On October 28, as Swan Lake's Odette and Siegfried plunge into destiny at the Benedum Center.

On October 28, as Swan Lake's Odette and Siegfried plunge into destiny at the Benedum Center, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's beloved principals Ying Li and Jiabin Pan leap into new careers. The gifted artists and married duo, who joined PBT in 1994, are returning to China to concentrate on choreography and teaching while pursuing international freelance engagements.

"They are physically phenomenal. More than technicians, they are artists," says Terrence Orr, PBT's artistic director. Ying Li, a Shanghai native, accumulated awards at the Lausanne, Osaka, and Varna competitions and later won hearts as a ballerina with dazzling technique, lovely epaulement, superb phrasing, and beautifully crafted characterizations. Jiabin Pan, a Suzhou native and competition medalist, combines masculine grace and riveting presence with solid partnering skills and technical brilliance. While they excelled in classical repertoire (Giselle is her favorite), they mesmerized audiences in works by Glen Tetley, Dwight Rhoden, and Balanchine.

Her multiple ankle injuries and their shared desire to spend more time with their son Ethan influenced their decisions to retire. She says that Swan Lake, which they first performed in 1987 with the National Ballet of China, is a fitting finale. "We are happy to have danced for so many years, but it's time for a career change."