Skip to main content
Apply Request Info

Nicolas Petrov, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Pictured is Nicolas Petrov.

Education

  • Ph.D., Philosophy of Dance, University of California, Los Angeles
  • School of Madame Olga Preobrajenska
  • Yugoslavian State Academy

Courses Taught

  • Ballet
  • Character Dance
  • Choreography
  • Dance Analysis
  • Production, Rehearsal and Performance

Background

Nicolas Petrov, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer and artistic director with more than 50 years of experience.

After graduation in his native country of Yugoslavia, Petrov became a member of the Opera Ballet of Belgrade. Later, he went to Paris to study with Olga Preobrajenska. Discovered by Janine Charrat, he joined her company Ballet de France. After touring Europe, he began a three-year engagement with Theatre D'Art du Ballet as first dancer and toured the Middle and Far East. He became the leading dancer for Leonide Massine, performing with Milorad Miskovitch, Duska Sifnios, Paolo Bortoluzzi and Carla Fracci. He went on to dance, choreograph and produce for the French television station ORTF. Concurrently, he worked with Massine in ballets such as The Nutcracker, The Three-Cornered Hat, Beau Danube and La Boutique Fantasque. He performed the choreography of Jean Guelis and Dick Sanders, and in Joan of Arc for Milko Sparemblek. In addition, he formed his own dance company, Ballet Petrov.

In 1967, Petrov revolutionized the dance world in Pittsburgh. He took over the direction and development of the Pittsburgh Playhouse Ballet Department and subsequently launched the dance program at Point Park. He simultaneously launched the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and brought some of the world's finest dancers and choreographers to Pittsburgh such as Natalia Makarova, Violette Verdy, Edward Villella, Peter Schaufuss, Leonide Massine, Ruth Page and John Butler.

Petrov has choreographed more than 100 ballets, eight of which are full-length productions. He choreographed the American premieres of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and The Prince of Pagodas, and the world premieres of Maria Sabina, Steel Symphony and Americana R.F.D. He also served as the permanent choreographer for the Pittsburgh Opera, director of the Dance Division of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts at Point Park, and founded the American Dance Ensemble of Point Park. He imported some of the greatest teachers in the world including Marina Stavitskaya, Asaf Messerer, Jean Guelis, Vassili Sulich, Mikhail Korogodsky, Gabriella Komleva, and Lillia Sharapova. In 1983, he revived Ballet Petrov as a concert group, consisting of guest dancers and Point Park College faculty, to supplement the American Dance Ensemble.

 

Professional Membership

  • Opera Ballet of Belgrade

Selected Artistic Works

Full-Length Ballets

  • Swan Lake
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Prince of Pagodas

One Act Ballets

  • Peter and the Wolf
  • Rite of Spring

Guest Choreography

  • Coppelia
  • Firebird

Choreography in Operas

  • Carmen
  • Traviata

Ballet Petrov

  • Je Ne sais Pas Quoi

Selected Publications

  • In the Shadow of the Greats
  • The Dance Method

Point Park Features