Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Celebrating ‘America 250’ at Benedum (Sun., 2/22/26)

AMERICA 250 (ballet program, various choreographers). Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. February 20 – 22. 

Ballet is a European dance form, historically speaking, but now Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is updating that history. With this year being the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, PBT is presenting an all-American show. America 250 consists of four ballets rooted in our country’s culture. “The Mighty Casey”—choreographed by Lisa de Ribere—is a baseball number inspired by Ernest Thayer’s 1888 poem “Casey at the Bat,” and set to music that composer Michael Moricz has drawn from various sources. George Balanchine’s “Stars & Stripes” is a rousing pas de deux danced to the heroic strains of John Philip Sousa. Paul Taylor’s “Company B” taps the World War II-era pop tunes of the Andrews Sisters, who were known for “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B)” among other songs. And in a more classical vein, Ben Stevenson’s “Three Preludes” is a romantic ballet danced to a selection of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano preludes. All music is played by the PBT Orchestra. Enjoy Pittsburgh Ballet’s America 250 at Benedum Center. 2 p.m. 237 7th St., Cultural District. (M.V.) 

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