Conservatory Dance Company at the Byham Theater showcases work by visionary, internationally acclaimed choreographers

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PITTSBURGH – Point Park University’s Conservatory Dance Company continues its acclaimed tradition of featuring the work of some of the most visionary and internationally recognized choreographers with the Conservatory Dance Company at the Byham Theater, April 17-19.

The performances begin at 8 p.m., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the Byham Theater, Sixth Street, downtown. Tickets are $18-20, and are available by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412.392.8000 or at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.

This year’s curated evening of dance offers a sampling of styles from choreographers George Balanchine, Martha Graham, David Parsons and Dwight Rhoden.

Choreographed by Balanchine in 1934, Serenade was staged for the Conservatory Dance Company by Joysanne Sidimus. The Russian-born Balanchine, who died in 1983, is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. His more than 400 works of dance include Serenade, The Nutcracker, Orpheus, Symphony in Three Movements and Vienna Waltzes.

Miki Orihara stages Graham’s Steps in the Street, an excerpt from Chronicle. The program note from its 1936 premiere at the Guild Theatre in New York said, “Chronicle does not attempt to show the actualities of war; rather, by evoking war’s images, it sets forth the fateful prelude to war, portrays the devastation of the spirit which it leaves in its wake, and suggests an answer.”

Parsons’ Wolfgang was commissioned by and created for the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in 2005. Staged by Elizabeth Koeppen, it features Mozart’s Symphony No. 25. Parsons was a leading dancer with The Paul Taylor Dance Company, where Taylor created many roles for Parsons in works such as Arden Court, Last Look and Roses. The New York Times called Parsons “one of the great movers of modern dance.”

Gary W. Jeter II stages Rhoden’s work, Mercy. Called “one of the most sought out choreographers of the day” by The New York Times, Rhoden has performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal and as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In 1994, he and Desmond Richardson founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet and, together, have brought their unique brand of contemporary dance to the world for two decades.

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