2019 GRANTEES
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) is the city’s source and ambassador for extraordinary ballet experiences that give life to the classical tradition, nurture new ideas and, above all, inspire. Through community programs, education partnerships, ballet and fitness training, and more than 50 performances each year at home and on tour, PBT audiences can discover the passion and joy of ballet.
Staycee Pearl at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre + Dance Theatre of Harlem Preview Party in March 2019.
Photo by Kelly Perkovich.
Pittsburgh choreographer and founder of PearlArts Studios, Staycee Pearl, will work with PBT and PBT School throughout the company’s landmark 50th Anniversary Season to connect with the community, engage audiences and introduce new works to the Pittsburgh dance world. Pearl will create an original dynamic work for the PBT company, incorporating her signature multimedia components and challenging dancers and audiences to expand their understanding of a ballet company.
Pearl will also engage in community education projects in conjunction with PBT’s Education Department. She will conduct workshops for PBT School students, giving them the opportunity to learn to connect personality and physicality to their dance and providing them with the training to become performance-ready. AE&E Fund is delighted to partner with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre on their addition of Staycee to the PBT team for the 2019-2020 season.
Staycee Pearl’s residency at PBT began with her work with the graduate students of PBT School on PLAYGROUND, which is a reworking of a piece she created in 2014. PLAYGROUND is a playful work which contrasts uninhibited movement with the more refined movement typically seen in traditional trained dance choreography.
Below photos show rehearsals for PLAYGROUND with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Pearl's residency so far has also included work with the company of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre on the original full-length piece "Skin + Salt Water." Herman "Soy Sos" Pearl will provide original music for the piece presented in a collage style, with both original beats and rhythms and clips of published music.
Below photos show rehearsals for Skin + Salt Water with the company of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
