Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s spring repertory comes to the Byham Theater stage this weekend. Essential Pittsburgh sat down with Terence S. Orr, artistic director for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, choreographer James Kudelka and principal dancer Yoshiani Nakano to preview the weekend’s performance.
The program will include “Jardin aux Lilas” (Garden of Lilacs), a repressed romance of two lovers at a garden party. Also featured is a ballet titled “Eternal Idol”, inspired by the sculptures of Impressionist artist Auguste Rodin. The piece is described by Orr as “sensual.” “The Man in Black,” choreographed by Kudelka, features music by Johnny Cash. Creating a ballet to music performed by Cash originally left Kudelka skeptical.
“I was not attracted to the idea of using the prison music which he is basically well known for,” Kudelka says, “But then I was lead on to these later recordings which I found very touching and very moving.”
The repertory also features “A Fellow Feeling” by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre principal dancer Yoshiani Nakano, which he describes as “interesting and abstract.”
Nakano is the first PBT company dancer to debut a main-stage work during Terrence S. Orr’s 19-year tenure.
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Mixed Repertory will be performed this weekend, March 10 -13 at the Byham Theater, Downtown
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