The Pittsburgh Dance Council’s 55th anniversary season showcases five contemporary dance companies from France, theUnited Kingdom, and the United States.
Brooke Horejsi, Chief Programming and Engagement Officer for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust shared a glimpse of the upcoming season, “We are excited to present a unique lineup of dance companies with a range of movement styles for this 55th season. With two international and three US-based groups, audiences can celebrate iconic choreographers with Pittsburgh roots and discover new and compelling artists.” Ms. Horejsi said, “This season, we are thrilled about the return of Martha Graham Dance, particularly because it is the hundredth year of their founding by Pittsburgh-born Martha Graham. We are also pleased to welcome back A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, a Pittsburgh native with great love for the city and the region, and Step Afrika!, who is performing their signature work. And, of course, we are proud to continue the long-standing history of bringing premiers to the series with Compagnie Hervé KOUBI and Aakash Odedra Company.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s 2025-2026 Pittsburgh Dance Council Series
Compagnie Hervé KOUBI
- Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Byham Theater
- Repertoire: Sol Invictus, Country of Origin: France
Named after the “invincible sun” deity, the work upholds love as the guarantor of peace, and despite fracture, communion emerges as humanity’s saving grace. The music score includes a composition by Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson, with excerpts by Steve Reich and digital composer Maxime Bodson. “I want to talk about light, solidarity, and those bonds that unite us,” says Koubi. “Here, the sun and the dance will emerge victorious.” “They Fly. They Spin. They Change How You See the Amazing.” – The New York Times
Aakash Odedra Company
- Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Byham Theater
- Repertoire: Samsara, Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, Samsara is a spellbinding piece that traces the steps we take forward and backward in search of our higher selves. UK/Indian dancer Aakash Odedra and Chinese dancer Hu Shenyuan draw on the dance traditions of their respective countries to explore the notion of samsara: the wheel of life, of birth, existence, and re-birth. Drawing on thinking and imagery at the heart of Buddhist philosophy, Samsara’s mythological storytelling merges with personal experience from two globally opposite perspectives in a seductive, astonishing journey of the twin movement. “Discover perfect, wordless harmony in exquisite dance.” – The Sydney Morning Herald
Martha Graham Dance Company
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Byham Theater
- Repertory: 100th Anniversary Program, Country of Origin: United States
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the oldest dance company in the United States, is renowned for its legendary and groundbreaking style of modern dance. Described by the New York Times as “spellbinding and as prescient as ever,” the Company continues to captivate audiences with Graham’s iconic works, alongside an exciting new creation made especially for the Company’s centennial!
Step Afrika!
- Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Byham Theater
- Repertoire: The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence, Country of Origin: United States
Step Afrika! ‘s signature work, The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence charts the story of African Americans moving from the rural South to the industrial North to escape Jim Crow, racial oppression, and lynchings in the early 1900s. Inspired by Jacob Lawrence’s iconic 60-panel “The Migration Series” (1940-41), this signature work from the award-winning dance company uses the images, color palette, and motifs in the painting series to tell this astonishing story through pulsating rhythms and visually stunning movement. Thanks to the Museum of Modern Art and The Phillips Collection for providing Step Afrika! access to all of Jacob Lawrence’s paintings for the very first time.
A.I.M by Kyle Abraham
- Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Byham Theater
- Repertoire: Mixed Repertory Program with works by Andrea Miller and Kyle Abraham, Country of Origin: U.S.
Contemporary dance company A.I.M by Kyle Abraham is considered “one of the most consistently excellent troupes working today” (The New York Times) and provides multifaceted performances, educational programming, and community-based workshops across the globe. Led by acclaimed Choreographer and Artistic Director Kyle Abraham’s innovative vision, the work is galvanized by Black culture and history and features the rich tapestry of Black and Queer stories, and is grounded in a conglomeration of unique perspectives, described by Abraham as a “post-modern gumbo” of movement exploration. Abraham is thrilled to return to his hometown, Pittsburgh, to showcase an evening of work of his own and Andrea Miller.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Subscriptions for the entire season and group tickets are now on sale for the 2025-2026 Pittsburgh Dance Council Series. Flex packages and single tickets will go on sale later this summer. For tickets and information, please visit Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s official ticket sources, TrustArts.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or in person at Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Feature Stories, Season Listings
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