Pittsburgh Ballet announces upcoming season, promotes 3 dancers

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 2020-21 season will incorporate performances that were not staged during the current season due to pandemic-related closures.

The rescheduled programs include the mixed-repertory production, “Here + Now,” and “Balanchine + Tchaikovsky,” with the PBT Orchestra, featuring choreography by George Balanchine set to the music of Tchaikovsky.

The updated schedule for the upcoming season, for which PBT also has promoted three dancers to soloist, includes these six performances:

• “Balanchine + Tchaikovsky,” with the PBT Orchestra, Oct. 23-25, Benedum Center

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s storied history with Balanchine and Tchaikovsky is revived in this mixed-repertory production celebrating two of ballet’s greatest contributors. Tchaikovsky’s music has provided the backbone for many of Balanchine’s most exquisite ballets, including “Theme and Variations,” “Allegro Brillante” and “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux,” set to the music of “Swan Lake.” This program also features “Diamonds,” the third movement of Balanchine’s “Jewels.”

• “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 4-23, Benedum Center

The magic of the holiday season fills the stage in PBT’s Pittsburgh-inspired production with choreography and concept by Terrence Orr, capturing the excitement of the original story through five fanciful scenes, more than 150 unique costumes and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score.

• “Cinderella,” with the PBT Orchestra, Feb. 12-14, 2021, Benedum Center

The production is the PBT premiere of choreographer Kent Stowell’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale. The familiar tale of true love unfolds through grand theatrical scenery, glittering costumes and Prokofiev’s splendid score.

• BNY Mellon Presents “Here + Now,” April 8-11, 2021, August Wilson African American Cultural Center

This mixed-repertory production includes “The Quiet Dance,” from Pittsburgh native Kyle Abraham, capturing feelings of frustration and isolation through sweeping movement, beginning in silence and moving into Bill Evans’ arrangement of Bernstein’s “Some Other Time.” The music of Paul Simon sets the stage for Dwight Rhoden’s physical and visceral “Simon Said.” Local choreographer Staycee Pearl presents the world premiere of “Skin + Saltwater,” a visionary piece created for the PBT Company.

In partnership with the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, the production is sponsored by AE&E Fund.

• “Modern Masters,” April 15-18, 2021, August Wilson African American Cultural Center

In partnership with the center, PBT offers this mixed-repertory program featuring Mark Morris’ “Maelstrom,” set to Beethoven’s Ghost Trio. Nacho Duato puts the music of Claude Debussy at the center of his “Duende,“ melding the human form and the shape of sound to create a magical landscape. The final piece will be chosen by PBT’s incoming artistic director, Susan Jaffe.

• “Alice in Wonderland,” May 7-16, 2021, Benedum Center

Derek Deane’s choreography takes center stage in a surreal world of outlandish illusion, dreamlike scenery and favorite Lewis Carroll characters. A whimsical medley of Tchaikovsky’s music provides the backdrop for deranged tea parties, unhinged games of croquet and extraordinary dance. Additional music is by Carl Davis.

Promotions

Dancers who have been promoted include:

• Tommie Lin Kesten, a Pittsburgh native who joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2018 from PBT’s Graduate Program. She was named one of Pointe Magazine’s “Stars of the Corps” in 2019 and Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2020. She received her early training from The Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh and Miami City Ballet School. Kesten has performed Sugar Plum Fairy in PBT’s “The Nutcracker,” Bluebird Pas de Deux in “The Sleeping Beauty” and Peasant Pas de Deux in “Giselle.”

• Lucius Kirst, a Los Angeles native who joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2014, Kirst previously performed with Ballet San Jose as a member of the corps de ballet and was a member of the Studio Company at American Ballet Theatre. Kirst trained on full scholarship at The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in New York City, and received early training at City Ballet School in San Francisco and Marin Ballet in California.

• Jessica McCann, of Los Angeles, joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2015. She joined PBT’s Pre-Professional Program in 2013. McCann was chosen for Pointe Magazine’s top 10 “Stars of the Corps” in 2016. She has performed many featured roles at PBT, and also was commissioned to choreograph a new work, “the silver line,” for PBT’s 2017-18 main-stage season. She also created “Amoeba,” a new work for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School’s Graduate Program that premiered in 2019. McCann has done guest performance as a dancer and choreographer in Japan and Bermuda, and was asked to judge the 2018 World Dream Ballet Competition in Osaka, Japan.

Ticket information

PBT will contact ticket-holders for the two rescheduled via email or phone with options for attending these performances. Patrons who have already subscribed to PBT’s 2020-21 season also will be contacted to discuss options for adding the sixth program to their packages.

Single tickets for the upcoming season start at $28 and will be available in August.

Details: 412-454-9107 or pbt.org