USC Theater to Host 'The Nutcracker' This Weekend

Celebrate this holiday season with Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company’s 28th annual performance of The Nutcracker.

Dancers from Upper St. Clair and surrounding communities have been training for George 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 will include: Mackenzie Doerksen, Ashley Pearson, and Tia Watts, of Upper St. Clair; and Lauren Forsythe, Madison Jonas, Katie Rotz, and Tristan Slater, of Bethel Park. Additional lead performances by USC and Bethel Park residents will include Lauren Forsythe and Ashley Pearson as “Sugar Plum Fairy," Katie Rotz as “Dew Drop” in “Waltz of the Flowers," and Madison Miller of Bethel Park as “Clara."

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

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at .

PYBC is offering a "Sweet Seats" ticket special for Upper St. Clair residents to buy one $10 ticket and get one free with proof of residence. For more information, click here, email info@pybco.org or call 724-969-6000.

Are you going to the performance? Tell us in the comments!