Peter G. Kalivas Founding Director/Choreographer/Teacher/Mentor The PGK Project has danced, choreographed, and taught worldwide for over 30 years. His choreography has been commissioned by both ballet and contemporary companies, Off-Broadway, Opera, Television and film throughout the US and abroad and been presented at major festivals worldwide.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Peter is a graduate of The University of the Arts (Dance and Music), and trained extensively at The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School where he was invited to join The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater second company.
He was an original member of Sean Curran Company/NYC originating roles at The Joyce Theater/NYC, member of The Iwanson Dance Company and soloist with The Bavarian State Opera Ballet/Munich, guest artist of the London Opera Ballet. An equally trained musician (voice and arranging) he was Mr. Mistofelees in “CATS” On Broadway, sang and choreographed for Dick Clark Productions including his “Rockin Eve” Specials for ABC-TV and has been a Master Teacher in technical and performance skills for Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas.
He Co-choreographed “Kilt” Off-Broadway starring Tovah Feldshu and in San Diego where he lives now was a member of Malashock Dance & Company and The San Diego Ballet, and appeared in and was rehearsal director, co-choreographer of original productions for The San Diego Opera.
Over his career his choreographic work has been presented at prestigious theaters and festivals worldwide including The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, The Ailey Citicorp Theater/NYC, Le Festival D’Avignon France, Festival de Cerventino Mexico, Dance Platform Turkey, The State Opera Ballet Theater Almaty Kazakhstan, Stamping Ground Dance Festival Australia, The Disney Lund Theater REDCAT Los Angeles, Florence Gould Hall/NYC among many others where he has also been on guest faculties and provided Master Classes in his blend of Horton inspired Contemporary/Modern technique.
He is a Fulbright Scholar in Dance Education and was a guest Professor at Kyung Hee University Seoul, S. Korea, former original faculty at TanzZentrum Conservatory in Salzburg, Austria and The Iwanson Tanz Schule Germany.
He is the recipient of a Bronx Recognizes its Own “BRIO”, Panoply and Tommy Award, and won many consistent grants and fellowships to support his work including SOUTHARTS Touring, California Arts Council in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, Western Arts Federation, Creative Communities San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture
As Cultural Envoy and cross-Cultural Specialist for the US State Department since 2001, he has directed 13 projects representing American Dance in South and Central America, Africa, Australia, Eastern Europe and Asia. He holds 2 honorary Masters Degrees from Universities and Government Ministries of Education in South America and a Masters of the Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine focusing on 21st Century Dance presenting principles, Creative Placemaking Models and how ever changing cultural appreciation impacts arts & culture.
He consults regularly at Dance Departments assessing department’s mission relative to goals and outcomes. His lecture Art and Economics addresses the interdependent relationship between the two which is often overlooked to then prevent artist’s being as successful as they aspire.
