PBT promotes Diana Yohe to soloist

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After four years with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, corps de ballet dancer Diana Yohe will be promoted to soloist for the 2017-18 season, the company announced.

“Diana already has earned a number of leading roles in PBT productions, which makes this promotion incredibly well-deserved,” artistic director Terrence Orr said in a prepared statement. “She brings a special quality to the stage, not only with exceptional technique, but also with a charisma that draws your eye whether she’s dancing a solo or corps role.”

This season, Ms. Yohe, a native of Willoughby, Ohio, has danced several featured roles, such as Myrtha in “Giselle” last fall and Alice in PBT’s recent “Alice in Wonderland.” Her repertoire also includes George Balanchine’s “Western Symphony,” Twyla Tharp’s “In the Upper Room,” Dwight Rhoden’s “Ave Maria,” Jiri Kylian’s “Petite Mort” and PBT’s annual “Nutcracker.”

Early on, she studied with Courtney Laves and Mark Otloski at the City Ballet of Cleveland and went on to join Joffrey Ballet’s trainee program and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School’s graduate program.

Ms. Yohe will dance in PBT’s 2016-17 season closer “Romeo and Juliet” with the PBT Orchestra April 21-23 at Benedum Center, Downtown. She’ll make her debut as soloist in “Dracula” at Benedum Center in October.