Tim on the Move. Longtime Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre supporter Timothy Evans follows his passion just about everywhere. His trip to San Francisco Ballet’s “Swan Lake” was a perfect example. Robert Vickrey, assistant to Terrance Orr, arranged for Tim to get tickets through PBT photographer Rich Sofranko, whose son performs with the company. There he saw Sarah Van Patten as the Swan Queen. (“Excellent!”) Former PBT principal Christopher Rendall-Jackson’s mother also took Tim to brunch and the Cartier Exhibition. Tim learned from her that Chris is doing well in Harvard Law School and that his wife, former PBT soloist Kaori Ogasawara, is expecting their second child.
Kennedy Center Announcement. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced its dual upcoming seasons. The ballet portion includes the Big Three — New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet, plus the Mariinsky. The season will conclude with back-to-back runs of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and the Royal Danish Ballet. Of special note is ABT’s local premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Bright Stream,” a full-length ballet that propelled him onto the international stage while he was still at the Bolshoi. And audiences can see the future of ballet in Proteges III, with students from Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Julio Bocca Foundation Ballet Argentino School of the Arts, The Royal Danish Ballet School and Tokyo’s New National Theater Ballet School. The contemporary dance season has a strong American accent with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Paul Taylor Company and a special presentation of Five First Ladies of Dance (Germaine Acogny, Carmen de Lavallade, Diane McIntyre, Bebe Miller and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar). Latino choreographers Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza (Mexico) and Companhia de danca Deborah Colker (Brazil) complete the season. For more information, click on Kennedy Ballet and Kennedy Contemporary Dance.
Building from the Ground Up. George Balanchine famously said, “But first a school.” And PBT is concentrating some energy on its school program. Housing is always an issue and PBT saw a need in order to keep up with top notch schools across the country. The site is the former rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church which is now the Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville, only a short distance up Liberty Avenue from the company’s headquarters in the Strip District. Called the Byham House, it will provide housing for 16 students.
La Roche on the Move Two. La Roche College Dance Theatre heads back to New York City Mar. 13 for a performance of “Celebrate the Spirit” at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in The Joan Weill Center of Dance. The program will feature the music of Mahalia Jackson and Diana Ross and will include a guest performance by GESTURES. For more information, email nicole.kubit@laroche.edu.
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