The Blanket is a producing organization that exists to expand the creation and performance of dance. We produce and commission work from choreographers to realize collaborative projects that create greater opportunity for artists and dancers, and broaden the audience experience of dance as an art form.

Long-time friends and colleagues, Caitlin Scranton and Matt Pardo originally founded The Blanket in 2016 to foster collaboration between the city of Pittsburgh and the greater dance field. Working project-by-project, The Blanket conceived of and produced projects that brought choreographers to Pittsburgh to work with local dancers, to create unique and site-specific works in the community. Since the pandemic, The Blanket has expanded to also produce works for dance artists in NYC to help bring their vision to fruition. By broadening the geographical community which we serve, we are able to produce a broader range of projects and artists, foster diversity, and cast a wide net.

Matt Pardo, holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2016) and an advanced honors B.F.A from the University at Buffalo (2007). He has danced for the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Groundworks Dance Theater, RG Dance Projects, and the River North Chicago Dance Company (apprentice). He was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Dancers in the World for 2010-2011”, one of 10 Americans, by Dance Europe Magazine. Teaching and choreographic credits include American Dance Festival, Skidmore College, Broadway Dance Center, Slippery Rock University, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Centre National de Danse (Paris), and Point Park University to name a few. In 2011, Matt joined the Lucinda Childs Dance Company and spent the past 10 years touring as a company member and company class-instructor performing and teaching in more than 20 countries. His opera credits include the world tour of the Olivier award-winning Philip Glass opera Einstein on the Beach and performances with the Pittsburgh Opera in the Daughter of the Regiment, directed and choreographed by Séan Curran. Scholarly publications include an article in the Journal of Dance Education exploring how to develop a practice of performance and an insert in the Genius Guide to College Dance Programs by Angela Carter. Pardo is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Union and is an assistant professor of dance at James Madison University (matt-pardo.com).

Caitlin Scranton is originally from Pennsylvania. She studied dance at Dance Theater of Iowa, Idyllwild Arts Academy and the Ailey School, and in 2005 received a BA in History from Smith College. In New York she has performed with Cornfield Dance, Mark Dendy, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Paul Singh, Ramon Oller, and Mark Morris Dance Group. From 2009-2019 Caitlin was a soloist in the Lucinda Childs Dance Company performing featured roles in Ms. Childs’s work, including the recent revival of the Philip Glass/Robert Wilson opera Einstein on the Beach. In 2017 Caitlin spent the year as a Visiting Artist at Point Park University, College of Performing Arts, and continues to teach ballet and modern dance in New York. As a performer, Caitlin is currently building projects with choreographers Christopher Williams and Netta Yerushalmy.

photos by Jesse Anders