The Man behind the Music of “Midsummer”: Felix Mendelssohn

In just a few short weeks, the bright, staccato strings and the playful, blustering brass of Felix Mendelssohn’s Op. 21, the overture of George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will fill McCaw Hall. Mendelssohn was just 17 when he wrote this famous overture. He went on to live a bustling life full of creating and performing music. Eduard Devrient described Mendelssohn as “always bubbling over like champagne in a small glass.” Read on to learn more about this man, who was just as vivacious as his compositions.

2023-04-05T12:11:25-07:00April 6th, 2023|Categories: Performances|Tags: , , |Comments Off on The Man behind the Music of “Midsummer”: Felix Mendelssohn

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Black on Black on Black, Wonderland, Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Black on Black on Black, Wonderland, Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee

Ever wonder about the timeline for creating a new ballet? Famously Jerome Robbins took two years to choreograph Dances at a Gathering. George Balanchine believed in one minute of choreography for every hour in the studio, cranking brilliant works […]

2023-09-26T12:44:59-07:00March 20th, 2023|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: Black on Black on Black, Wonderland, Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee

Soloist Ezra Thomson on Why New Works Matter

PNB soloist Ezra Thomson is no stranger to New Works. His resume includes originating roles in works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Edwaard Liang, Robin Mineko Williams, Donald Byrd, several current PNB dancers and more. For BOUNDLESS, he’s taking on the role of stager for Jessica Lang’s Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee. So we got his perspective on New Works, PNB, and the upcoming Rep IV.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer Lesley Rausch Announces Retirement

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Lesley Rausch has announced that she will be retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season. Lesley joined PNB as a member of the corps de ballet in 2001. She was promoted to soloist in 2007 and principal in 2011. Lesley’s incredible 22-year career will be celebrated at the Season Encore Performance, Sunday, June 11, 2023 at McCaw Hall.

Building a World Premiere with Jessica Lang

PNB is performing a world premiere at BOUNDLESS choreographed by audience favorite Jessica Lang: Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee. We asked her about choreography, costumes, music, and all the elements that make a PNB world premiere possible.

2023-03-09T12:55:32-08:00February 27th, 2023|Categories: Choreographers, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Building a World Premiere with Jessica Lang

PNB Announces New Soloists at The Seasons’ Canon

Soloist Promotions: Madison Rayn Abeo, Dammiel Cruz-Garrido, Christopher D’Ariano, Amanda Morgan, Christian Poppe, and Leah Terada.

2023-09-14T12:34:57-07:00November 4th, 2022|Categories: Dancer Announcements, Dancers, Life at PNB|Tags: , , , , , , , |Comments Off on PNB Announces New Soloists at The Seasons’ Canon

Crystal Pite’s The Seasons’ Canon by the Numbers

Crystal’s remarkable ability to evocatively move large groups of dancers through space is on full display in The Seasons’ Canon. Set by stager Eric Beauchesne, the cast of 54 move as one entity through ensemble dances, solos, and duets that all feel trailblazing.

2022-11-02T12:45:50-07:00October 27th, 2022|Categories: Performances|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Crystal Pite’s The Seasons’ Canon by the Numbers

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Duo Concertant, Catching Feelings, The Seasons’ Canon

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Duo Concertant, Catching Feelings, The Seasons’ Canon

The three works presented in this program span the same lifetime as our Company. George Balanchine’s Duo Concertant, one of 34 offerings in a landmark […]

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Duo Concertant, Catching Feelings, The Seasons’ Canon

The three works presented in this program span the same lifetime as our Company. George Balanchine’s Duo Concertant, one of 34 offerings in a landmark […]

2023-09-26T12:59:22-07:00October 25th, 2022|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: Duo Concertant, Catching Feelings, The Seasons’ Canon

Returning to the Studios to Celebrate PNB’s 50th

Returning to the Studios to Celebrate PNB’s 50th

By Leta Biasucci

A Golden Anniversary Season 

PNB is turning 50, and there is much to celebrate! To mark this milestone, Peter Boal has curated a season that pays homage to PNB’s rich past, honors its exciting present, and looks ahead […]

2022-10-24T15:09:24-07:00October 24th, 2022|Categories: Life at PNB, Performances|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Returning to the Studios to Celebrate PNB’s 50th

Meet the 2022/23 Season Apprentices

Welcome PNB’s 2022/23 Season Apprentices!

This season, PNB is excited to promote five PNB School Professional Division students into the Company as Apprentices. Get to know these dancers in their brief interviews below. Learn what they’re looking forward to in PNB’s 50th Anniversary Season, the best advice they’ve received, and more, and help us welcome Luca […]

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