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.
Two years after, the group staged its inaugural show at the Playhouse. In 1970, the company started to perform at Syria Mosque. In 1971, PBT transferred its operations from Lawrence Hall to Heinz Hall thanks to the effort of several donors who raised funds to buy a more spacious location for the company. The new building housed its school, its production rooms and its dancing halls.
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 leadership of the company has also changed when Petrov left to focus on his job at Point Park and Franklin waved goodbye as well. The two pioneers were then replaced by John Gilpin who used to be the principal dancer for the London Festival Ballet. However, the tenure of Gilpin was short-lived due to health concerns. This led the Board of Trustees to select Patrick Frantz as the Artistic Director of PBT in 1978.
The French choreographer placed a premium on contemporary presentations and an own school for the company. It was also under Frantz' guidance that the group became a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists on the tenth anniversary of PBT in 1980. During that same year, Lynn Swann of Pittsburgh Steelers was nominated to the Board of Trustees.
In July 1982, Frantz left his post and Patricia Wilde assumed the position. Wilde directed the company to perform productions of George Balanchine, founder of New York City Ballet. The change brought more positive changes that the company once again relocated from Heinz Hall to its present location at 2900 Liberty Avenue.
To leave a lasting contribution to a supportive community, they became instrumental to the realization of the new Pittsburgh arts center. After the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust collected $42 million to refurbish Stanley Theater, the dance company became a constituent in 1987 of the center which is now known as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts.
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.
Two years after, the group staged its inaugural show at the Playhouse. In 1970, the company started to perform at Syria Mosque. In 1971, PBT transferred its operations from Lawrence Hall to Heinz Hall thanks to the effort of several donors who raised funds to buy a more spacious location for the company. The new building housed its school, its production rooms and its dancing halls.
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 leadership of the company has also changed when Petrov left to focus on his job at Point Park and Franklin waved goodbye as well. The two pioneers were then replaced by John Gilpin who used to be the principal dancer for the London Festival Ballet. However, the tenure of Gilpin was short-lived due to health concerns. This led the Board of Trustees to select Patrick Frantz as the Artistic Director of PBT in 1978.
The French choreographer placed a premium on contemporary presentations and an own school for the company. It was also under Frantz' guidance that the group became a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists on the tenth anniversary of PBT in 1980. During that same year, Lynn Swann of Pittsburgh Steelers was nominated to the Board of Trustees.
In July 1982, Frantz left his post and Patricia Wilde assumed the position. Wilde directed the company to perform productions of George Balanchine, founder of New York City Ballet. The change brought more positive changes that the company once again relocated from Heinz Hall to its present location at 2900 Liberty Avenue.
To leave a lasting contribution to a supportive community, they became instrumental to the realization of the new Pittsburgh arts center. After the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust collected $42 million to refurbish Stanley Theater, the dance company became a constituent in 1987 of the center which is now known as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts.
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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