Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Benefit

#TutuGood! The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s benefit performance and premiere party was a sold-out success Thursday night. Presented by BYN Mellon, more than 450 guests filled the lobby and theater of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, for performances by the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The evening began with a cocktail reception, where artistic directors Virginia Johnson of DTH and Terrence Orr of PBT mingled along with Richard Rauh, who generously underwrote the jazz band that played live for the dancers during the second half of the performance. A VIP reception on the second floor had BYN Mellon’s CEO of Treasury Services Ian Stewart socializing with the legendary Smokey Robinson. Event chairs co-chairs Dr. Melonie Nance (with Dr. Umamaheswar Duvvuri) and LeRoy Metz (with Ann) welcomed eveyone. Mr. Stewart spoke briefly about the importance of diversity. A post- performance party followed.

#EnPointe: Culture connoisseurs applauding the plies and pirouettes included honorary guest former Steeler Rashard Mendenhall with Sandra Romah, PBT board chair Mark Popovich with Christine, DTH executive director Anna Glass, PBT executive director Harris Ferris (with Janet), board chair Pittsburgh Dance Council Hal Waldman with Diane, Bill Benter, Lois Wholey, Cultural Trust president Kevin McMahon, Chris Fleischner with daughter Kay, Bob Buzzelli, Rob and Cathy Lewis Long, matriarch of Wholey’s Fish empire Lois M. Wholey, Peggy and Steve McKnight, Louis Caputo, Marylynn and Doug Heuck, Zil Ricker and Randal Miller.

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