The New Year is bringing a fresh new energy to the arts, especially as we’re collectively heading into the most romantic month of the year: Valentine’s Day Weekend! Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is performing the beautiful Romeo and Juliet Production at Benedum Center with 5 performances including a student matinee, from February 14-16! What a wonderful opportunity to connect the art of ballet with the art of journalism and introduce a new series of ballet interviews for the community!
Ballet is a strategic yet magical experience for all who enjoy the artistry of expression through movement. As a Professional Ballerina, I grew up dancing at the School of American Ballet and performed with The New York City Ballet, so my introduction into journalism inspired true awe and excitement to learn first hand how my fellow dancers revel in their craft. These interviews will hopefully bring you inspired dance tidbits and a behind the scenes look to what the dance world is all about. In addition, it is to inspire ballet, dance, and the art culture to keep evolving in the entertainment sphere.
Today we are honored to have Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s dancer Jack Hawn share his journey of dance and performance experience with PBT below. Here a link to the additional Spotify Podcast Episode, also available on YouTube and Apple Podcasts with dancer Andre Gallon sharing his experiences as well with PBT.
Enjoy both of the inspiring interviews with the men from PBT!
What I love about dancing at PBT:
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has been my home for more than a dozen years. I came here from Detroit as a 14 year old boy and have had most of my serious training, exposure to professional ballet and personally formative years here. I idolized the dancers who were performing here when I arrived and am lucky to now stand where they once stood. It’s been a joyful journey. PBT has much to offer a dancer - repertoire, community, challenge, opportunity, livelihood.
Age I began ballet:
I must have started ballet at 5 years old if the stories I’ve been told are true - I was young enough that I only ever remember dancing.
Goals in dance/life:
Concerning dance, my aim is to participate to the fullest extent I can in the great heritage and personal lifelong dream that is a career in ballet. Additionally, I want to learn more about myself and the world through the characters and roles I am tasked with and to eventually be able to step away from the stage satisfied that I gave dancing my all. I feel as if life goals are not too dissimilar - live to the fullest, take on challenges that causes growth, and hopefully, at the end, be proud of what I’ve left behind.
Favorite thing about Romeo & Juliet and what roles:
In this production, I’ll be dancing the roles of Friar Laurent and Paris and am the cover for Tybalt. One thing that is easy to love about dancing in Romeo et Juliette is the seriousness and demand of the dancing and drama. Even in the lighter moments of the ballet, there is an understanding of where our characters are headed - there’s not much like getting lost in a great story. Going to work every day and wrestling with all of the different emotions at play that Shakespeare has offered us with Romeo et Juliette and discovering how to physically convey that through Jean-Christophe Maillot’s brilliant choreography and Bruno Roque and Noelani Pantastico’s careful coaching has been a pleasure. Not to be glanced over, either, is the unbelievable Prokofiev score which is second to none and will tug at everyone’s heartstrings, especially as it will be played live by the PBT orchestra.
Pre-show eat/drink to maximize energy:
To manage energy on performance days, I typically eat a very large and substantial breakfast. Then, rather than having typically timed meals throughout I steadily feed my body to keep a baseline feeling of satiation and energy without getting too full. You’ll almost always find me with a Met-RX Crispy Apple Pie protein bar that I’ll start taking bites out of around pre-show warm ups and might finish during intermission. I’ll always have a bottle of plain water and a shaker bottle with some form of electrolytes. Big dinner afterwards.
Pre-performance routines:
I’m not superstitious when it comes to pre-performance routines, but I usually end up listening to music while getting hair, make-up and costume ready, brush my teeth to feel a bit of a reset, do some intentional breathing and of course wish my colleagues “Merde” as is customary. If time allows, I like to step on stage while the curtain is down, try a bit of my choreography out, look up into the grid and listen to the hum of audience - it’s meditative and makes me feel much gratitude for the time I get to spend enjoying professionally dancing.
Favorite costume:
Friar Laurent and the two Acolytes probably have my favorite costuming. The design is simple but effective and allows for the characters to serve an otherworldly purpose in Maillot’s particular telling of this story.
Favorite thing about the R&J production/tickets:
As I touched on before, something I love about this particular production is the visceral humanity and emotion that is bursting through at the seams. In Romeo et Juliette, Maillot has so brilliantly woven in to his choreography the essence of what it feels like to feel. Audiences will see optimism, contempt, joy, grief, lust, guilt, friendship, rage, elation, jealousy, passion, heartbreak and, of course, love on stage. I’d challenge anyone to leave the theatre without a sweetly heavy heart. You don’t want to miss this. Get your tickets at PBT.org!
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, come get your tickets for Valentines Day Weekend to take part in this transformative ballet production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and share the gift of love with those around you! With Prokofiev’s divinely moving score, performed by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Orchestra, along side the amazing PBT artists and Choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot’s brilliant talent, come witness the love story that William Shakespeare originally put out in the world in a renewed time, space, and dimension!
Romeo & Juliet: Tommie Lin Kesten and Colin MCCaslin; photos by Michael Henninger
Jack Hawn in Romeo & Juliet rehearsal; photos by Aviana Adams
Jack Hawn’s hometown is Detroit, MI and he received his ballet training from Children’s Ballet Theatre of Michigan, Academy of Russian Classical Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School & Graduate Program. Jack joined PBT as an Apprentice in 2019 and was promoted to Corps de Ballet in 2020.
Article Written by: Ari Bliss
Ari Bliss is the host of the Growth, Grace, and Gratitude Podcast. She is a pre-med/psychology graduate, a professional ballerina, lifestyle columnist, and author who grew up performing ballet at Lincoln Center with The New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and at Madison Square Garden. Her poem book "Long Distance Love" is out now! Her unique upbringing has inspired her to open up the conversation with experts in their field for the purpose of growing in self-development. Covering themes in dance, spirituality & astrology, relationships & dating, mental health & career from everyone’s favorite Astrologer Valerie Mesa to ADHD Mental Health Coach Brooke Schnittman. We appreciate all our diverse guests that are motivational in their approach to lending their expertise in offering practical daily mental health guidance for our listeners. We celebrated over 75 inspiring guests so far and counting within just a few months. I look forward to continuing the conversation to inspire all generations towards achieving authentic happiness and success! Connect with us for daily inspired content & conversation on:
Instagram: @growthandgracemindset
Ballet is a beautiful artistic expression. Thanks for the article!
That sounds like so much fun ☺️
My favorite ballet!! Romeo and Juliet is perfect for Valentine’s Day!!😃
!!!Yes to dance and Romeo and Juliet! A true classic 👏
Wonderful article 🤩