Celebrating Corps de Ballet Artist Amanda Morgan’s Retirement
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Corps de Ballet artist Amanda Morgan will retire from the company on May 18 after the final performance of The Wizard of Oz. Morgan danced with PBT for over nine years in numerous classical and contemporary ballet performances. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Below, she has reflected on some of her career highlights and favorite roles over the years.
Ballet: Sandpaper Ballet by Mark Morris
Location: On tour in Chicago at Millennium Park
Date: August 2015
“This was my first ever performance with PBT and my first taste of what life could be like as a professional. The summer before my year in the graduate program, Terry asked me and a few other dancers to come and understudy Sandpaper Ballet for the company’s tour to Chicago. Due to a couple of mild injuries, another student and I were given the opportunity to go on tour with the company and perform at Millennium Park. I had so much fun getting to know the other dancers and living out my dream on a professional stage. It gave me even more motivation to work as hard as I could in PBT School to prove that I was the right fit for the company, and by the end of the season, I’d done it! I was offered a contract with PBT in 2016, but that tour is when I knew that this was the place I needed to be.”
Ballet: West Side Story by Jerome Robbins
Role: Rosalia
Date: May 2018
“This show really pushed me out of my comfort zone, because I got the opportunity to sing onstage. I grew up participating in the church choir, but singing solo in a theater the size of the Benedum Center was not something I ever expected to do. Those of us who had singing roles got the chance to work with a vocal coach throughout the rehearsal process, which really helped boost my confidence. I also got to act alongside Julia Erickson, who danced the role of Anita. She was always such a powerhouse in character roles, and I felt like she helped me let go of my nerves and just go for it. In the end, I had an absolute blast.”
Ballet: Divertimento No. 15 by George Balanchine
Date: October 2018
“I was so excited for this ballet when it landed in PBT’s repertoire. Divertimento was one of my first chances at a soloist role with the company. I loved the variation I got to dance. It felt like the perfect balance of the qualities I had to offer at that time, with parts that played towards my strengths as well as parts that challenged my technique. Getting to dance both in the corps and as a soloist meant I got to enjoy every aspect of the music, but what I’ll remember the most is sharing the stage with some of my best friends.”
Ballet: The Great Gatsby by Jordan Morris
Role: Myrtle
Location: On tour in Minneapolis at Northrop Auditorium
Date: September 2019
“I had so much fun on this tour. About a week before we left for Minneapolis, an injury in the company caused a shift in casting, and I was given the opportunity to dance the role of Myrtle. Her character is bold and confident on the surface, but beneath that exterior, she is troubled and lonely. With limited time to dive into the role, I enjoyed the challenge of exploring the full spectrum of emotions Myrtle required. Everyone I danced with was so encouraging and helpful in rehearsals that week. And best of all, I got to perform dying on stage, which is something I’d always wanted to do!”
Ballet: The Nutcracker by Terrence Orr
Role: Marie
Date: December 2018-2025
“The role of Marie has always held a special place in my heart. I feel like her character is one that I can very closely relate to, and after nine years, one that I can embody seamlessly. I started learning the role my first year in the company, and performed it from my third season on. Every year gave me the opportunity to dig deeper and build on what I’d learned the previous season. I cherished working with Marianna Tcherkassky, and her guidance really changed the way I approached character roles. I had the chance to dance Marie alongside three different partners, all of whom were some of my close friends in the company. Each performance was more special than the last, and it’s a role I’m going to miss greatly.”
Ballet: Diamonds by George Balanchine
Date: October 2021
“This was our first mainstage performance after the COVID pandemic in 2020. We had been away from the Benedum for over a year, and the anticipation of dancing on our home stage was palpable. During the finale, the entire company moves around the stage as the music swells to a gentle pause and we all settle into a large formation. Then, altogether, we dance in unison to a Polonaise that evokes a sense of grandeur and pure elegance. Listening to the orchestra and looking out into the audience, I was completely overcome with emotions. For that one moment, everything was alright. I was dancing with my closest friends while live music filled the theatre. I was home again.”
Ballet: Duende by Nacho Duato
Date: October 2022
“This ballet was another long-awaited performance from COVID times. We were one week away from our shows when the world shut down in March of 2020, but luckily, Duende ended up in our repertoire again in October of 2022. The movement quality and musicality of this ballet is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I felt so beautiful dancing Duato’s intricate choreography. It blended so seamlessly with Debussy’s score that I could imagine myself dancing through a forest, getting lost in the freedom of the movement. Having waited so long to finally perform it on stage, I hold this piece so close to my heart, and it’s one I would dance again if given the chance.”
Ballet: The Exiled by Helen Pickett
Role: Proprietor
Date: October 2022
“Another ballet that pushed me far out of my comfort zone was The Exiled by Helen Pickett. Not only does the choreography border on the extremes of physical capabilities, but I had the privilege of performing one of the speaking roles in the piece. Helen, who demands only excellence from her dancers, forced me to dig deep and truly find my own voice. Having mostly portrayed sweet characters on stage, this was an opportunity to dive into a darker, more sinister persona. As someone who is small in stature and typically more reserved, it was liberating to feel so powerful and intimidating. It really made an impact on me as a performer, but even as a person, portraying something so opposite to myself served as a strong reminder of why we should treat each other with unconditional love and kindness.”
Ballet: Lacrimosa by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Dates: May 2021, June 2022, October 2023
Awards: Pointe Magazine Readers’ Choice Standout Performance 2023
“Not every dancer gets the opportunity to revisit a role multiple times in their career, but I was lucky enough to perform Lacrimosa three different years with the same partner, Jonathan Breight. I have a very strong personal connection to the story of this ballet, because it marries both my profession and my faith on stage. From start to finish, the movement paired with the operatic score allows the dancer to experience the gravity of the crucifixion and the hope of eternal life. A beautiful picture of mourning, the dancers never stop moving together. Having worked with Jonathan for multiple years on this piece, we had full trust in each other, which allowed us to take risks without fear. I was so grateful to experience this ballet with him because we both had the same connection to the story. We were praising God together on stage, worshipping with our whole selves through dance.”
Ballet: Allegro Brillante by George Balanchine
Location: On tour in Plano, TX
Date: September 2024
“I danced Allegro in college and was so excited to revisit it during my professional career. After missing out on the Benedum performances due to an injury, I finally got the chance to dance it on tour in Plano, TX, right down the road from my family! This ballet feels so exhilarating to dance. The music is lovely and energetic, the choreography has everything from luscious port de bras to daring petit allegro, and the physical demand of it pushes your body to the absolute limit. The performance was a collaboration with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, and we were right there onstage with all of the musicians. Being in such close proximity to the music was indescribable. It was so special getting to dance for my family that evening, and I’ll keep the memories from that tour with me always.”
Photos courtesy of Amanda Morgan and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre