Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre opens the post-holiday season with an uncommon program
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Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers Julia Erickson and Alejandro Diaz.
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There's not much that's ordinary about the centerpiece of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's 2011-12 season.
Rather than the usual switch this time of year from the grand Benedum Center to the more intimate Byham Theater for a few performances, dancers will mount "Uncommon" for seven days at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Downtown. The program, set to live chamber music, opens Friday with nine chances for audiences to see the lineup of Dennis Nahat's "Brahms Quintet," Mark Morris' "Maelstrom" and a world premiere from Complexions Contemporary Ballet's Dwight Rhoden.
"The biggest thread of all three choreographers here is that they're extremely musical," said artistic director Terrence Orr.
"I believe you'll see three different, very contemporary takes on classical music," said Mr. Rhoden, who also choreographed "Step Touch," "7th Heaven" and "Straylife Lushhorn" for PBT.
"Chromatic," his latest creation for the company, pits the classicism of Bach against more modern choreographic interpretations of his compositions.
Where: August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Downtown.
When: Friday through Feb. 12; times and shows vary.
Tickets: $50 at 412-456-6666 or www.pbt.org .
Information: For times of pre- and post-show talks with PBT artists, visit www.pbt.org/community_engagement/connects .
Opening night: A cocktail gala with live entertainment will follow the performance. Admission to the event and the performance is $125. Those who've already purchased a performance ticket can attend the gala for $75. Dress code is cocktail attire. Gala tickets: 412-454-9137.
"You'll see a sense ... of structure behind what you see, but at the same time it will be a unique take on the music and other ways of moving the body that are less classical," he said.
Although it's more contemporary in style, Mr. Rhoden weaves the ornate nature of the Baroque period into the movement through such details as flourishes in dancers' hand gestures.
Mr. Nahat's dance, conceived in the late 1960s for American Ballet Theatre, is set to music by Brahms.
"It's very hard, stamina-wise," Mr. Orr said. "It's very physical and aesthetically beautiful."
"Maelstrom," danced to Beethoven and set first for San Francisco Ballet in the 1990s, will round out the program.
"It's extremely musical, fun movement," Mr. Orr said. "It has a sense of humor."
Between three and seven musicians will accompany dancers throughout the performance.
"When the dancers and musicians have an opportunity to perform together, it becomes a symbiotic experience," said principal dancer Julia Erickson. "We feed off of one another and every show's different."
The production will be the first PBT will stage at the August Wilson Center as part of a multiyear partnership established in 2011 between the two arts organizations. Because the 486-seat venue is smaller than the Byham and Benedum, PBT added extra performances to its usual three- or four-day runs.
"I would love for new audiences -- audiences who may not go to the big Benedum shows-- to give it a try," Ms. Erickson said. "I hope that audiences see the versatility of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers. I hope that this program communicates that."
First Published January 29, 2012 12:00 am
