Pitt Union’s Prima Ballerina

Schenley Hotel 1900

Several ghosts haunt the University of Pittsburgh located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of these stories I find especially compelling, it is about a Russian ballerina.

Today the student union, William Pitt Union, is located in once was a former hotel called the Schenley. The ghost that resides in this building is connected to the Tansky Family Lounge or the Red Room, which is located on the first floor just to the left of the entrance—at one time it was the hotel lobby.

The Red Room is still used today as a lounge with comfortable couches and chairs. Legend states early in the 20^th century this space was connected to a tragedy.

Tansky Family Lounge once hotel lobby.

The Schenley Hotel, being one of Pittsburgh’s finest, hosted the Russian National Ballet when they kicked off their American tour in this northeastern city.

The troops prima ballerina exhausted from all the travel fell asleep in the lobby and missed the premiere performance. The furious company director announced that for the rest of the tour the young understudy whom had performed that night in her stead would have the role for the rest of the tour.

The devastated prima ballerina then took her own life in the area near the lounge. Even though this tale is tragic the spirit of this ballerina, which still resides in the Red Room is fondly known as a “helping ghost.”

If a student falls asleep in the Red Room it is stated the prima ballerina wakes them up—it is as if she knows they will be late for something important. Students state she prevented them from being late for exams, classes, meetings, appointments etc.

Now that is my kind of ghost . . .

Forbes Avenue side of William Pitt Union