Ballet slippers will take the stage April 25 when the University of Pittsburgh’s Ballet Club premieres its spring production of “Sleeping Beauty.” The student-run organization, which recently surpassed 200 members, will perform at noon and 4 p.m. the weekend before finals.
The club mounts two full productions each year, presenting “The Nutcracker” every fall and a mixed-style spring show that has previously included “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Dancers choreograph the pieces, design sets and costumes, and handle all stage logistics themselves. Auditions are open to all experience levels, and no one is cut.
“We put together a production each semester and it’s basically open to anyone who wants to do ballet,” said administrative vice president Mia Rodriguez. She helps book the auditorium, manage contracts and coordinate funding for the student board of 10.
As membership grows, leaders juggle larger casts, limited stage time, and costume needs while trying to keep dancers in multiple pieces without turning anyone away. The club relies on proactive fundraising, including Pitt’s Day of Giving, to keep productions accessible and affordable.
Rodriguez, who has danced ballet her whole life, says the club offers a creative and physical outlet amid academic stress. “Ballet Club connects everyone in one way or another,” she said. “You are bound to know someone who knows someone who’s in Ballet Club”