Susan Jaffe News

OPERA America announces its latest support of women composers with Commissioning Grants to seven opera companies across the country through its Opera Grants for Women Composers program.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) Artistic Director Susan Jaffe has signed five new dancers to the company roster for PBT's 2022-2023 Season. The season opens Oct. 7-9, with Storytelling in Motion at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.

After opening his 15th season as Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony with a gala benefit featuring Joshua Bell (Sep 17), Honeck makes his American operatic debut with Mozart's Idomeneo at New York's Metropolitan Opera (Sep 28–Oct 20); returns to the podiums of the Chicago Symphony (Nov 17–20) and San Francisco Symphony (June 1–3); and makes his Juilliard Orchestra debut (Oct 17).

 The American Ballet Theatre’s June Gala returned on Monday, June 13th, in-person to the Metropolitan Opera House after three long years. The event featured a special performance of Don Quixote staged by Artist Director, Kevin McKenzie, featuring three different Principal casts in each act. Check out photos!

Stella Abrera, former Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, has been named Acting Artistic Director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. The appointment, effective August 22, was announced today by Kevin McKenzie, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) invites community members to experience live arts performances at Open Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing Arts, starting this Thursday, June 9 and running through Sunday, June 12.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s (PBT) popular program Open Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing Arts returns to the city June 9 – 12 at a new location on the Allegheny Riverfront in Sharpsburg (1 19th Street, Sharpsburg). The series will include performances by the PBT Company as well as local performing arts organizations.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Susan Jaffe announced this morning that she has been named Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, where she spent more than 30 years of her career. She will begin her new role at ABT in December. PBT remains in an excellent position to further realize the company's vision and mission.

Former American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Susan Jaffe has been named the Company's next Artistic Director. Jaffe's appointment, effective December 2022, was announced today by Andrew Barth, ABT Chairman of the Board of Governing Trustees.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers are in their final rehearsals and the PBT Orchestra is tuning up for opening night of Swan Lake, opening this Friday, May 6 and running through Sunday, May 15 at the Benedum Center. With new choreography by Artistic Director Susan Jaffe and an iconic Tchaikovsky score performed by the PBT Orchestra, audiences will be enchanted by this timeless tale of love and betrayal.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre invites audiences to take a deeper dive into the enduring love story of Swan Lake with the PBT Orchestra, running May 6 – 15 at the Benedum Center through a variety of virtual and in-person free educational programs.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre invites audiences to fall under the spell of the enduring love story Swan Lake, running May 6 – 15 at the Benedum Center. With new staging by Artistic Director Susan Jaffe and an iconic Tchaikovsky score performed by the PBT Orchestra, audiences will be enchanted by this timeless tale of love and betrayal. 

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Artistic Director Susan Jaffe announced an exciting lineup of shows in store for the 2022 – 2023 season at a press conference this morning. From the works of internationally acclaimed choreographers and modern masters to the spine-chilling Dracula, wonderfully romantic The Sleeping Beauty and more, Jaffe carefully selected shows to excite everyone in her second full season.

The curtain is about to come up on Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s premiere performance of 'The Nutcracker' this year – and the first live performance of this beloved production in two years. The triumphant return of this treasured family holiday tradition starts at 7 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 10, kicking off a three week run of the most popular ballet of the year.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Lloyd A. Boyd III about his career and the season ahead for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for our 'Dancer Spotlight.'

The three-week run includes a sensory-friendly performance for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder, sensory sensitivities or other individualized needs at 2 p.m. Fri., Dec. 17.

When Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents its first pandemic-era theater production this weekend, it will be supported by a $25,000 grant from a fellow ballet company that reimagined its mission amid the challenges of COVID-19.  

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will celebrate the life and legacy of Patricia Wilde – former PBT artistic director, New York City Ballet principal and renowned Balanchine dancer – on Friday, Oct. 22 on opening night for the company's 2021-2022 “Season Premiere” with the PBT Orchestra. 

After 20 months of darkened theaters and digital performances, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers make their long-awaited return to the Benedum Center stage Oct. 22-24 for the company's 2021-2022 “Season Premiere” with the PBT Orchestra. 

Pittsburgh Ballet Theater has received three Telly Awards for its “Fireside Nutcracker,” a virtual adaptation of Terrence S. Orr's “The Nutcracker” made available to stream online during December, 2020.