Rep. Mary Jo Daley (PA-148)
Rep. Mary Jo Daley
As the Pennsylvania Ballet celebrates its 50th anniversary, I plan to introduce a resolution in the House of Representatives commemorating that historic achievement.
Fittingly, my resolution will come on the heels of the ballet’s June 12-15 presentation of, “A 50th Finale: The Ultimate Celebration,” which culminates a season-long celebration of this historic longevity milestone.
As with the arts in general, ballet is a vital piece of the cultural fabric of Philadelphia and its surrounding communities. We are fortunate to have such a renowned ballet company — and its half-century worth of substantial cultural contributions – located within the commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Ballet was first established in 1963 by Barbara Weisberger, a protégée of George Balanchine, through a Ford Foundation initiative to develop regional professional dance companies.
Artists of Pennsylvania Ballet in Diamonds from Jewels, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Photo: Alexander Iziliaev
Since then, this dance company has grown and realized many achievements, such as: serving as the official company of the Brooklyn Academy of Music during the 1970s, becoming the first company in the United States to offer its dancers year-round employment, performing in an award-winning film, and receiving national and international critical acclaim.
With a focus on education and artistic creativity, the Pennsylvania Ballet remains a notable cultural institution for both Philadelphia and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The athletic difficulty of mastering ballet is best summed up by this popular but anonymous quote: “If ballet were easy, they’d call it football.”
Artistically, famed American dance critic Edwin Denby summed up its impact thusly: “You don’t have to know about ballet to enjoy it, all you have to do is look at it.”
I couldn’t agree with him more and I look forward to honoring the Pennsylvania Ballet through official House action.