What: Swan Lake at the Fox Theatre on Friday and Saturday, October 6 and 7, at 8 p.m.Cost: Tickets are $39-$68,available at the Dance St. Louis box office in Grand Center at 3547 Olive St., the Centene Center for Arts and Education, at the Fox Theatre box office at 527 N. Grand and all MetroTix outlets, by phone at Dance St. Louis at 314-534-6622 or MetroTix at 314-534-1111, and via dancestlouis.org . Handling charges apply to all phone, Internet and outlet sales.   

Dance St. Louis presentation of ‘Swan Lake’ features story-telling influence of DeMille upon Pittsburgh Ballet’s Terrance Orr who is marking more than four decades in ballet

By Daniel Hines
Publisher
America’s Seniors at www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

As Dance St. Louis moves into its fifth decade of artistic excellence, much of the style for the 2006-2007 season will be set by the interpretation of Terrance Orr, the artistic director for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater which is presenting ‘Swan Lake,’ a timeless tale of love and dark magic.

That’s because while Orr and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater will have only two days—October 6-7—they bring with them an interpretation of ‘Swan Lake’ that bears much of the influence of the great Agnes de Mille (Oklahoma, other great American theater classics), built around the love story, as well as dancing that offers a special interactivity or connection with the audience.  Orr was director of the Agnes De Mille American Dance Theater Foundation for seven years. 

Added to that is his extensive experience of more than 40 years of work in ballet, including a stint with the American Ballet Theater, where he rose to become ballet master in 1978.

“It’s important that the audience realize that our presentation is very intricate story telling,  and that we are approaching this show with a great deal of passion as well as the traditional beauty of ‘Swan Lake’,” Orr explains.

This is also an important launch for Dance St. Louis since it is the first presentation for the group’s new executive director Michael Uthoff, who is responsible for the invitation to Orr and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.

In making the selection, Uthoff called upon a well-recognized figure in American ballet.  The new Dance St. Louis Artistic and Executive Director showed his respect for Orr by choosing to  host a free program, Speaking of Dance, with him in the Fox Theatre Marquee Room at 7:15 p.m. prior to both performances.

In addition to his work already cited, .Orr’s accomplished background includes dancing, teaching and staging productions for many of the world’s celebrated ballet companies.

A native of California, he trained at the San Francisco Ballet School before joining San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer for three years. In 1965 he joined American Ballet Theatre and was promoted to soloist in 1967 and principal dancer in 1972. Terrence Orr became ballet master at ABT in 1978.

As artistic director of Stars of American Ballet, he was responsible for commissioning new works from first time choreographers, as well as coordinating all other aspects of production.

World renowned as a guest repetiteur, he has staged a plethora of performances both in the United States and internationally for such companies as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, The Sadlers Wells, La Scala in Milano, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. His wide range of repertoire includes Giselle, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Miss Julie, and La Sylphide, as well as Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo and Fall River Legend.

He was named artistic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1997.   

It’s an impressive background, but like the old story of might Oaks growing from little Acorns, Orr’s start could never have evidenced rising to such heights.

“I grew up in Walnut Creek, CA, a small rural area at that time,” Orr says.  “What I really wanted to do was take some acrobatic classes, but when I went to enroll for the classes, the only thing available was for ballet…I left, went back to playing baseball and basketball, but I came back the next year.”

With that inauspicious and hesitating enrollment, Orr was on his way to artistic success.  He found he like dancing, and when his friends learned that he was actually being paid for dancing, he became very popular with them.

What many people might not realize is the immense amount of discipline and strength ballet requires, Orr says.

“But I love dance,” Orr continues.  “I loved it when I was a dancer, and I love it now as I can connect with younger dancers and teach them about the beauty and passion of dance.”

And therein lies Orr’s secret to successful aging.  While he won’t admit to his age, he does note that he is a senior citizen.

“But, there is a special quality to being able to impart things to the younger dancers,” he says.  “And, importantly, they respect the experience, and they realize that I truly enjoy being a teacher and coach for them.”

It’s also something that has provided him with a partner for life, since he is married to
 former ABT principal dancer, Marianna Tcherkassky. Ms. Tcherkassky serves as Ballet Mistress for Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.

It’s a long way for a small town boy from rural California to recognition as a top ballet master, but one need only talk to Orr to realize that it’s been a journey made possible by his dedication to dance and to life.  The audiences for Dance St. Louis will have the opportunity to see this first hand as Orr brings the same passion and skills that have market his personal and professional life to ‘Swan Lake.’