Barbara Weisberger

Barbara Weisberger rose to prominence in the mid-20th century. As stated by The New York Times, she was “a visionary in the development of American ballet.” By the time she settled in Luzerne County in 1945, she had already piled up a list of accomplishments that would be enough for a full career. But Weisberger was just getting started, and she went on to achieve some of her career highlights once the Wyoming Valley became her home.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Weisberger was a standout performer in her youth. This was so much the case that, in 1934, at the age of eight, she became the first child to be accepted as a student of the legendary George Balanchine. In the years that followed, beyond their teacher-student relationship, Balanchine would become one of Weisberger’s main mentors and guiding forces.

Weisberger went to Penn State, the school from which she graduated in 1945. That year, she moved to Luzerne County for good, and went on to live in Kingston for the next 65 years of her life. In 1953, she established the Wilkes-Barre Ballet Theatre, marking her first significant contribution to the Luzerne County arts scene.

With Balanchine’s encouragement, Weisberger was inspired to start a school in Philadelphia as well. She would do so, with the school evolving into the Pennsylvania Ballet, which was officially founded in 1962. With Weisberger as its lead creative force, the Pennsylvania Ballet became a world-renowned troupe and a respected institution in ballet and dance circles.

Balancing her roles as a mother and an artistic director, Weisberger divided her time between Philadelphia and Kingston. While her own family blossomed, her family at the Pennsylvania Ballet expanded as well. Weisberger played an instrumental role in recruiting some of America’s greatest dancers and ballet artists to perform with the troupe she had helped found.

Weisberger herself was a respected figure, and she collaborated with some of dance’s most esteemed choreographers to bring her artistic visions to life. Her career continued to be associated with that of Balanchine, and the two maintained a close connection over the years.

After two decades with the Pennsylvania Ballet, Weisberger departed the institution she helped establish to pursue new opportunities in the realm of ballet. She founded the Carlisle Project in Cumberland County in 1984, an initiative aimed at developing choreographers. She also served as an advisor at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet

Weisberger also won the praise of the folks back home. She received an honorary degree from King’s College, and became a historian of sorts in the area to those who wished to hear of her extraordinary life. Not to mention, Weisberger was still active enough in her 80s to instruct and participate in local dance classes. She continued to eagerly share stories of her collaborations and experiences until she passed away in Kingston at the age of 94.

Barbara Weisberger enriched the world of regional ballet, including in the area she called home for over six decades. Her influence brought the Pennsylvania Ballet to national prominence, and she did this while raising a family in the Wyoming Valley. In her later years, and throughout her life, she passed along her wisdom to generate more interest and appreciation for the artform she loved.