They initially met at an outdoor ballet performance featuring Petrov's Pittsburgh Playhouse dancers.

During the 1981-82 Season, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre made its New York City debut and toured to 28 states, Canada and the Virgin Islands.

In 1984, Loti and Leon Falk gifted the company the Liberty Avenue studios which it currently occupies.

In 1993, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre launched a $18 million Campaign for Permanence to expand their endowment and improve facilities.

The company also premiered a new story ballet, The Mighty Casey, choreographed by Lisa DeRibere.

In 2000, Orr, in conjunction with Libman, began a series of commissions for contemporary ballets inspired by American music, including artists such as: Ray Brown, Stanley Turrentine, Lena Horne, Billy Strayhorn, Sting, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon.

In 2003, the company's endowment reached $9.4 million and in June 2004 Steven Libman stepped down as Managing Director.

The school presents two student productions each spring: Pre-Professional Showcases at Point Park University's George Rowland White Performance Studio and Spring Performance, which features 200+ dancers of the Student and Pre-professional divisions onstage at the Byham Theater in downtown Pittsburgh.