Pennsylvania Ballet Digital Spring Season Dedicated To Founder

Pennsylvania Ballet Digital Spring Season Dedicated to Founder

In memory and dedication of Barbara Weisberger, the company’s late founder who passed away at the end of 2020, the Pennsylvania Ballet Digital Spring Season focuses on the themes of strength, resilience, and beauty.

Weisberger was a key influence on the contemporary American ballet movement and notably brought Pennsylvania Ballet to national prominence and acclaim under her direction.

She was a protégé of choreographer and New York City ballet co-founder George Balanchine, whose work is embedded in the core identity of Pennsylvania Ballet and is thoughtfully featured throughout the digital spring season to honor the company’s Balanchine roots.

All of the classical and contemporary ballets, including three world premieres, have been newly captured for the upcoming digital programming which runs from March 25 through June 2.

“We are proud to dedicate this season to our founder Barbara Weisberger. She was a true visionary and our Company is forever grateful for the indelible impact she made in our community and across the industry. This season our audiences can enjoy an unparalleled repertory of ballets, accessible from the safety of home. Now more than ever, there’s a strong desire from our patrons and community to experience the arts that evoke joy, emotion and inspiration during these challenging times. While we can’t perform live at the Academy of Music this season, our incredible dancers and artistic staff have swiftly adapted to create new digital works for devoted audiences – near and far – until we can safely return to the stage.”

Shelly Power

Executive Director, Pennsylvania Ballet

Pennsylvania Ballet Digital Spring Season

Program 1: Strength (March 25 – 31, 2021)

⊙ Concerto Barocco by George Balanchine

⊙ Clear by Stanton Welch

⊙ Suspended in Time by Angel Corella, Russell Ducker and Kirill Radev

⊙ excerpt from Penumbra by Matthew Neenan

Program 2: Resilience (April 29 – May 5, 2021)

⊙ Allegro Brillante by George Balanchine

⊙ Polyphonia by Christopher Wheeldon

⊙ Raymonda Suite by Angel Corella

⊙ excerpt from And So It Is… by Dwight Rhoden’s

Program 3: Beauty (May 27 – June 2, 2021)

⊙ World Premiered by Juliano Nunes, Meredith Rainey, and Russell Ducker, all featuring music from Philadelphia-based composer, Jennifer Higdon.

“This season will surely leave our audiences breathless and spellbound as our dancers have poured impeccable artistry into each production after six months of being away from the stage. These repertoires are some of the most physically demanding works we’ve created at Pennsylvania Ballet, and our dancers have risen to the challenge by working tirelessly to practice technique and maintain peak physical condition during this time of quarantine. This season is a celebration of our dancers’ resilience, the beauty of their artistry, and their strength of mind and body which continues to push the art form forward.”

Angel Corella

Artistic Director, Pennsylvania Ballet

Pennsylvania Ballet dancers took class, rehearsed and filmed performances for the digital spring season at the Performance Garage, a space dedicated to dance in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood, while adhering to appropriate safety guidelines. The studios and newly renovated theater are outfitted with professionally sprung floors and a custom stage to resemble a larger proscenium theater space to better showcase ballets on film.

Featured Photo for Pennsylvania Ballet Digital Spring Season of the company in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco © Alexander Iziliaev