Pennsylvania Ballet

May 5-9, $21.50-$126.50, Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, paballet.org.

by Janet Anderson

dance

Springtime for Pennsylvania Ballet means an eclectic, electric quartet of dances. Square Dance, created by George Balanchine in 1957, combines Vivaldi with the traditional folk dance — just the kind of juxtaposition Balanchine loved best. PAB recently acquired the rights to Jerome Robbins' Afternoon of the Faun. First performed by Vaslav Nijinsky in 1912's Ballet Russe, the dance has morphed from a solo to a duet in Robbins' capable hands. Requiem for a Rose, in which dancers perform as an elegant bouquet of red roses, was created by Netherlands choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and returns after premiering locally last season. Finally, Europe-based William Forsythe's incredibly experimental dance In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated is a company premiere.