Lawrence Pech

Mikhail Baryshnikov invited Lawrence Pech to join American Ballet Theater in 1980. For the next six years, Mr. Pech worked with such choreographers as George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Anthony Tudor, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins (touring to the Spoleto, Italy Festival; ‘82), Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Jiri Kylian, Carol Armitage, David Gordon, Natalia Makarova, Eric Bruhn, Mark Morris, and others. And danced with such greats as Mr. Baryshnikov, Ms. Makarova, Ivan Nagy, Cynthia Gregory, Fernando Bujones, Gelsey Kirkland, Cynthia Harvey, Martine Van Hamel, Kevin McKenzie, and others. He has made numerous television appearances with A.B.T. in "Live from Lincoln Center ", as well as figuring prominently with Mr. Baryshnikov in the 1983 BBC movie, "Dancer and the Dance".

In 1986, Helgi Tomasson invited Mr. Pech to join the San Francisco Ballet and in 1989, was promoted to Principal Dancer, working with the likes of David Bintley, William Forsythe, James Kudelka, Mark Morris and others. In 1991, Mr. Pech was the subject of a PBS/KQED Special entitled “Blue Lair”, a ballet about his victory over cancer, awarded a 1991 Emmy for Best Choreography. As well, he has garnered the Bay Area Theater Critics’ Circle Awards for both “Best Choreography” and “Best Supporting Actor in a Musical” (“Oklahoma”, Mountain Play, 1991, "Hello, Dolly!", DLOC, '09), the Dean Goodman Award for “Best Choreography” (“Jesus Christ Superstar”, Spreckles) and numerous other awards and scholarships. Mr. Pech is Founding Artistic Director of Diablo Ballet, Walnut Creek, CA., ( ‘92-’95).

Since it’s inaugural performances in April, 1996 the Lawrence Pech Dance Company (LPDC) has performed to sold-out houses at Theater Artaud, San Francisco, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. LPDC began their residency at YBCA, San Francisco, November, 1998.

Mr. Pech returned to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to finish his Composition degree (BM) (’05), graduating with Honors.

To date, Mr. Pech has choreographed over 60 ballets, 70 musicals, 140 operas and numerous self-produced evenings of original music, dance and theater.