sinatra and riveting works of Philip Glass, PBT presents a choreographic power couple by Tony and Emmy award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp.Described by Tharp as “fierce, driving and relentless,” “In the Upper Room” melds ballet and modern dance in a powerful tour de force driven by Philip Glass’s rhythmic score. In “Nine Sinatra Songs,” Tharp blends ballet and ballroom movement, elevating the glamour and finesse of social dancing to a dance theatre quality. Find additional choreography notes atwww.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.


The Nutcracker | December 6-29, 2013 | Benedum Center

Photo by: Rich Sofranko
Dancer: Gabrielle Thurlow

Concept and Choreography: Terrence S. Orr
Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Scenic and Costume Design: Zack Brown

The magic of “The Nutcracker” illuminates the stage with more than 150 performers, hundreds of costumes and choreography that displays the versatility of PBT dancers like no other season production. With more than 20 unique casting combinations and 100 exuberant characters, an aura of excitement surrounds each performance of this timeless holiday tradition for dancers and audiences alike. Find additional choreography notes atwww.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

Photo by: Rich Sofranko
Dancer: Elysa Hotchkiss

Swan Lake with the Orchestra | Feb. 13-16, 2014 | Benedum Center
Choreography after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Staged by: Terrence S. Orr
Music:  Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Peter Farmer
Set Design: Julia Trevelyan Oman

One of Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballets, “Swan Lake” symbolizes more than 100 years of tradition and some of the most revered roles in classical ballet. In a performance of emotional intensity and technical mastery, the ballerina captures the essence of both eternal love and deception in the coveted dual role of Odette and Odile. Considered the most popular of all classical ballets, “Swan Lake” showcases the company’s female dancers with intricate choreography for the Corps de Ballet and the dramatic power of its male dancers in the roles of the evil Von Rothbart and the chivalrous Prince Siegfried. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

Smoke n’ Roses (3x3 at August Wilson Center) 
Photo by: Jenn Peters
Dancers: Kumiko Tsuji & Christopher Budzynski 

3x3 | March 7-16, 2014 | August Wilson Center
Choreography: Dwight Rhoden, Julia Adam, Viktor Plotnikov

PBT pushes the boundaries of ballet in a mixed repertory program showcasing three of today’s most compelling choreographers. Experience an unconventional exploration of ballet musicality and movement featuring a PBT world premiere by Viktor Plotnikov, the cross-cultural fusion of Julia Adam’s “Ketubah” and the expressive syncopation of Dwight Rhoden’s “Smoke ‘n Roses” set to the live vocals of Pittsburgh’s own Etta Cox. In “Ketubah”– a 2014 Pittsburgh premiere – Adam draws from her own heritage to set in motion a series of Jewish marriage customs through a hybrid of ballet, modern and Israeli folk dance accompanied by traditional Klezmer music.

Don Quixote 
Photo by: Randy Choura
Dancer: Ying Li 

Don Quixote with the Orchestra | April 11-13, 2014 | Benedum Center
Choreography after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky
Staged by: Terrence S. Orr
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Costumes & Set Design: Santo Loquasto

Ranked among ballet’s most complex choreography, “Don Quixote” weaves a rich tapestry of love, illusion and adventure based on Cervantes’ classic Spanish novel. Packed with balletic bravado, intricate footwork and virtuoso variations, “Don Quixote” claims one of the most breathtaking grand pas de deux in classical ballet. Find additional choreography notes atwww.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.
                                                                                    ###

--
Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
2900 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412.454.9117 (P)
412.281.2202 (F)
PBT.ORG | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre 2013-2014 Season
Timeless Stories, Pittsburgh Premieres, Cutting-Edge Choreography

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pgh Ballet Theatre Unveils 44th Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 28, 2013
Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Single Ticket Sales Open Sept. 3, for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 2013-2014 Season
PBT’s 44th

Season Premieres with “An Evening of Twyla Tharp” at the Benedum

(Pittsburgh, PA) – In anticipation of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s season opener this fall, Tuesday, Sept. 3, marks opening day for single ticket sales to 2013-2014 Season productions.  The 2013-2014 Season premieres with “An Evening of Twyla Tharp,” onstage Oct. 25-27, at the Benedum Center.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 2013-2014 Season features a PBT world premiere by choreographer Viktor Plotnikov, a mixed repertory performance at the August Wilson Center and two of classical ballet’s most masterful stories. The five-production lineup includes An Evening of Twyla Tharp, The Nutcracker,Swan Lake with the Orchestra, 3x3 and Don Quixote with the Orchestra.

Tickets start at $25.75, and can be purchased online at www.pbt.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Season subscriptions for three, four or five ballet packages also are available online at www.pbt.org or by calling 412-454-9107.


2013-2014 SEASON
An Evening of Twyla Tharp | October 25-27, 2013 | Benedum Center
Choreography:  Twyla Tharp
Music (In the Upper Room): Philip Glass
Music (Nine Sinatra Songs): Various compositions sung by Frank Sinatra (Softly, As I Leave You, Strangers in the Night, One For My Baby, My Way, Somethin' Stupid, All the Way, Forget Domani, That's Life. later version of My Way)
Costumes (In the Upper Room): Norma Kamali
Costumes (Nine Sinatra Songs): Oscar de la Renta

Set to the iconic hits of Frank Sinatra and riveting works of Philip Glass, PBT presents a choreographic power couple by Tony and Emmy award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp. Described by Tharp as “fierce, driving and relentless,” “In the Upper Room” melds ballet and modern dance in a powerful tour de force driven by Philip Glass’s rhythmic score. In “Nine Sinatra Songs,” Tharp blends ballet and ballroom movement, elevating the glamour and finesse of social dancing to a dance theatre quality. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

Nutcracker 2012  Photo Credit:  Rich Sofranko

The Nutcracker | December 6-29, 2013 | Benedum Center
Concept and Choreography: Terrence S. Orr
Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Scenic and Costume Design: Zack Brown

The magic of “The Nutcracker” illuminates the stage with more than 150 performers, hundreds of costumes and choreography that displays the versatility of PBT dancers like no other season production. With more than 20 unique casting combinations and 100 exuberant characters, an aura of excitement surrounds each performance of this timeless holiday tradition for dancers and audiences alike. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

Swan Lake with the Orchestra | Feb. 13-16, 2014 | Benedum Center
Choreography after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Staged by: Terrence S. Orr
Music:  Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Peter Farmer
Set Design: Julia Trevelyan Oman

One of Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballets, “Swan Lake” symbolizes more than 100 years of tradition and some of the most revered roles in classical ballet. In a performance of emotional intensity and technical mastery, the ballerina captures the essence of both eternal love and deception in the coveted dual role of Odette and Odile. Considered the most popular of all classical ballets, “Swan Lake” showcases the company’s female dancers with intricate choreography for the Corps de Ballet and the dramatic power of its male dancers in the roles of the evil Von Rothbart and the chivalrous Prince Siegfried. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

3x3 | March 7-16, 2014 | August Wilson Center
Choreography: Dwight Rhoden, Julia Adam, Viktor Plotnikov

PBT pushes the boundaries of ballet in a mixed repertory program showcasing three of today’s most compelling choreographers. Experience an unconventional exploration of ballet musicality and movement featuring a PBT world premiere by Viktor Plotnikov, the cross-cultural fusion of Julia Adam’s “Ketubah” and the expressive syncopation of Dwight Rhoden’s “Smoke ‘n Roses” set to the live vocals of Pittsburgh’s own Etta Cox. In “Ketubah” – a 2014 Pittsburgh premiere – Adam draws from her own heritage to set in motion a series of Jewish marriage customs through a hybrid of ballet, modern and Israeli folk dance accompanied by traditional Klezmer music.

Don Quixote with the Orchestra | April 11-13, 2014 | Benedum Center
Choreography after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky
Staged by: Terrence S. Orr
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Costumes & Set Design: Santo Loquasto

Ranked among ballet’s most complex choreography, “Don Quixote” weaves a rich tapestry of love, illusion and adventure based on Cervantes’ classic Spanish novel. Packed with balletic bravado, intricate footwork and virtuoso variations, “Don Quixote” claims one of the most breathtaking grand pas de deux in classical ballet. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.
                                                                                    ###

--
Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
2900 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412.454.9117 (P)
412.281.2202 (F)
PBT.ORG | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre 2013-2014 Season
Timeless Stories, Pittsburgh Premieres, Cutting-Edge Choreography

An Evening of Twyla Tharp. Experience powerhouse choreography by an American icon.
The Nutcracker. Illuminate the holidays with this seasonal spectacular.
Swan Lake with the PBT Orchestra. Plunge into classical ballet’s most revered love story.
3x3. Push the boundaries of ballet with a trio of today’s most compelling choreographers.
Don Quixote with the PBT Orchestra. Embark on an adventure of love, illusion and balletic bravado.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Showcases Rising Talent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            
CONTACT:  Meghan McNamara
412-454-9117                                                                                                                    mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org    
           

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Showcases Rising Dance Talent in Spring Performance 2013 & Pre-Professional Showcase 2013

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 2013) – As the capstone of the 2012-2013 school year, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School will spotlight the talent and diversity of nearly 200 students in the 2013 Spring Performance and Pre-Professional Showcases onstage this May in the Cultural District.

Spring Performance 2013 – August Wilson Center
Friday, May 10, 2013 and Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 7 p.m.

Under the direction of PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr and School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall, nearly 200 students from the school’s Student and Pre-Professional divisions will perform a range of classical and contemporary works, including choreography by James Washington of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble.

The program will include two works staged by PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr – Graduation Ball, choreographed by David Lichine, as well as Swan Lake Act II Divertissements in anticipation of PBT’s upcoming full-length production of Swan Lake in the 2013-2014 Season. Graduation Ball is a one-act ballet full of festivities, flirtations and exuberant divertissements that take place when a girl’s boarding school and a nearby military academy come together to celebrate their Graduation Ball. In a cameo appearance as the headmistress, PBT company soloist Robert Moore will reprise the en travesti talents he recently performed as a Stepsister in PBT’s 2012-2013 Season finale Cinderella. PBT School Faculty member and former San Francisco Ballet principal Andre Reyes also will join the students onstage to perform the character role of the General.

In an artistic offshoot of PBT’s partnership with the August Wilson Center, James Washington of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble choreographed Beauty, The Lack Of on a group of PBT graduate students in December 2012. Set to music by Olafur Arnalds, the contemporary ballet work is about discovering the joy in life. Pre-Professional students also will perform the elegant classical quartet Quattro a Verdi, choreographed by Michael Smuin and staged by PBT School’s Andre Reyes. Finally, the choreography of PBT School Principal Anastasia Wovchko explores the artistic journey of 120 students in Level I-B through VI in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Pre-Professional Showcase 2013 – Point Park University, George Rowland White Performance Studio
Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m.

PBT School’s Pre-Professional Showcase features the high school and graduate students, ages 14 to 22, who are training to be the next generation of professional ballet dancers. In addition to Swan Lake Act II Divertissements,Beauty, the Lack of; Graduation Ball and Quattro a Verdi, the program will include an all-male work created by PBT School’s newest faculty member, Andre Reyes, to spotlight the talents of the young men of the Pre-Professional program. Spanning a range of age groups and training levels, PBT School dancers include 15 international students representing Japan, Canada, Guam and Japan, as well as incoming 2013-2014 PBT company apprentice Diana Yohe.

Tickets          
Tickets for Spring Performance 2013 range in price from $16.75-28.75, and can be purchased online at www.pbt.orgor by calling 412-456-6666. Tickets for the 2013 Pre-Professional Showcase are available for $20 online atwww.pbt.org or by calling 412-281-0360.

About Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is the official training institution of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has an enrollment of over 900 students, including the Children’s, Student, Pre-Professional and Open Divisions. The Children’s Division gives young students an introduction to ballet and prepares them for advancement to the Student Division. Dancers in the Student Division work to refine their technique and dancers in the Pre-Professional Program prepare for professional careers in classical ballet. Many students perform in an annual School Spring Performance, and some students are chosen by Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr to perform with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at the Benedum Center. Each year, PBT School students can audition for The Nutcracker, and in 2012 more than 150 were cast in a variety of roles.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Premiere Autism-Friendly Performance of The Nutcracker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Premiere First-Ever Autism Friendly Performance of The Nutcracker

(Pittsburgh, PA) –  Marking the final day of Autism Awareness Month, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre announces the 2013 premiere  of its first-ever autism-friendly production of The Nutcracker, the first of its kind in the country to make the magic of the holiday classic accessible to children on the autism spectrum and their families. The autism-friendly performance will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Benedum Center.

“The Nutcracker is a holiday staple in ballet companies across the country and an annual tradition for many families here in Pittsburgh, so we are particularly excited to pilot this program with a timeless story that reaches so many people year after year,” said PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr. “With this special performance, we want families to know that we are performing with them in mind and welcome them to experience this production in a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere.”

To be autism-friendly, the entire theater will be reserved for families with individuals on the autism spectrum to create a fully supportive audience environment. Autism-friendly accommodations will include designated quiet areas and activity stations in the lobby, adjustments to potentially startling light, sound and special effects and opportunities for families and children to familiarize themselves with the production in advance. Throughout the performance, the house lights will remain dimly lit and audience members will be free to come and go from their seats as needed. In advance of the performance, PBT will distribute online an illustrated guide, or social story, to walk audience members through the theater experience from the layout  of the Benedum Center to the characters, scenery and music of  The Nutcracker production.

“This is a performance where families can come as they are and be who they are. Whether they are looking for a new artistic experience, bonding time with their family, or simply an escape into a magical world, we can offer all of that through this performance, “said PBT Education Director Alyssa Herzog Melby, who heads Accessibility Initiatives at PBT. “We hope that we can become a model for other ballet companies across the country to open their doors to people on the autism spectrum, sharing the beauty of what we do with all people in our community.”

Autism Spectrum Disorders affect 1 in 88 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The effects of autism are unique to every individual, though ASD characterizations usually include difficulties with social interaction and communication.  Many children with autism  have sensory sensitivities in response to sounds or sights, which is one of the focused areas of adaptation for autism-friendly productions.

Although autism-friendly productions have begun to establish a foothold in the theater world, autism-friendly performances are relatively new to ballet. This year, for example, New Jersey Ballet presented an autism-friendly version of Pinocchio; but, to date, no other U.S. ballet company has presented an autism-friendly version of The Nutcracker, according to PBT research.

“Very few times in our careers as dancers will we get the chance to do something this important. The autism-friendly performance will join Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project as one of those defining moments for me,” said PBT Dancer Stephen Hadala, who has performed in all 11 seasons of Terrence S. Orr’s The Nutcracker. “This performance gives us an opportunity to use our art form to do something for the community, and it’s exciting to be able to share ballet with children who might not ordinarily experience a production.”

In order to adapt the ballet, PBT worked with a focus group represented  by local autism advocacy groups – including Autism Speaks  of Greater Pittsburgh and ABOARD’s Autism Connection of Pennsylvania – parents of children with autism and individuals on the autism spectrum. After watching the production and learning about characters, music and scenery, the group submitted recommendations to adapt the production to viewers on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities.

 PBT also looked to other organizations as models, including the Theatre Development Fund’s Autism Theatre Initiative, which presented the first autism-friendly performance of a Broadway show in October 2011 with Disney's musical The Lion King. PBT thanks TDF’s Autism Theatre Initiative for serving as an advisor during the planning process. Locally, PBT acknowledges The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for its leadership in establishing best practices and providing Benedum Center staff training for autism-friendly performances. Lead funding support for PBT’s autism-friendly production of The Nutcrackercomes from the Edith L. Trees Foundation.

PBT will kick off the  first fundraising event for the initiative on May 20, with a special edition of “No Menu Monday” at Bar Marco in the Strip District. PBT dancers will be serving signature dishes prepared by a featured guest chef. All proceeds will benefit PBT’s autism-friendly performance of The Nutcracker.

TICKETS
Tickets for the autism-friendly performance will be available at a  discounted rate to families with members on the autism spectrum, and will go on sale September 3, 2013 with  regular single ticket sales. Information to purchase the tickets will be distributed through PBT’s partners within the autism community. For more information about tickets, please call 412-454-9107.

ABOUT PBT ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES
The autism-friendly performance fits into PBT’s overarching Accessibility Initiative, which made several significant strides during the 2012-2013 Season. 2012-2013 accessibility accomplishments included the introduction of PBT’s Audio Description for Dance program, large-print and braille programs and other accommodations for people with visual impairments and special needs. For more information about Accessibility at PBT, please visit www.pbt.org/plan-your-visit/accessibility.

Media Note: For interviews and photos, please contact Meghan McNamara at 412-454-9117 or mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Silnicki Advances in International Ballet Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      
CONTACT:  Meghan McNamara
412-454-9117
 mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org  

                                 
PBT School Student Advances to Final Round of Youth America Grand Prix
Silnicki Places among Top Competitors at Semi-Finals of International Student Ballet Competition

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 2013) –  After receiving multiple awards at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) semifinals this weekend, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School student Sophie Silnicki, 16, will advance to the final round of the international student ballet competition from April 12-17, in New York City.

Silnicki’s performance at the YAGP Semi-Finals – held March 8-10, 2013 in Indianapolis – earned her first place in the Contemporary Category and third place in the Classical Category for the Senior Division, which included 177 competitors from the United States and abroad of the 15-19 year-old age range. Silnicki’s winning solos included Gone, a contemporary piece choreographed by Adrienne Canterna (1st Place) and the variation from Raymonda Act II (3rd Place) for her classical piece.

Sophie Silnicki

 The 2013 YAGP marks Silnicki’s sixth consecutive year performing in the competition. In 2012, Silnicki received the Grand Prize in the Junior Division of the Semi-Finals in Torrington, CT, with top awards for both her Classical and Contemporary Solos. This April, Sophie will go on to compete in the finals competition from April 12-17, at the Jack H. Skirball Center for Performing Arts in New York City.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition and annually awards more than $250,000 in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students of all nationalities from 9-19 years old. Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is also a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization created with a mission to provide extraordinary educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career, according to the YACP website.
“The Youth America Grand Prix brings together the most accomplished students from the across the country and abroad, so we are extremely proud that Sophie has been recognized so highly among her peers. These awards speak to the remarkable artistry, discipline and commitment that we see Sophie dedicate every day to her ballet training,” said PBT School Director Marjorie Grundvig.

Silnicki has trained with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School for four years under the direction of School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall. Prior to enrolling at PBT School, Silnicki trained at the dance studio of her mother, Stephanie Lopez, where she continues to dance regularly.  A full-time student in PBT School’s High School Division, Silnicki has been featured in PBT company productions, including The Nutcracker, as well as PBT School’s annual spring performances.

Now in its 14th Season, YAGP has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and audition classes. Over 300 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others. YAGP’s contributions to international dance education were recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with a membership in UNESCO’s prestigious Conseil International de la Danse (CID).For more information, please visit www.yagp.org.

Media Note: Photos are available upon request. For interviews or photos, please contact Meghan McNamara, marketing coordinator, at 412-454-9117 or mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.

About Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is the official training institution of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has an enrollment of more than 900 students, including the Children’s, Student, Pre-Professional and Open Divisions. The Children’s Division gives young students an introduction to ballet and prepares them for advancement to the Student Division. Dancers in the Student Division work to refine their technique and dancers in the Pre- Professional Program prepare for professional ballet careers. Many students perform in an annual School Spring Performance at the Byham Theater, and some students are chosen by Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr to perform with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at the Benedum Center.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Orchestra, Ballet Performance of Cinderella

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                               March 20, 2013

Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Presents Cinderella with Live
Orchestra April 19-21 at the Benedum Center in 12-13 Season Finale

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Brimming with enchantment, romance and comedy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents the classic story of Cinderella onstage with the PBT Orchestra April 19-21 at the Benedum Center, in PBT’s 2012-2013 Season finale.

Set to Prokofiev’s grand score and the choreography of Washington Ballet’s Septime Webre, Cinderella stages a spellbinding spectacle with elaborate costumes, classical choreography and distinctive set design. Reimagined across cultures, ages and art forms, Webre’s adaptation of Cinderella roots the timeless fairy tale in honest human emotions of love and longing to match the depth of Prokofiev’s score.
In addition to PBT company dancers, approximately 20 children from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School will dance the roles of enchanted garden creatures, including bumblebees, snow angels, butterflies and other whimsical roles brought to life by Cinderella’s fairy godmother. From  the enchanted pointe shoes to the show-stopping stepsisters, PBT’s Cinderella takes many unexpected twists on this time-honored tale.

Character Transformations: Cinderella….& Her Stepsisters
Following a garden visitation from her fairy godmother — accompanied by fairies of the four seasons— Cinderella transforms from rags to finery to make her mysterious debut at the ball. Behind the scenes, however, the most dramatic transformation occurs for the male dancers cast as Cinderella’s stepsisters. Webre’s Cinderella plays on the theater and ballet tradition of dancing “en travesti,” using a comic gender role reversal to characterize the jealous duo with clownish antics. Costumed in voluminous hoopskirts and garish makeup and wigs, these male dancers add a generous dash of humor to the production.

The Perfect Pointe Shoe
Rather than the typical glass slippers, PBT’s Cinderella dons a pair of dazzling pointe shoes for the ball, leaving her Prince to search all over the world for the maiden who matches her forgotten slipper. In the reality of a professional ballerina, finding the perfect pointe shoe fit is a Cinderella story unto itself. Choosing pointe shoes is an extremely individualized and detailed task to find the fit that offers ultimate foot flexibility, balance and support. At PBT, most ballerinas dance through an average of 75 pairs of pointe shoes each season, and spend countless hours darning, breaking in and padding their shoes for the best fit and  comfort level.  Most pointe shoes are hand-made, and PBT dancers may choose up to 10 style customizations when ordering.  So, whether it’s the Spanish or Tunisian dancer that the Prince visits in Act II, it’s truly unlikely that Cinderella’s pointe shoes would ever fit another ballerina.

Set & Costume Design
Theoretically set in “a faraway kingdom,” the set of Cinderella draws influences from the mid-to-late 18th century prior to the French Revolution. The fairy tale is brought to life through James Kronzer’s set designs, which include Cinderella’s kitchen, a garden full of dancing creatures and flowers, a wintery forest, and a gilded grand ballroom lined with mirrors that multiply the swirling skirts and partnering of the courtesans. At midnight, Kronzer creates a striking vision on stage when clock faces of various sizes fill the ballroom, alerting Cinderella that her gown will soon return to rags. Judanna Lynn’s costume designs showcase the elaborate court dress and powdered wigs of the era as well as Cinderella's ragamuffin dresses and the stepsisters’ humorous frocks.

Music
Considered one of ballet’s most brilliant scores, Prokofiev’s Cinderella score premiered in 1945 with the Bolshoi Ballet, and echoes Cinderella’s inner emotions as well as a variety of unique themes for different characters. Of his approach to the score, Prokofiev wrote of his attempt to "convey the poetic love between Cinderella and the Prince – the birth and flowing of feeling, the obstacles thrown in its path, the realization of the dream...to create a fairy tale to serve merely as a setting for the portrayal of flesh-and-blood human beings with human passions and failings."

Tickets
Tickets for Cinderella start at $25.75 and are available for purchase online at www.pbt.org, by calling412-456-6666 or visiting the Box Office at Theater Square in the Cultural District.


About the Choreographer
Septime Webre was appointed artistic director of The Washington Ballet in June 1999 after six years as artistic director of American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey. Much in demand as a choreographer, he has created works that appear in the repertoires of many companies in North America, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Ballet Austin, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet and Colorado Ballet, among many others. As a dancer, Mr. Webre was featured in works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Antony Tudor, Alvin Ailey, and Merce Cunningham, as well as in principal and solo roles from the classical repertoire. A former member of the board of directors of Dance/USA, Mr. Webre sits on the board of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, and has been honored by Young Audiences of the District of Columbia and has received a number of fellowships for his choreography. Mr. Webre is the seventh son in a large Cuban-American family, and he graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in History/Pre-Law.

Media Note: For interview or photo requests, please contact Meghan McNamara, marketing coordinator, at412-454-9117 or mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Presents Unspoken

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                               February 20, 2013

Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Presents Unspoken at the August Wilson Center
Mixed Repertory Program Features Three Great Masters March 8-17

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre returns to the intimate theater setting of the August Wilson Center for an eclectic mixed repertory program featuring master choreographers George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and Mark Morris in Unspoken, onstage for seven performances March 8-17, 2014.
Spanning works by 20th Century contemporaries George Balanchine and Antony Tudor to present-day dance force Mark Morris, the Unspoken program features Tudor’s evocative Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden), Balanchine’s classical Serenade and Morris’ joyful Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.

Serenade
Choreography:  George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Staged by: Sandra Jennings
Music:  Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48
Composer: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Original Costume Design: Karinska; Costumes built in the PBT Costume Shop

A signature of Balanchine repertoire, Serenade premiered in 1935, and holds the distinction as the first ballet that Balanchine choreographed in America. Serenade features 28 dancers in a work of pure musicality and emotional energy created for Tchaikovsky’s soaring Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48. Although Serenade is an abstract ballet based in the beauty of the movement and its musicality, the emotion of the music and interplay of the dancers suggest an underlying storyline. Balanchine originally choreographed Serenade to prepare his advanced ballet students for the stage in the early years of the School of American Ballet by translating the disciplined technique of ballet class to a sophisticated stage quality. It remained one of Balanchine’s favorite ballets throughout the years and has been transformed and staged for the world’s leading ballet companies and highly-trained professional dancers.

Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden)
Choreography: Antony Tudor
Staged by: Donald Mahler
Music: Ernest Chausson
Costume Design: Raymond Sovey after sketches by Hugh Stevenson
Scenery & Lighting Design: Tom Lingwood

Despite its brief 18-minutes, Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden) is a true story ballet, binding audiences to the bittersweet farewell of two lovers and the music of Ernest Chausson’s Poeme for violin and orchestra Opus 28. Free from mime and extraneous gestures, the story is held solely in the steps as Caroline, on the eve of her marriage to the man she does not love, parts from her lover at a garden reception.  Perfumed by lilac blossoms, the party encapsulates the repressed emotion of the characters amid the societal restraints of the Edwardian Era. At the time of its 1936 world premiere, Jardin Aux Lilas broke with balletic conventions by placing dancers in colloquial Edwardian dress and society rather than the more fanciful costumes and settings of the classical story ballets. Rooted in pure, classical style, Tudor distinguished his choreography with emotional exploration of realistic situations that challenged dancers to project the ballet’s meaning through clear intention in each step. The ballet is brimming with rich details and meaning, beginning with Caroline’s quiet intake of breath and ending with her exhalation in the last movement. According to repetition Donald Mahler, who set the piece on PBT dancers,  the essence of Tudor’s ballets is that “the people and motivations are real — there is an honesty in doing Tudor.”

Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes – Pittsburgh Premiere
Composer: Virgil Thomson
Music: Etudes for piano (Repeating Tremolo, Fingered Fifths, Double Glissando, Oscillating Arm, Pivoting on the Thumb, Alternating Octaves, Double Sevenths, Broken Arpeggios, Parallel Chords, Ragtime Bass, For the Weaker Fingers, and Tenor Lead)
Costume Design: Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design: Phil Sandstrom

Set to 13 piano etudes by American composer Virgil Thomson, Mark Morris’ Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyespresents a refreshing and inventive interpretation of classical ballet vocabulary. Described as “undeviating in his devotion to music,” Morris’ Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes is no exception, immersing dancers in a joyful exploration of Thomson’s playful score, which will be played live at the August Wilson Center by PBT Company Pianist Yoland Collin.  The title of the ballet is taken from Ben Jonson’s 1616 poem To Celia, which was set to music sometime after 1770 and remains a popular traditional English folk song. Thomson uses the tune in the piano etudeTenor Lead, which is the last etude in the ballet. Thomson is one of several composers associated with the development of the “American sound” in classical music, and his work has been described as marked by clarity, simplicity and humor, and rooted in American “hymnbook harmony.” Originally created for American Ballet Theatre in 1988, Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes evokes a sense of ease and naturalness among dancers and moments of humor, tenderness and congeniality.

Tickets
Tickets for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Unspoken range in price from $25.75-68.75 and can be purchased online atwww.pbt.org or by calling 412-456-6666.

About the Choreographers
George Balanchine
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mr. Balanchine (1904-1983), was undoubtedly the most brilliant choreographer of our generation. George Balanchine's gifts to ballet are legion. He stretched the dance and dancer beyond their established limits, and along the way created a vocabulary and an aesthetic that changed the way we look at dance. He emphasized increased turnout, batterie, port de bras and fast movement, as well as higher extensions and softer, lighter landings from jumps. In short, he got people dancing bigger and faster than ever before. The celebrated Balanchine style has influenced the technical training of ballet dancers and choreographers throughout the world. Mr. Balanchine created more than 400 dance works. His ballets are in the repertoires of the world's major ballet companies.

Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor (1908-1987), was one of the giants of twentieth century choreography. He began dancing professionally in 1927 when he joined Marie Rambert's company, where he choreographed and danced such works as The Planets and Lilac Garden. In 1940 he moved to New York City, joining American Ballet Theatre, for which he created many of his signature “psychological” ballets, including Pillar of Fire and Shadow of the Wind. In these works he sought to convey emotional conflict and aspects of character and motivation. In 1986, Tudor was a recipient of the Capezio Award, and in May 1986, with the Handel Medallion, New York City’s highest cultural honor. In December of the same year he was the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor.

Mark Morris
Mark Morris was born on August 29, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, where he studied with Verla Flowers and Perry Brunson. He formed the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1980, and has since created more than 140 works for the company. From 1988-1991, he was Director of Dance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, the national opera house of Belgium. In 1990, he founded the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Much in demand as a ballet choreographer, Morris has created eighteen ballets since 1986 and his work is in the repertory of companies worldwide. He also works extensively in opera, directing and choreographing at the Metropolitan Opera, The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, among others. Morris is currently serving as music director of the 2013 Ojai Music Festival.
Media Note: For interview or photo requests, please contact Meghan McNamara, marketing coordinator, at 412-454-9117 or mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PBT Unveils New Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2013

Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr has unveiled the company’s 2013-2014 season, featuring a Pittsburgh premiere, a mixed repertory performance at the August Wilson Center and two of classical ballet’s most masterful stories. The five-production lineup includes An Evening of Twyla Tharp, The Nutcracker,Swan Lake, 3x3 and Don Quixote.

2013-2014 SEASON
An Evening of Twyla Tharp | October 25-27, 2013 | Benedum Center
Choreography:  Twyla Tharp
Music (In the Upper Room): Philip Glass
Music (Nine Sinatra Songs): Various compositions sung by Frank Sinatra (Softly, As I Leave You, Strangers in the Night, One For My Baby, My Way, Somethin' Stupid, All the Way, Forget Domani, That's Life. later version of My Way)
Costumes (In the Upper Room): Norma Kamali
Costumes (Nine Sinatra Songs): Oscar de la Renta

Experience a choreographic power couple when PBT presents two works by Tony and Emmy award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp. Described by Tharp as “fierce, driving and relentless,” In the Upper Room melds ballet and modern dance in a powerful tour de force driven by Philip Glass’s rhythmic score. In Nine Sinatra Songs, Tharp blends ballet and ballroom movement, elevating the glamour and finesse of social dancing to a dance theatre quality. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

The Nutcracker | December 6-29, 2013 | Benedum Center
Concept and Choreography: Terrence S. Orr
Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Scenic and Costume Design: Zack Brown

The magic of The Nutcracker illuminates the stage with more than 150 performers, hundreds of costumes and choreography that displays the versatility of PBT dancers like no other season production. With more than 20 unique casting combinations and 100 exuberant characters, an aura of excitement surrounds each performance of this timeless holiday tradition for dancers and audiences alike. Find additional choreography notes atwww.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.

Swan Lake with the Orchestra | Feb. 13-16, 2014 | Benedum Center
Choreography after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Staged by: Terrence S. Orr
Music:  Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Peter Farmer
Set Design: Julia Trevelyan Oman

One of Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballets, Swan Lake symbolizes more than 100 years of tradition and some of the most revered roles in classical ballet. In a performance of emotional intensity and technical mastery, the ballerina captures the essence of both eternal love and deception in the coveted dual role of Odette and Odile. Considered the most popular of all classical ballets, Swan Lake showcases the company’s female dancers with intricate choreography for the Corps de Ballet and the dramatic power of its male dancers in the roles of the evil Von Rothbart and the chivalrous Prince Siegfried. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.


3x3 | March 7-16, 2014 | August Wilson Center
Choreography: Dwight Rhoden, Julia Adam, World Premiere

PBT pushes the boundaries of ballet in a mixed repertory program showcasing three of today’s most compelling choreographers. Experience an unconventional exploration of ballet musicality and movement featuring a PBT world premiere, the cross-cultural fusion of Julia Adam’s Ketubah and the expressive syncopation of Dwight Rhoden’s Smoke ‘n Rosesset to the live vocals of Pittsburgh’s own Etta Cox.

In Ketubah – a 2014 Pittsburgh premiere – Adam draws from her own heritage to set in motion a series of Jewish marriage customs through a hybrid of ballet, modern and Israeli folk dance set to traditional Klezmer music.

Don Quixote with the Orchestra | April 11-13, 2014 | Benedum Center
Choreography after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky
Staged by: Terrence S. Orr
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Costumes & Set Design: Santo Loquasto

Ranked among ballet’s most complex choreography, Don Quixote weaves a rich tapestry of love, illusion and adventure based on Cervantes’ classic Spanish novel. Packed with balletic bravado, intricate footwork and virtuoso variations, Don Quixote claims one of the most breathtaking grand pas de deux in classical ballet. Find additional choreography notes at www.pbt.org/about-us/repertoire.


SEASON TICKET PACKAGES
Subscriptions for 3, 4, or 5-ballet packages range in price from $66 to $483.75 and can be purchased by calling Ticketing Manager Tanaz Walendziewicz at 412-454-9107, or online atwww.pbt.org.  Single tickets go on sale in September 2013.

Media Note: For interviews and photos, please contact Meghan McNamara at 412-454-9117 or
 mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PBT Theatre School Holds Auditions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                    CONTACT:
Meghan McNamara
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

   
PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE SCHOOL DIRECTORS HOLD PITTSBURGH AUDITIONS TO CONCLUDE NATION-WIDE TOUR

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 2013) –Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School  - the official training institution of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre – concludes a nation-wide audition tour for its 2013 Intensive Summer Program with Pittsburgh auditions on  Sunday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. at the PBT Studios in the Strip District.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall and School Principal Janet Popeleski kicked off PBT School’s 2013 audition tour in January, and held auditions at 28 sites, in 27 cities and 16 states to bring young dance talent to Pittsburgh. In addition to U.S. sites, Mr. Marshall also held auditions in Osaka, Japan in August. The audition team selects students from each audition to attend the school’s 2013 Intensive Summer Program (ISP).  The U.S. audition tour concludes in Pittsburgh on February 17, 2013, at the PBT Studios, 2900 Liberty Avenue.

PBT School’s ISP is a five-week program of diverse dance curriculum, including ballet technique, partnering, pointe and repertoire as well as jazz, modern and character dance. Under the direction of PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr and School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall, ISP includes instruction by prominent PBT faculty members and guest instructors of international acclaim. With classes six days a week, students will also attend seminars and workshops focused on nutrition, choreography, injury prevention and the psychology of dance. The PBT School Intensive Summer Program is designed to instill long-term value for the art form through the study of diverse, high-quality techniques that adapt well to the demands of professional ballet companies.

The nation-wide audition tour draws more than 600 candidates and places more than 170 students from around the United States into the program.  Students living outside the United States are invited to audition by video, and the program often accepts students from around the world, including Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Hungary and Taiwan.  The PBT School ISP has recently seen a surge in participation by young Japanese students as a result of Mr. Marshall’s engagement with the annual Japan Grand Prix ballet competition, where he serves (2009-present) on an international panel of judges.  PBT School has earned the distinguished reputation as an artistic and instructional leader of dance training and offers aspiring dancers a comprehensive curriculum in a professional, fast-paced environment.

The auditions and program are open to male and female ballet dancers ages 12 and older.  The program features a strong male to female ratio; generally 1:4, a competitive ratio that distinguishes PBT School from other programs by allowing students to maximize their partnering classes.

The Intensive Summer Program takes place June 24, to July 27, 2013 and is held in the spacious PBT Studios, which are fully equipped with new Harlequin sprung floors, in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.  Find the complete list of audition tour sites and dates at http://www.pbt.org/pittsburgh-ballet-theatre-school/audition-tour.

MEDIA NOTE: PBT School’s Pittsburgh ISP audition will be open to media representatives for photographing and filming. Please contact Meghan McNamara at 412-454-9117 to make arrangements.


ISP Faculty and Guest Instructors
Under the direction of PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr and School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall, the Intensive Summer Program includes instruction by prominent PBT faculty members and accomplished guest instructors.  Faculty members at the Intensive Summer Program include: PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr; PBT School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall; PBT School Principals Janet Popeleski and Anastasia Wovchko among others. The Intensive Summer Program also includes opportunities for students to study with a number of esteemed guest instructors, including: PBT Ballet Master Steven Annegarn; PBT Ballet Mistress and former ABT Principal Dancer Marianna Tcherkassky; former PBT Artistic Director Patricia Wilde, Li Chou Cheng, Anna-Marie Holmes, Mireille Leterrier, Gyula Pandi and Larissa Ponomarenko. Seminar presenters will include Antoine Douaihy, M.D. (Psychology of Dance), Kathleen Nachazel, A.T.C. (Injury Prevention), and Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., R.D., LDN, CSSD (Nutrition).

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School

 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is the official training institution of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has an enrollment of more than 900 students, including the Children’s, Student, Pre-Professional and Open Divisions. The Children’s Division gives young students an introduction to ballet and prepares them for advancement to the Student Division. Dancers in the Student Division work to refine their technique and dancers in the Pre- Professional Program prepare for professional ballet careers. Many students perform in an annual School Spring Performance at the Byham Theater, and some students are chosen by Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr to perform with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at the Benedum Center.


ISP Housing

Supervised room and board accommodations for students are available at Fickes and Woodlands Halls on the beautiful campus of Chatham University as well as PBT’s own Byham House.

Chatham University is situated on 35 park-like acres in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh and is one of the most idyllic locations in the city, located only 2.1 miles from PBT studios.

The Byham House occupies three floors in a historic 7,000-square-foot property located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, less than one mile away from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre studios. It originated as the rectory for what once was St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, immediately adjacent to the property.  The Byham House is a co-ed housing opportunity with separate floors and bathrooms for young men and women and can accommodate up to 20 students.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh