Ballet, intimately insular art world that it is, probably has only five degrees of separation when all is said and done. News flies across the nation with the lightning speed of a Balanchine ballet, so it was with little surprise that husband-and-wife team Dennis Marshall and Marjorie Grundvig came from Seattle to head the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School.

		Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School's Annual Spring Performance Where: Byham Theater, Downtown. When: 2 p.m. today. Tickets: $22; 412-456-6666.

Marshall made his mark as a soloist at American Ballet Theatre, where PBT artistic director Terrence Orr was serving as ballet master and PBT ballet mistress Marianna Tcherkassky was a reigning ballerina.

Marshall also danced with Tcherkassky on many occasions, including in Glen Tetley's "Voluntaries," which he calls a "memorable experience." And you might say that Marshall grew up with former PBT artistic director Patricia Wilde, then head of the school and later a ballet mistress with the company.

Following his retirement, Marshall honed a talent for teaching at North Carolina School for the Arts and Tulsa Ballet Theatre and wound up as ballet master at the Boston Ballet, where he met Grundvig, then a soloist with the ensemble. Orr would pop in as a guest teacher, and the two started "talking about possibilities" at PBT.

It wasn't until last spring, when Marshall and Grundvig were guest teaching in Houston, that an e-mail came from Orr. At the time, the couple had permanent positions at a new school in Seattle. Despite a strong artistic vision, it had financial problems, and the board unexpectedly decided to close the school.

Timing is everything, particularly in dance.

After fulfilling prearranged commitments, Grundvig and Marshall arrived in Pittsburgh only days before the school opened. They immediately found "wonderful people to help us through the challenges" and set about organizing the school, which had some problems following the quick back-to-back departures of Marjorie Thompson and Roberto Munoz.

"Within a month, we felt that we were all on board, with the same vision," says Grundvig. "We call ourselves the 'dream team.'"

The team has been working hard to build the younger levels to produce versatile dancers with a strong classical foundation who can dance on any stage, from the Benedum Center to Broadway.

The fruits of their labors will be on view at the Byham Theater this weekend at the school's annual spring performance. Grundvig and Marshall have constructed an opening and closing for the lower-level students, set to the "Polonaise" from "Sleeping Beauty." There will be 150 students taking to the stage at once, in addition to showing individual talents.

Grundvig has coached the upper-level students in selections from "La Bayadere," having performed the leading roles in Boston. Passing on the venerable Kirov Ballet tradition, she taught the corps members to breathe together, "not just doing the steps but moving as one. All of them had to feel like Nikiya, the ballerina, even thought they were part of the group," Grundvig says. "They learned how beautifully satisfying that is."

Marshall also tapped PBT company member Alan Obuzor to choreograph his first ensemble piece. Obuzor had been teaching some student classes, where Marshall noticed his quiet authority. After a little prodding, Obuzor accepted and produced "Feel of Fire." Marshall is excited about the results, noting Obuzor's discerning eye, musicality and craftsmanship.

With 46 students in its graduating class, the largest yet, the program will also include George Balanchine's "Allegro Brillante," selections from August Bournonville's "Napoli" and jazz and character dances.

But Grundvig and Marshall aren't resting on their laurels. Graduate student Won Jin Choi will be attending the Jackson, Miss., international ballet competition in June, and the school has raised its community profile with performances at Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Children's Museum and the Pittsburgh Folk Festival.

The duo will then be plunging into the PBT Summer Intensive, running June 26-July 29, with guest teachers Simon Ball, a Pittsburgh native who is a principal dancer with Houston Ballet, and Li-Chou Cheng, formerly of the Central Ballet of China and a renowned instructor.

And just in case that's not enough to fill their summer calendar, this dream team is already working on next year.