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Caitlyn Mendicino was promoted to the corps de ballet in 2020 with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre ( PBT ). It fulfilled a lifelong dream to dance professionally . She began ballet lessons at PBT when she was just 4 years old . She continued her studies at Ballet Westmoreland Academy in Murrysville , where she received foundational training in the beautiful art form .
“ Even at 4 , you learn to stay in rhythm with the music , and the movement helps you learn to be creative ,” says Caitlyn . By the time she was 16 , she was very serious about a future in dance . “ My father was working in North Carolina , so I auditioned for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School Program . I didn ’ t think I would get in , but I did .” The intensive program was a combination of academics and specialized training in ballet and pointe in what amounted to a 12-hour day .
After graduation , she became an apprentice at the Charlotte Ballet . Although it was valuable experience , it wasn ’ t quite the right fit , so Caitlyn decided to audition for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and was accepted as an apprentice in 2018 .
About a year later , she happened upon an interest in bees . A friend of her father had sent him a book , “ Beekeeping for Dummies ,” which she read in a few days . “ It was fascinating to me — the democracy of the bees ’ colony , and the inner workings . They ’ re really intelligent ,” explains Caitlyn .
Her next step was to take a course in beekeeping , which her father also attended . He then helped her build her first two hive boxes and the apiary enclosure .
Caitlyn now sells honey from the hives at the Mt . Lebanon Farmers Market and some pop-up events and is hoping to expand to more places this spring . She expanded to 10 hives during the summer , and reduces that number to five in the winter , which works perfectly with ballet season rehearsals and performances .
At this point , Caitlyn has appeared in about 30 productions with PBT .
When she became part of the corps de ballet , the pandemic was just starting . But undeterred , the dancers found ways to perform . They appeared at the Carnegie Museum of Art , performing on the ground floor in the Great Hall with the audience watching from above . They danced excerpts from “ Dracula ’ s Kiss ” and “ Bolero .”
One of Caitlyn ’ s most challenging roles was as one of the Little Swans from Swan Lake , performed two seasons ago . “ Stamina-wise it was the hardest ballet , but I loved performing in that ballet .”
She adds , “ What I love best about being a dancer is being able to inspire young children . When I was a child , I looked up to these dancers who were doing their dream job . When we were rehearsing ‘ Nutcracker ’ recently , there were kids plastered against the windows , watching us rehearse . I just love that !”
You can follow Caitlyn ’ s “ Ballerina Bees ” on Facebook at facebook . com / ballerinabees . n
I love best about being a dancer is being able to inspire young children . When I was a child , I looked up to these dancers who were doing their dream job . ”
MURRYSVILLE ❘ WINTER 2024 13