The curtain will rise this week on the opening of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater (PBT) 2022-2023 season, Storytelling in motionfrom October 7 to 9 at August Wilson African American Cultural Center. This production highlights a mixed repertoire of internationally renowned contemporary pieces, including Duende by Nacho Duato, Helen Picket‘s The Exiled and the world premiere of Catharsis, a new piece from PBT’s own principal dancer, Yoshiaki Nakano. These unique and innovative performances will inspire audiences with empowering movement and storytelling that will push dancers out of their comfort zone with dynamic choreography.
Nacho Duato’s Duende draws inspiration from Debussy’s ethereal score, particularly the way the composer transforms the sound of nature into music. “Audiences are invited to surrender to the fantasy world and be transported to a dimension where the ordinary laws of human life lose their power and meaning,” says Duato. “In a playful way, the ballet also explores ways of expressing the different meanings of the word that gives it its name: having duende could mean having a personal charm or magic in flamenco art,” Duato explained. Her choreography visualizes forms, creating a sculptural piece in which physical movement and sound become one.
Helen PicketThe award-winning piece from The Exiled is an innovative work of art that departs from traditional ballet. It takes the form of a dramatic story told within the confines of a single play. The front wall is made of plexiglass, which creates an unusual and disruptive barrier. The Exiled features narration as well as choreography by the dancers. The premise of the story centers on three strangers destined to spend eternity together, while two owners function as the storytellers, curators, and instigators of the story, creating a cat-and-mouse dynamic between the characters. . The Exiled was created to “investigate the concepts of confinement: limited space to move and negotiate and the physical responses to forced confinements, which included a real wall to bump into,” Pickett explained. Audiences will be fascinated by the exploration of human choice and morality in the gripping story that is Pickett’s The Exiled.
Instead of Goyo Montero’s Alrededor No Hay Nada, audiences will experience Catharsis, the world premiere of an all-new work by PBT’s own principal dancer, Yoshiaki Nakano. Nakano choreographed this neoclassical piece specifically for Storytelling in Motion, showcasing the skills and athleticism of the dancers. Catharsis paints a recognizable landscape for all of us – from the isolation of feeling unseen and unknown to the other, to the intimacy and joy of deep emotional connection. The work comprises four movements that unfold in a journey from dark to light. Audiences will experience the transformative power of human connection in Catharsis.
Visit here for complete casting information. Find the full list of performance times at pbt.org/StorytellingInMotion.
Tickets for Storytelling in Motion start at $29 and are available at pbt.org or by calling 412-456-6666. Groups of 10 or more save at pbt.org/groups. The Sunday morning will feature an audio description. Additional accessibility services are available. please contact accessibility@pittsburghballet.org for more information.
