Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company Presents 'The Nutcracker'

Celebrate the holiday season with Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company’s 28th annual full-length performance of "The Nutcracker."

Internationally recognized for the excellence of its dancers, PYBC stands alone in bringing to the South Hills the brilliant, timeless and unrivaled choreography of George Balanchine’s “Snowflakes.”

Dancers from Peters Township and surrounding communities have been training for Balanchine’s “Snowflakes” under the direction of PYBC Artistic Director Jean Gedeon along with Dana Arey, former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Ballet mistress and current PYBC instructor.

Katrina Killian, former New York City Ballet soloist and current NYCB Education Department Ballet Mistress, recently visited Pittsburgh as a representative of the Balanchine Trust to review the progress of “Snowflakes” and authorize its performance—a rare opportunity granted to only a few select companies nationwide.

Local dancers featured in "Snowflakes" include: Brooke Marynak, Isabella Mascio, and Meredith Rovito of Peters Township; Sarah Mack of Eighty Four; Daniela and Maria Pusateri of North Strabane; Julia Sawmelle of South Strabane; and Madeleine Rebholz, Brenna Sweeney, and Martina Zhang of Venetia.

Additional lead performances by Peters Township area residents include Meredith Rovito in “Arabian,” Sarah Mack and Julia Sawmelle as “Snow Queen,” Brenna Sweeney as “Dew Drop” in “Waltz of the Flowers,” and Brenna McElhinny as “Clara.”

Many additional, younger area children will be joining these PYBC senior company dancers to complement a cast of approximately 200. 

Attend this weekend at Upper St. Clair Theater (1825 McLaughlin Run Road) as PYBC showcases greater Pittsburgh’s most scintillating young ballet luminaries.

Performances will be held Dec. 2-3 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 3-4 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20; $10 for Peters Township and Upper St. Clair residents.

To inquire about day-of performance "Sweet Seats" tickets (a special pre-performance box office discount for Peters and Upper St. Clair residents to buy one $10 ticket and get one free with proof of residence), visit the box office an hour before the performance with this ad or for more information visit the company's website at www.pybco.org, email info@pybco.org or call (724) 969-6000.