Giselle with the PBT Orchestra

October 28-30, 2016 – Benedum Center

Choreography: After Jean Coralli & Jules Perrot | Music: Adolphe Adam

Featuring one of the most exquisite character arcs in ballet, Giselle depicts love and betrayal with heartbreaking beauty. In this haunting tale, a lover’s lie triggers a tragic turn of fate for a young village girl. Mist shrouds the stage as Giselle descends to a realm roamed by ghostly maidens, held captive by a curse that blurs the border with the afterworld. In honor of Orr’s 20th anniversary season, PBT will commission brand-new scenic and costume designs for a fresh twist on a repertoire signature. For nearly a century ballerinas have coveted the otherworldly role of Giselle, and audiences have savored the chill-inducing dancing of this romantic masterpiece.
 

The Nutcracker

Choreography & Staging: Terrence S. Orr | Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker is “nothing short of magical” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Propelled by Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, this soaring story captures the awe and expectation of the night before Christmas when a mysterious gift sparks a wondrous adventure. As the colossal tree shoots skyward and snowflakes blanket the stage, the journey glides into a radiant Land of Enchantment brimming with virtuosic dances from faraway lands. Set in turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh, this holiday tradition resounds with more than 150 dancers, radiant scenery, astounding magic tricks and new surprises each season.
 

Alice in Wonderland

Choreography: Derek Deane | Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky

Few things are impossible in the off-kilter world of Derek Deane’s Alice in Wonderland. This imaginative ballet careens through Alice’s astonishing escapades and the perplexing characters she meets. Beginning with a surreal dive down the rabbit hole, illusion floods the stage with curiosities – a smorgasbord of doors, tutus made of playing cards, color-changing roses and size-shifting scenery. Seen through Deane’s creative lens on classical technique, the dancing complements the whimsy and wit of Lewis Carroll’s timeless story. Featuring over 100 costumes, a masterful medley of Tchaikovsky music and astonishing effects, this ballet offers a thrill ride of wonders.
 

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre & Dance Theatre of Harlem

Choreography: Mixed Repertory | Presented in partnership with Pittsburgh Dance Council

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre joins forces with Dance Theatre of Harlem for an unprecedented partnership at the August Wilson Center. A pioneer company for classical dancers of diverse cultures, Dance Theatre of Harlem became a New York City institution in 1969 – the same year PBT was born in Pittsburgh. In PBT’s first cross-company pairing, PBT and DTH present a mixed bill program celebrating the ever-evolving face of American ballet. Along with signatures from each troupe, the two will partner for a feature pas de deux.
 

Romeo and Juliet with the PBT Orchestra

Music: Sergei Prokofiev

Romeo and Juliet expertly translates the poignancy of poetry to movement. In fair Verona, swords and egos clash over the forbidden love of Romeo and his Juliet. With melting pas de deux and spine-tingling chemistry, the dancers must immerse themselves in this love story, crystallizing the infatuation of two star-crossed lovers. Inspired staging breathes life into each fateful encounter – the first gaze at the masquerade ball, the iconic balcony scene, the candlelit tomb. Spiked with furious sword-fighting scenes and impassioned acting, this ballet offers a moving interpretation of Shakespeare’s iconic love story.