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 Symphony Orchestra, Loti Falk Gaffney had already stepped forward as a leader in Pittsburgh’s arts community. And it was her involvement with the Pittsburgh Playhouse that connected her with Nicolas Petrov, a young dancer and choreographer, who had moved to Pittsburgh to run the Playhouse’s dance department and who later founded the dance program at Point Park College (now University).

Both believed that Pittsburgh deserved a professional ballet company among its cultural treasures. With Falk’s financial backing and Petrov’s artistic vision, they founded Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in affiliation with Point Park College in the fall of 1969.

As founding artistic director, Petrov brought artistic connections, choreographic experience and a corps of young talents from the dance programs he developed at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Point Park. As founding chair, Falk served the fledgling company in nearly every capacity – even selling tickets and stitching costumes on occasion – and infused the company with an energy and ambition that live on today.

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 Nicolas Petrov’s The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, at the Syria Mosque. In these formative years, the founders flexed their connections in the elite circles of American ballet to bring stars like Natalia Makarova, Edward Villella and Violette Verdy to guest star in PBT productions. Behind the scenes, luminaries like Leonide Massine and Frederic Franklin came to Pittsburgh to stage ballets, instruct master classes and help shape the company’s emerging artistic voice.

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 1984.

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 1977 to focus on the Point Park program, John Gilpin, of London’s Festival Ballet, took over for a brief tenure as artistic director.

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 topped $1 million and its subscriber base reached 4,000.

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 offerings for beginning, intermediate and advanced dancers.

Intensive Summer Program Launches

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

Loti Falk Becomes Executive Director

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

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 former New York City Ballet dancer elevated the company with a refined technique and works by modern masters, including her mentor, George Balanchine.

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 Portraits.

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 school remain today.

Loti Falk Retires

Loti Falk retired as executive director.

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 choreographer Ohad Naharin’s acclaimed Tabula Rasa.

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 leadership, Wilde approached Orr when she decided to retire. Orr had visited the company in the ‘80s to set Rodeo and other works from the ABT repertory. In 1997, he returned to Pittsburgh as artistic director. A former ABT principal dancer, Orr brought a vision shaped by some of the nation’s leading ballet companies and a great gift for storytelling. He continued building the repertoire with new full-length story ballets, including a new Pittsburgh-inspired The Nutcracker, as well as commissions and artistic collaborations, like the Indigo in Motion program, inspired by Pittsburgh’s rich jazz roots.

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 and scenery inspired by the city’s historic places and people.

Byham House Opens

PBT acquired and renovated the former St. John’s Rectory in Lawrenceville to create Byham House, a residence for out-of-state and international high school students who come to Pittsburgh to train fulltime in PBT School’s Pre-professional Division.

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 program aims to increase early exposure and access to ballet training and focuses on students from ages 5 to 8 – a pivotal stage to begin classical ballet training.