On October 16, 2014 the Pennsylvania Ballet (Company) opened its 51^st season with a bang. The first ballet of the season, “Press Play,” was a new style for this particular company: less of Balanchine’s flair. This was unexpected to most people for it’s been a Balanchine-based company since 1964 (Balanchine was the previous choreographer for the company). Instead, a more classical route was taken.

In the spring of 2014, Roy Keiser, the former Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Ballet, announced his retirement in the upcoming season, after 35 years with the company. Who was to take his place?

It turned out to be Angel (an-G-el, not angel) Corella, from Madrid Spain. As one of the most respected dancers in the ballet world, Angel danced as one of the principle dancers for the American Ballet Theater in New York City and is now changing the face of the company and the school.

“Pennsylvania Ballet has such a great reputation, such great dancers and such a loyal audience. My dream is to build on this rich history, its Balanchine legacy, and make the Company a center for all the best of the ballet, a true national model,” says Angel.

One significant difference that many are seeing is the company’s shift away from Balanchine. Balanchine was a dancer and choreographer who didn’t change the steps of classical ballet, but made them larger and more drawn out.

Instead of smaller, stricter movements, they are choreographed to move with the music and be more specified for the music. However, Balanchine is not its own type of ballet, but a different way that classical ballet is carried out.

No one can be sure how the Pennsylvania Ballet will change overall. Although Angel has a style, background, and vision of his own, the Ballet will continue to maintain its label of being a versatile company, one in which dancers will perform all kinds of dance, not uniform in height, looks, and style, and one where much of the choreography is designed and crafted to fit each dancer.