Students from Rose Hill Elementary (Lake WA School District) prepare to go on stage at McCaw Hall. ©John Austin. About Education & Community Programs Pacific Northwest Ballet's Education and Community Programs invite the community to see, learn, and engage in dance. From specially priced matinees and in-school residencies to audience lectures, PNB offers an innovative spectrum of programs as diverse as the community in which we live. Through three distinct youth program areas, (EYES ON DANCE, DANCE TO LEARN, and DANCE CONNECTS), PNB reaches students and teachers of all backgrounds and experience levels. PNB also offers six unique audience education opportunities for adults wishing to expand their theater experiences. EYES ON DANCE invites students in grades K–12 to learn about ballet by attending specially priced matinee performances. Each year Nutcracker matinees are offered, as well as one mixed-repertory performance, designed to highlight the varying styles of ballet from classical to contemporary. In-school pre-performance and post-performance workshops are also available to deepen students' experience. Other student matinees may be added each year. DANCE TO LEARN brings dance into the classroom by offering in-school workshops and residencies to students of all ages. Classes are tailored to fit each classroom's specific learning goals, and all residencies meet Washington State Arts standards (EALRs). Residencies can start from just one session and can focus on integrating classroom curriculum or on dance alone. Programs include Just Dance Workshop, Performance and Project Based Residencies, and PNB Fieldtrips. Eastgate Elementary (Bellevue School District) students on stage during the DISCOVER DANCE Community Performance. ©John Austin. DANCE CONNECTS brings together schools and community groups in partnership with PNB. Partnerships include Seattle Center Academy, REACH Student Dance Group, and the DISCOVER DANCE Performance Partnership (the largest of these programs). The Performance Partnership consists of five longtime PNB partner schools for long-term in-school residencies of up to five months. These students explore movement and create choreography that is shared on stage at the DISCOVER DANCE Community Performance. Teacher Workshops are also offered through DANCE CONNECTS, familiarizing teachers with tools to bring movement into their classrooms. New partnerships within the greater Seattle community are always being explored and created. PNB's AUDIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS include Conversations with PNB, a Sunday afternoon series of informal discussions with PNB artists and guests. Conversations with PNB are held at Elliott Bay Book Company throughout the season and are free to the public. Ballet Previews are also free to the public and held at Seattle Public Library's downtown branch. This lunchtime series is led by Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington and includes video excerpts of upcoming repertory. PNB's popular $5 Fridays events are hour-long dance previews held at PNB studios. Led by Artistic Director Peter Boal, the format is an open rehearsal, featuring PNB dancers performing excerpts from upcoming ballets and a Q&A session. The PNB Lecture Series features interviews with PNB artists and guests for the hour preceding dress rehearsal. Attendants can come for the lecture only or stay for the dress rehearsal. Each year, additional Lecture Demonstrations and special events are offered in conjunction with PNB repertory. Audience members are also invited attend a lecture or Q&A at McCaw Hall on the day of show. Pre-performance lectures are led by Doug Fullington prior to most performances. Post-performance Q&A sessions offer a chance to gain insight from Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB dancers. Back to Main Education & Community Programs page