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1969

The Founding

Fifty years ago, a charismatic choreographer and a passionate arts enthusiastic joined forces to create Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. As a major supporter of the Pittsburgh...

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1970

First Subscription Season Sells Out

Following the company’s 1969 debut at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, PBT presented and sold out its inaugural 1970-71 subscription season, featuring founding Artistic Director...

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1971

PBT Moves to Boulevard of the Allies

In 1971, Loti and Leon Falk purchased PBT’s first studio space on Boulevard of the Allies, where the company remained until...

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1977

John Gilpin Becomes Artistic Director

By the late ‘70s, PBT had become independent of Point Park College and experienced its first artistic transition. When Petrov stepped down in...

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1978

Patrick Franz Succeeds Gilpin as Artistic Director

Patrick Franz, a former Paris Opera Ballet dancer, became artistic director, a position he held until 1982. The growing company’s budget...

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1979

PBT School Is Established

The company closed its first decade with a promising forecast for the future: the establishment of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School with class...

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1980

Intensive Summer Program Launches

PBT School launched its Intensive Summer Program for pre-professional ballet students from across the...

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1982

Loti Falk Becomes Executive Director

Co-founder Loti Falk Gaffney, who had served the company in many capacities from the start, became executive...

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Patricia Wilde Becomes Artistic Director

PBT entered a new artistic era with the appointment of Patricia Wilde as artistic director – a position she would hold for 15 years. The...

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PBT Makes NYC Debut

PBT made its New York City debut at the Lehman College Center for the Performing Arts with a program including Ruth Page’s The Merry Widow and Patrick Frantz’s...

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1984

PBT Moves to Strip District Studios

Thanks to a purchase made by Loti and Leon Falk, PBT moved into its new Liberty Avenue studios in the Strip District, where the company and...

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1987

Loti Falk Retires

Loti Falk retired as executive...

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PBT Takes the Benedum Stage

PBT began performing at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. That year’s programming included the world premiere of Israeli...

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1997

Terrence S. Orr Becomes Artistic Director

Terrence S. Orr, former American Ballet Theatre (ABT) principal dancer and ballet master, succeeded Patricia Wilde as artistic director. As she marked 15 years of...

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2002

Pittsburgh-inspired Nutcracker Premieres

PBT premiered Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr’s Pittsburgh-inspired imagining of The Nutcracker, a $2.5 million production featuring brand new choreography, concept...

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2010

Byham House Opens

PBT acquired and renovated the former St. John’s Rectory in Lawrenceville to create Byham House, a...

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2013

Community Youth Scholarship Program Kicks Off

PBT created its Community Youth Scholarship program to support talented students from families with financial need. Now in its sixth year, the...

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Sensory-friendly Nutcracker Debuts

PBT became the first professional ballet company in the country to produce a sensory-friendly performance of

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2014

Adaptive Dance Launches

PBT launched a series of adaptive dance classes designed for students with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities and other special...

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2016

Byham Center for Dance Opens

PBT celebrated the grand opening of the Byham Center for Dance, a 14,000-square-foot addition to its Liberty Avenue studios in the Strip...

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2017

PBT Partners with Dance Theatre of Harlem

PBT joined forces with Dance Theatre of Harlem for a joint performance at the August Wilson Cultural Center – marking PBT’s first main-stage performance collaboration with...

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