Nicolas Petrov, Professor
Professor 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. In 1955, he joined Ballet Russe of Grjebina and auditioned for Leonide Massine, with whom he performed as a guest artist in Sweden. 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. While in Paris, he performed in several movies as an actor and dancer (Pleine Soleil, I Killed Rasputin, The Lovers of Teruel, La Ronde, and Lorenzo’s Oil).
In 1960, he became the leading dancer for Massine, performing with such notable artists as Milorad Miskovitch, Duska Sifnios, Paolo Bortoluzzi and Carla Fracci among others. Following his tour of the world, he went on to become the leading dancer and choreographer for French television station ORTF on programs such as The Felix Martin Show, Raymonde Siozade, and Marie Vincent among others. 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 performed in Joan of Arc for Milko Sparemblek. He also worked with French singers Maurice Chevalier, Yves Montand, Gilbert Becaud, and Charles Aznavour. During this same period, he formed his own dance company, Ballet Petrov, which performed with great success in Paris, Vienna, Bolen, Lyon, Lisbon and Brussels.
In 1967, Petrov came to Pittsburgh where he revolutionized the dance world. He took over the direction and development of the Pittsburgh Playhouse Ballet Department and subsequently launched the dance program at Point Park College (now Point Park University). Petrov simultaneously launched the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, which he directed from 1969 – 1977. Under his direction, Petrov brought a number of the world’s finest dancers to Pittsburgh such as Natalia Makarova, Violette Verdy, Edward Villella, Peter Schaufuss and many others. He also welcomed such notable choreographers as Leonide Massine, Ruth Page, and John Butler to name but a few.
In addition, from 1968 to 1985, Petrov served as the permanent choreographer for the Pittsburgh Opera and during which time he was noticed for his many choreographic achievements.
Petrov has choreographed over 100 ballets, eight of which are full-length productions. He choreographed the American premieres of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and The Prince of Pagadas, and the world premieres Maria Sabina, Steel Symphony and Americana R.F.D. to name a few.
From 1974 – 1986, he served as the Director of the Dance Division of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts at Point Park. In 1977, he founded the American Dance Ensemble of Point Park College. 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.
Petrov has taught thousands of students during his 39 years at Point Park. His name has become almost legendary in the dance world and he frequently guest teaches for many dance schools, conventions and colleges throughout the country and overseas. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Dance from the University of California, Los Angeles.