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.

Caitlin Scranton (Founder, Executive Producer) holds a B.A. in History from Smith College, and is a New York-based dancer, teacher and producer. She joined the Lucinda Childs Dance Company as a soloist in 2009, performing from 2012-2016 in the revival of the iconic opera Einstein on the Beach. She has also worked with Cornfield Dance, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Phantom Limb, Mark Morris Dance Group, Christopher Williams, Annie B. Parson, Netta Yerushalmy, Pam Tanowitz and others. Caitlin has taught dance at Point Park University, Sarah Lawrence College, and given masterclasses all over the world. In 2016, she co-founded The Blanket in order to realize projects that highlight dance, from site-specific outdoor events to multi-city international tours.  

Matt Pardo (Founder, Associate Producer), 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 15 years touring as a company member and company class-instructor performing and teaching in more than 21 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 Associate professor of dance at James Madison University (matt-pardo.com).

photos by Jesse Anders