Pennsylvania Ballet’s silver-anniversary season to include Balanchine’s ‘Jewels’ [video]

The Pennsylvania Ballet announced its 50th Anniversary Season today at new dance rehearsal studios at the Louise Reed Center for Dance on North Broad Street. 

 

 

The company will open with George Balanchine’s “Jewels” in October at the Academy of Music.  Pennsylvania Ballet’s Executive Director Michael Scolamiero said that the anniversary season will pay homage to the history of the company. Barbara Weisberger  founded the Pennsylvania Ballet in 1963.  Weisberger was a protégée of Balanchine, best known for The Nutcracker.  

The 50th Anniversary celebration will also include special exhibits at the Philadelphia History Museum at Atwater Kent, Philadelphia International Airport and the Free Library as well as speaker series and events at the Barnes, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and other cultural institutions around the city.

Attendees previewed a rehearsal in the new dance center.  “They look fantastic,” said Artistic Director Roy Kaiser, “This is a very, very ambitious season for them.”  Founder Weisberger celebrated not only the 50th Anniversary of Pennsylvania Ballet today, but her 87th birthday. “The company is still the sassiest, brave, still doing wonderful things in repertoire,” said Weisberger, “and sure as heck, the loveliest.”  

For more information of anniversary events and tickets, visit Paballet.org.