Student matinees are the perfect introduction to the magic of live dance performance—all in the elegance of McCaw Hall. Student matinees are open to classrooms serving students pre-K-12. In-school pre- or post- performance workshops are also available.
These experiences are designed to align with WA State Arts Learning Standards in Dance and National Core Arts Standards. Many student matinees connect to English Language Arts curriculum through storytelling, flexible communication strategies, identifying key ideas and details to make meaning, and integrating student knowledge and experience. Contact 206-441-2424 or tickets@pnb.org.
Upcoming Performances
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
Introduce your students to one of the world’s most famous ballets with a student matinee of the full two-hour performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. The Nutcracker features epic performances by the PNB Company, the enchanting musical score by Tchaikovsky played live by the PNB Orchestra, the whimsical and charming sets and costumes designed by celebrated children’s author/artist Ian Falconer (Olivia the Pig), and roles danced by dedicated students from the PNB School.
Recommended Ages
Pre-K through grade 12.
When
Friday, December 4, 2026 at 11:00am
Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 11:00am
Where
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
Tickets
$20 students/$30 chaperones (minimum group size of 15 students required)*
To purchase tickets, contact 206-441-2424 or tickets@pnb.org.
Swan Lake
Considered by many to be the greatest classical ballet of all time, Swan Lake is nothing short of mesmerizing. Bring your students to this one-hour, narrated student matinee to experience a fantastical story filled with sorcery, romance, and betrayal. The performance features excerpts from Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake performed by PNB Company dancers, Tchaikovsky’s musical score, a behind-the-scenes demonstration of lighting and scenic elements, and additional educational components designed to spark curiosity about the elements of live performance- including choreography, music, costumes, scenery, lighting, the stage crew, and more!
Recommended Ages
Pre-K through grade 12.
This performance includes live-captioning.
When
Friday, February 12, 2027 at 11:00am
Where
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
Tickets
$18 each ($12 and $6 tickets available for public schools based on school low-income percentage; minimum group size of 15 students required)*
To purchase tickets, contact 206-441-2424 or tickets@pnb.org.
Snow White
Celebrate the power of friendship and love with this hour-long, narrated version of Snow White. Journey with these classic characters as they prove that real beauty comes from within, and that belonging can be found in surprising places. With choreography by Bruce Wells, and performed by PNB School students, Snow White is a perfect introduction to ballet for young audiences.
Recommended Ages
Pre-K through grade 6.
This performance includes live-captioning.
When
Thursday, April 1, 2027 at 11:00am
Where
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
Tickets
$18 each ($12 and $6 tickets available for public schools based on school low-income percentage; minimum group size of 15 students required)*
To purchase tickets, contact 206-441-2424 or tickets@pnb.org.
*PNB student matinees are reserved for groups of 15 or more school students, not including chaperones, in grades Pre-K through 12. Student matinees are subsidized with the goal of introducing as many children as possible to our productions; we work to ensure tickets are being maximized by students. Your school group should consist of many more students than chaperones. In some circumstances we allow a ratio of 1:1, typically for preschool groups.
Pre-Performance Workshops
In-school pre- or post- student matinee workshops — Grades PK–12
Add an in-school pre- or post- performance workshop to enhance your students’ theater experience of live dance. Each workshop is tailored to the student matinee your class is attending and features:
- A PNB teaching artist coming to your school to lead activities
- Information specific to the ballet
- Experiential creative movement activities to investigate elements of dance and choreography
- Viewing or reflection questions to help students make meaning of their matinee experience
- An up-close look at ballet costumes and shoes
Workshop Prices
$165 per classroom. Discounts are available for booking multiple workshops at a school. Schools with a published free/reduced lunch status of more than 50% may also qualify for sliding-scale workshop fees.
Scheduling a Workshop
Workshops may be scheduled for any school day in the three weeks before or after your student matinee performance, depending on availability. We are not available to schedule workshops the same day as student matinee performances. Each workshop has a maximum of 30 students.
Contact education@pnb.org or 206.441.2432 to schedule.
Know Before you Go
What to Do When Arriving at McCaw Hall for a Student Matinee
McCaw Hall is located at 301 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109.
- Please arrive at the theater with plenty of time to allow for traffic, parking, and seating.
- Seats are assigned and late seating is not guaranteed.
- There is a drop-off/loading zone in front of McCaw Hall along Mercer Street for buses.
- This performance includes live captioning.
- Cameras and video recorders are not allowed inside the theater.
- Photographing and/or recording any aspect of the performance is strictly prohibited. Please share this information with your students and chaperones.
- If your students are bringing sack lunches, please check in with an usher upon arrival at McCaw Hall to find a suitable location to eat or store lunches during the performance. There are locations around the Seattle Center to eat lunches, as well, including indoors at the Seattle Center Armory and outdoors at the Seattle Center Fountain.
If you have any further questions, please contact 206.441.2413 or tickets@pnb.org.
Study Guides
Study guides are created by Pacific Northwest Ballet Community Education staff for use by teachers and students attending the student matinee performances. Reproduction of the guides in their entirety is allowed and encouraged for educational use. For questions, please contact PNB Community Education at education@pnb.org or 206.441.2432
Momotaro
Giselle
Swan Lake
Le Corsaire:
A Pirate’s Tale
Pinocchio
Snow White
Don Quixote
Cinderella
The Sleeping Beauty
Lesson Plans
Pacific Northwest Ballet lesson plans correspond with Washington State standards in dance, as well as other curricular areas. All lesson plans are written by PNB Teaching Artists and Staff and are intended for use by classroom teachers. Reproduction of the lessons is encouraged, provided they are reprinted in their entirety and proper credits remain intact. For questions about how to implement these lessons, or other movement activities, in your classroom, please contact PNB Community Education Programs at 206.441.2432 or education@pnb.org.