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Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center Presents the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

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Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center Presents the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Article Body: Recognized as one of the world’s leading ballet companies, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will present a magnificent classical, contemporary, and dynamic performance at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus at 8 p.m. Saturday, November 4.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is known for its distinctive blend of ballets by 20^th century masters and new works by today’s most passionate choreographers and acclaimed versions of the 19^th century classical ballets Coppelia, Don Quixote, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake among others.

“We are indeed pleased to present this spectacular production of ballet brilliance to the region, as the performance will appeal to all dance enthusiasts,” Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center Executive Director Michael Bodolosky states.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director is Terrence S. Orr who joined the company in July, 1997. A celebrated American Ballet Theatre ballet master and former principal dancer, he also serves as the director of the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre Foundation. He has commissioned 10 new ballets, raised the technical level of the dancers and developed a creative new production of The Nutcracker as the company’s signature Pittsburgh holiday event. His dance career has spanned more than 40 years and includes dancing, teaching, and staging productions for many of the world’s celebrated companies. He has worked with such noted choreographers as Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, George Balanchine, Choo San Goh, Eliot Feld, Erik Bruhn, and Sir Kenneth MacMillan.

Executive Director Harris N. Ferris joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in February 2006. Prior to joining the organization he recently was executive director of Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las Vegas. He previously headed New Jersey’s American Repertory Ballet, where he also served as managing director to the affiliated Princeton Ballet School.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will perform Moments, Felix Mendelssohn’s trademark “fairy-like” third movement—set beautifully for a trio of dancers in “A Fleeting Moment.” The joyful finale—a gypsy-like caractére dance of passion and tenderness! Songs being performed from Moments include “Winged Hearts,” “Suspended in Time,” “A Fleeting Moment,” and “Spontaneity.”

Black Swan Pas de Deux—The most popular of all classical ballets, Swan Lake is the ultimate power struggle between good and evil paired with the promise of everlasting love.

Simply Simon—A contemporary ballet by innovative choreographer Derrick Deane set to the lyrical music of pop legend Paul Simon. Songs being performed include “The Boy in the Bubble,” “That’s Why God Made the Movies,” “Slip Sliding Away,” “You Can Call Me Al,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “The Obvious Child,” “Still Crazy After All These Years,” and “All Around the World.”

Principal dancers performing in Johnstown include Christopher Rendall-Jackson and Maribel Modrono.

A Northern California native, Mr. Rendall-Jackson attended the San Francisco Ballet School and later the National Ballet School. He joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1999 and has been featured in numerous productions including Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Carmen, Madame Butterfly, Romeo and Juliet, Paul Taylor’s Airs and Kevin O’Day’s Sting/ING Situations.

A Cuban native, Ms. Modrono was raised in Miami, Fla. and trained at Ballet Etudes and the School of American Ballet. She joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1997 and received acclaim for her portrayals in Swan Lake as Odette/Odile, Madame Butterfly, Don Quixote as Kitri and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty and as “Marie” in Terrence Orr’s production of The Nutcracker.

Additionally, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is an official school of classical dance that has an enrollment of approximately 300 students and offers more than 12 levels of studio instruction.

This performance is being supported by Gleason Insurance.

Advance interviews with the artistic director and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers may be arranged by calling the Office of Marketing and Public Relations at 814-269-2080.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the ArtsLine at 1-800-846-ARTS from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Tickets are $15. Discount tickets of $12 are being offered to senior citizens (over 65 years of age), students under 18, and members of the Pitt Johnstown community (faculty, staff, students, and card-carrying members of the Pitt Johnstown Alumni Association). There is a $2 handling fee on all mail and phone orders. The box office is open for in-person sales from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The box office also opens one hour before performances.

The Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center is a multi-purpose facility operated by the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The Arts Center presents a variety of events including musicals, adult and children’s theatre, dance, and musical productions to 12,000 patrons annually.

Posted by Shook, Kimberly on 10/25/2006 4:05:00 PM