via PBT website

In an uncommon move, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) will stage its first work in partnership with August Wilson Center for African American Culture. The show, Uncommon, will open the post-holiday season for the well-established Pittsburgh company and will feature a world premiere by Complexions Contemporary Ballet‘s Dwight Rhoden.

Uncommon will be performed with a live chamber orchestra that will play works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. The show is to challenge traditional notions of the relationship between classical music and ballet and will feature work by Mark Morris and Dennis Nahat in addition to the aforementioned work by Mr. Rhoden.

PBT performs contemporary work on occasion, but Uncommon seems especially promising, approachable in both its relatively current take on ballet (the oldest work, Mr. Nahat’s, was conceived in the 60s) and intimate venue.

Because the August Wilson Center seats fewer than the Benedum and the Byham, where PBT typically performs, there will be extra performances over the two week run of Uncommon. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at PBT’s website.