Pittsburgh Dance Council History
This year, the Pittsburgh Dance Council celebrates its 50th season as a presenter of contemporary dance programming in the Cultural District. Founded in 1969, the Pittsburgh Dance Council became a programming division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in 2002, and has supported more than one thousand local, national, and international dancers, choreographers and dance companies by hosting their performances in Pittsburgh. Listed below is the Pittsburgh Dance Council’s diverse and distinguished presenting history. We hope you share in our fond memories of seeing these world-class contemporary dance companies right here in Pittsburgh.
The Early Years
1969 - 1980
1st Season
1969 - 1970
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Pennsylvania Ballet
2nd Season
1970 - 1971
- Merce Cunningham Dance Company
- Pennsylvania Ballet
3rd Season
1971 - 1972
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Pennsylvania Ballet
4th Season
1972 - 1973
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- Pennsylvania Ballet
5th Season
1974 - 1975
- Utah Repertory Dance Theatre
- Murray Louis Dance Company
- George Faison Universal Dance Experience
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- The Ohio Chamber Ballet
6th Season
1975 - 1976
- George Faison Universal Dance Experience
- Eliot Feld Ballet
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Pilobolus
- Pennsylvania Ballet
7th Season
1976 - 1977
- Ballet Folklorico de Mexico
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Nikolais Dance Theatre
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- Bottom of the Bucket
- Dan Wagoner and Dancers
- Phyllis Lamhut Dance Company
8th Season
1977 - 1978
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- Stars from ABT, NYC Ballet and Friends
- Eleo Pomare Dance Company
- Louis Falco Dance Company
- Soviet Georgian Dancers
9th Season
1978 - 1979
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- Murray Louis Dance Company
- Alwin Nikolais Dance Theatre
- Bat Dor Dance Company of Israel
- Festival of Russian Dance
- 5 by 2 plus (a modern dance repertory co.)
- Viola Farber Dance Company
10th Season
1979 - 1980
- Twyla Tharp Dancers and Dances
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- Kathryn Posin Dance Company
- American Dance Machine
- Don Redlich Dance Company
- Murray Louis Dance Company
- Umbrella Series (featuring emerging PGH artists)
Twenty Years of Dance
1980 - 1990
11th Season
1980 - 1981
- Twyla Tharp Dancers and Dances
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- Kathryn Posin Dance Company
- American Dance Machine
- Don Redlich Dance Company
- Umbrella Series (featuring emerging PGH artists)
12th Season
1981 - 1982
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- The Joffrey Ballet
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
- Sara Rudner Performance Ensemble
- David Gordon/Pick Up Company
- Umbrella Series (featuring emerging PGH artists)
13th Season
1982 - 1983
- Pilobolus
- Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians
- Twyla Tharp Dance Company
- Harry/Senta Diver
- Charles Moulton and Company
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
- Signature Showcase of Dance
14th Season
1983 - 1984
- Merce Cunningham Dance Company
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Alwin Nikolais Dance Theatre
- MOMIX
- Kei Takei's Moving Earth Dance Company
- Gail Conrad Tap Dance Theater
- Choreographers' Continuum
15th Season
1984 - 1985
- Foolsfire (M. Moschen, B. Berky & F. Garbo)
- Ohad Naharin
- Utah Repertory Dance Theatre
- The Feld Ballet
- Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal
- Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
- Choreographers' Continuum II
16th Season
1985 - 1986
- Mark Morris Dance Group
- Margie Gillis
- Mitchell Rose and Diane Epstein
- Murray Louis Dance Co. w/Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Netherlands Dance Theatre Jr. Touring Co.
- Sankai Juku
- Choreographers' Continuum III
17th Season
1986 - 1987
- Momix
- Bebe Miller and Company
- Erick Hawkins Dance Company
- Bella Lewitzky Dance Company
- Hubbard Street Dance Company
- North Carolina Dance Theater
- Choreographers' Continuum IV
18th Season
1987 - 1988
- Pilar Rioja
- Pooh Kaye/Eccentric Motions
- Annabelle Gamson/Dance Solos
- Nikolais Dance Theatre
- Dance Theatre of Harlem
- Jazz Tap Ensemble
- Choreographers' Continuum V
19th Season
1988 - 1989
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
- The Adaptors/Movement Theatre
- Liz Lerman/Dance Exchange
- Victoria Marks Performance Company
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Frankfurt Ballet
- Choreographers' Continuum VI
20th Season
1989 - 1990
- Angelika Oei
- ISO and The Bobs
- P.S. 122 "Field Trips"
- Pilobolus with New Music Ensemble
- Jennifer Muller/The Works
- Lyon Opera Ballet
- The Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
- Ralph Lemon and Company
- Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater
- Choreographers' Continuum VII
Thirty Years of Dance
1990 - 2000
21st Season
1990 - 1991
- Sankai Juku
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Trisha Brown Company
- Feld Ballets/NY
- David Gordon Pick Up Company
- Pilar Rioja
- Robert Davidson Dance Company
- Doug Elkins Dance Company
- Nucleodanza
- Choreographers' Continuum VIII
22nd Season
1991 - 1992
- Miami City Ballet
- Phoenix Dance Company
- Ballet Hispanico
- Limon Dance Company
- Kodo Drummers
- Liz Lerman/Dance Exchange
- Hubbard Street Dance Company
- Maureen Fleming
- Choreographers' Continuum IX
23rd Season
1992 - 1993
- Lyon Opera Ballet
- American Indian Dance Theater
- Carbone 14
- Tharp & Baryshnikov
- Victoria Marks Performance Company
- Mark Morris Dance Group
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
- Ilka Doubek & Anahi Galante
- Choreographers' Continuum X
24th Season
1993 - 1994
- Sankai Juku
- Amanda Miller Pretty/Ugly Company
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
- The Joffrey Ballet
- Eiko & Koma w/Dance Alloy
- Nikolais/Louis Dance Company
- Joe Chvala & The Flying Foot Forum
- Lewitzky Dance Company
- Gabri Christa
- Choreographers' Continuum XI
25th Season
1994 - 1995
- Merce Cunningham Dance Company
- Philadanco
- Marie Chouinard
- STOMP
- Dance Theatre of Harlem
- The Hittite Empire
- Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
- Choreographers' Continuum XII
26th Season
1995 - 1996
- O Vertigo Danse
- Le Carre des Lombes
- Rhythm in Shoes
- Bebe Miller Dance Company
- Mark Morris Dance Group
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- David Dorfman/The Family Project
- Maureen Fleming/David Parsons Project
- Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Meredith Monk
- Choreographers' Continuum XIII
27th Season
1996 - 1997
- Pilobolus
- Sankai Juku
- Twyla Tharp/Tharp!
- Eiko & Koma
- Jam on the Groove
- Kodo Drummers
- Philadanco
- Donald Byrd/The Group
- Lilly, Latsky, Curran
- Dance Festival
- What's Left Festival
- Choreographers' Continuum XIV
28th Season
1997 - 1998
- Philip Glass
- Ballet Hispanico
- H Art Chaos
- Merce Cunningham
- The Harlem Nutcracker (Donald Byrd)
- Mark Morris Dance Group
- American Indian Dance Theate
- Butoh-Sha Tenkei
- Margaret Jenkins
- Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater
- Philadanco (Greensburg)
- Choreographers' Continuum XV
29th Season
1998 - 1999
- Ballet Preljocaj
- Trisha Brown Company
- Dos Alas "Two Wings"
- Dallas Black Dance Theater "Porgy & Bess"
- Kim Itoh + the Glorious Future
- Pilobolus
- Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theater
- David Parsons Dance Company
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Eiko & Koma "River" (Sandcastle)
- Choreographers' Continuum XVI
30th Season
1999 - 2000
- Lyon Opera Ballet "Carmen"
- Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker (Hunt Armory)
- Philadanco
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- Kodo Drummers
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Lula Washington Dance Theatre
- la la la Human Steps
Forty Years of Dance
2000 - 2010
31st Season
2000 - 2001
- MOMIX "Baseball"
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
- White Oak Dance Project (Baryshnikov)
- Stephen Petronio Dance Company
- Rennie Harris Puremovement "Rome & Jewels"
- Dance Theatre of Harlem
- Tango Mujer
- Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
32nd Season
2001 - 2002
- Washington Ballet
- Susan Marshall & Company
- Shaolin Warriors
- Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India
- Compagnie Maguy Marin
- David Parsons Dance Company
- Gregory Hines
33rd Season
2002 - 2003
- Sankai Juku
- Dance Alloy
- Mark Morris Dance Group
- Ballet Biarritz
- Ballet Preljocaj
- Pilobolus
- Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
- Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theater
- Streb
34th Season
2003 - 2004
- Noche Flamenca
- George Piper Dances Presents Ballet Boyz
- dumb type
- Compagnie Marie Chouinard
- Nederlands Dans Theater
- Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal
- O Vertigo
35th Season
2004 - 2005
- Pennsylvania Ballet (special presentation)
- Pappa TARAHUMARA
- Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal
- Doug Varone
- DanceBrazil
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Israel Contemporary Dance Theater
- Savion Glover
36th Season
2005 - 2006
- LINES Contemporary Ballet
- Limon Dance Company
- Danzahoy
- Tero Saarinen Company
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
- Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre
37th Season
2006 - 2007
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Random Dance
- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- Joffrey Ballet
- Sydney Dance Company
- Emio Greco / PC
38th Season
2007 - 2008
- Circus Oz
- Lucy Guerin Inc.
- Chunky Move
- Urban Bush Women/Jant-Bi
- Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
- Emanuel Gat Dance
- Ultima Vez
39th Season
2008 - 2009
- Ballet Maribor "Radio & Juliet"
- Inbal Pinto "Shaker"
- Doug Varone & Dancers
- Batsheva Dance Company
- Ballet Boyz
- Compagnie Marie Chouinard
- Ronald K. Brown/Evidence
40th Season
2009 - 2010
- Kidd Pivot "Lost Action"
- Margaret Jenkins Dance Co./Quandong Modern Dance Co. "Other Suns"
- Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
- Complexions
- BJM Danse
- Vincent Dance Theatre "Broken Chords"
Fifty Years of Dance
2010 - 2020
41st Season
2010 - 2011
- Pascal Rioult (program includes Ravel's Bolero)
- Pilobolus
- Stephen Petronio Company
- Tango Fire
- Ballet Hispanico
- David Dorfman Dance: Prophets of Funk
42nd Season
2011 - 2012
- Momix
- Heidi Latsky Dance in GIMP
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Dance Works Rotterdam/Andre Gingras
- Armitage Gone! Dance
- Last Touch First
- Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
43rd Season
2012 - 2013
- STREB
- Akram Khan Company
- Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion
- Black Grace
- Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
- Mark Morris Dance Group
44th Season
2013 - 2014
- Compagnie Marie Chouinard
- Zimmerman & de Perrot
- Compagnie Kafig
- Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve
- Wendy Whelan Project
- Wayne McGregor/Random Dance
45th Season
2014 - 2015
- Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
- Michael Clark Company
- Ronald K. Brown Evidence
- Union Tanguera
- Pontus Lidberg Dance
- Scottish Ballet
- Special event: Ira Glass and Monica Bill Barnes Company
46th Season
2015 - 2016
- Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
- Aakash Odedra Company
- Dada Masilo's Swan Lake
- Louise Lecavalier / Fou glorieux
- Dorrance Dance
- Stephen Petronio Company
- Philadanco
- Ailey II
- Urban Bush Women
47th Season
2016 - 2017
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
- Pilobolus
- Bereishit Dance Company
- Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre & Dance Theatre of Harlem
- BJM Danse
48th Season
2017 - 2018
- Blue Lapis Light
- Alonzo King LINES Ballet
- Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion
- Grupo Corpo
- DIAVOLO
- Wang Ramirez
- BODYTRAFFIC
49th Season
2018 - 2019
- Deborah Colker
- Yabin Wang
- Jessica Lang Dance
- Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Camille A. Brown & Dancers
- Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo
50th Season
2019 - 2020
- Origami
- Un poyo rojo
- MOMIX
- ODC/Dance with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
- Sarah Reich
- Malpaso Dance Company, an associate company of Joyce Theater Productions
- Rocío Molina
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Presenting Sponsor BNY Mellon