Meet Incoming Director of Education and Community Engagement April Berry
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) has named April Berry as the organization’s new Director of Education and Community Engagement, beginning July 1, 2024. She joins PBT from Kansas City Ballet, where she most recently served as their Director of Community Engagement & Education. April Berry is a dance director, master teacher, educator, choreographer and former internationally acclaimed dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. April has been actively involved in the field of dance education and community engagement arts outreach for more than 30 years. She has created award‐winning community programs as Director of Community Engagement and Education for Kansas City Ballet, as Director of Education and Community Outreach for North Carolina Dance Theatre (now Charlotte Ballet) and as Director of Education and Community Programs at BalletMet Columbus in Ohio. April answered a few questions for Pittsburgh audiences to get acquainted with her.
What is your favorite part of being involved with a ballet company?
My favorite part of being involved with a professional ballet company is working in a
creative, collaborative environment alongside people dedicated to providing programs
and experiences that are inspiring and transformative.
What is your proudest moment as an education director?
My proudest moments as an education director have been when programs I have
created led to greater awareness and access and open pathways that positively
impacted the community and the ballet.
What are you most excited to do in Pittsburgh?
Professionally I am looking forward to meeting new people and opening new avenues
through education programs and partnerships for more people to engage with the ballet.
Personally, I am excited to visit the many wonderful museums and parks and explore
the many neighborhoods in and around Pittsburgh.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Shoe shop, read and watch movies.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
The Hamptons
If you could meet anyone in the world today, who would you meet?
Vice President Kamala Harris
What was the last song you had stuck in your head?
Happy by Pharrell Williams