Yugoslavian choreographer Nicolas Petrov is believed to be the father of Pittsburgh Ballet when he joined the Playhouse dance faculty Playhouse in 1965. By 1968, he has started to create minor shows like The Nutcracker. The interest for the company grew and this led to their transfer to a more spacious Lawrence Hall at the heart of Pittsburgh.
The company performed its first every show at the Playhouse in 1970. This led to another inaugural performance this time at the Syria Mosque later that year. By the following year, the group changed its home from Lawrence Hall to a wider Heinz Hall courtesy of an initiative by some donors to raise funds to give the crew a better home. Heinz Hall easily contained the dancing halls, production areas and classrooms of PBT.
In 1974, Frederic Franklin assumed the position of co-artistic director and this brought positive changes. In just four years after Franklin and Petrov became co-leaders, more than half of the annual budget was taken from the sales of tickets from previous productions. Yet, the rehearsals and classes of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is still conducted at the Point Park College. However, the group broke its partnership with the school when they have settled their dues.
The Petrov-Franklin partnership ended when the former opted to concentrate on his teaching job at Point Park. The departure of Petrov prompted Franklin to leave as well. With no definite leader, the company named former London Festival Ballet main dancer John Gilpin as Artistic Director but his short tenure was marred by health concerns. The condition of Gilpin prompted the Board of Trustees to name French dancer and choreographer Patrick Frantz as Artistic Director in 1978.
Frantz initiated the drive for more contemporary pieces in succeeding productions and he staunchly pushed for a company-ran school. During PBT's 10th anniversary in 1980, the dance group became a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists. Likewise, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann has been nominated to the Board of Trustees.
Four years after being appointed as Artistic Director, Frantz begged off from the post to focus on choreography. He was then replaced by Patricia Wilde in June 1982 and the new Artistic Director added more works by New York City Ballet co-founder George Balanchine. By 1983, the company was planning to move in its current address at 2900 Liberty Avenue.
Around this time, the company also played a vital role in the inception of a new Pittsburgh arts center. The then newly-formed Pittsburgh Cultural Trust was able to raise $42 million to renovate Stanley Theater into what is now known as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. PBT, as well as the Pittsburgh Dance Council, the Civic Light Opera and the Pittsburgh Opera agreed to be a constituent of the center which was inaugurated in 1987.
Wilde left the company in 1997 and was succeeded by Terrence S. Orr. The former American Ballet Theater principal dancer then produced ballets that spring from the music of popular artists like Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and Sting. In 2002, The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater again performed The Nutcracker. Four years after, the popular Choreographer Showcase was inaugurated at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
The company performed its first every show at the Playhouse in 1970. This led to another inaugural performance this time at the Syria Mosque later that year. By the following year, the group changed its home from Lawrence Hall to a wider Heinz Hall courtesy of an initiative by some donors to raise funds to give the crew a better home. Heinz Hall easily contained the dancing halls, production areas and classrooms of PBT.
In 1974, Frederic Franklin assumed the position of co-artistic director and this brought positive changes. In just four years after Franklin and Petrov became co-leaders, more than half of the annual budget was taken from the sales of tickets from previous productions. Yet, the rehearsals and classes of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is still conducted at the Point Park College. However, the group broke its partnership with the school when they have settled their dues.
The Petrov-Franklin partnership ended when the former opted to concentrate on his teaching job at Point Park. The departure of Petrov prompted Franklin to leave as well. With no definite leader, the company named former London Festival Ballet main dancer John Gilpin as Artistic Director but his short tenure was marred by health concerns. The condition of Gilpin prompted the Board of Trustees to name French dancer and choreographer Patrick Frantz as Artistic Director in 1978.
Frantz initiated the drive for more contemporary pieces in succeeding productions and he staunchly pushed for a company-ran school. During PBT's 10th anniversary in 1980, the dance group became a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists. Likewise, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann has been nominated to the Board of Trustees.
Four years after being appointed as Artistic Director, Frantz begged off from the post to focus on choreography. He was then replaced by Patricia Wilde in June 1982 and the new Artistic Director added more works by New York City Ballet co-founder George Balanchine. By 1983, the company was planning to move in its current address at 2900 Liberty Avenue.
Around this time, the company also played a vital role in the inception of a new Pittsburgh arts center. The then newly-formed Pittsburgh Cultural Trust was able to raise $42 million to renovate Stanley Theater into what is now known as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. PBT, as well as the Pittsburgh Dance Council, the Civic Light Opera and the Pittsburgh Opera agreed to be a constituent of the center which was inaugurated in 1987.
Wilde left the company in 1997 and was succeeded by Terrence S. Orr. The former American Ballet Theater principal dancer then produced ballets that spring from the music of popular artists like Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and Sting. In 2002, The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater again performed The Nutcracker. Four years after, the popular Choreographer Showcase was inaugurated at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
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