Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer Elizabeth Murphy Announces Retirement
Principal dancer Elizabeth Murphy has announced her retirement. PNB will celebrate her beautiful career at the Season Encore Performance on June 7, 2026.
Q&A with PNB Principal Dancer Elizabeth Murphy
PNB's production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® opens this Friday, November 28, 2025! To celebrate the opening of the Northwest's favorite holiday tradition, we sat down with Sugar Plum fairy extraordinaire and PNB Principal dancer Elizabeth Murphy. Click here to learn Murphy's post-show ritual, her favorite cafe, and more!
PNB Dancers You Should Follow on Instagram
Looking to beautify your feed with more ballet? We have the solution! Here’s a comprehensive list of all the PNB dancers with public Instagram accounts. Plus, be sure to follow the PNB Instagram and PNB School to stay up to date with the company.
Pointe Shoe: Ballet’s Beloved Illusion
Ballet has become synonymous with the pointe shoe—every time a little one dreams of spinning around on a massive stage under glowing lights dressed in a sparkling tutu, their feet are clad in such shoes. PNB's Artistic Director, Peter Boal, says “to be honest, I don’t know where PNB would be without the pointe shoe…. [E]verything balances on the pointe shoe.” Read on to learn more about this fundamental tool of ballet dancers and what PNB dancers have to say about their relationship with pointe shoes!
Nutcracker Grow Ups!
Performing in The Nutcracker is a rite of passage for many young dancers and something they look forward to each December. From Polichinelles to Party Children, see how Pacific Northwest Ballet Company dancers began their lifelong journey of dancing in The Nutcracker!
Q&A with Principal Dancer Elizabeth Murphy
What is one role that holds special significance for you? Little mortal jump was the ballet that made me fall in love with contemporary works. I feel fortunate to have been pushed outside my comfort zone and discover a whole new world of dance that has continued to bless and enriched my career.
)! Choreographed by Kyle Davis for Angelica Generosa, Leta Biasucci, Laura Tisserand, Noelani Pantastico and Lesley Rausch, with costumes by Elizabeth Murphy, Dancer Pods & “Building Choreography”
After about five months away, PNB has begun slowly welcoming dancers back into our studios at the Phelps Center. Safety is paramount. PNB is following local health and safety mandates, consulting public health advisors and partnering with AGMA (dancers’ union) on strict return-to-work protocols including screening measures, timed entry into the building, dancers […]
Shop Small with the PNB Family
Doing more online shopping lately? Many members of our PNB family have small businesses and projects outside of PNB ranging from dance wear to skin care to ice cream. We put them all in one place for you!
What Seattle small businesses are your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
Artistic Director’s Notebook: One Thousand Pieces and Empire Noir
Artistic Director’s Notebook: One Thousand Pieces and Empire Noir
Recently, we made an exciting announcement: Alejandro Cerrudo will be PNB’s first Resident Choreographer. I’m a big fan of Alejandro’s work and hope you are, too. If you’re not, you may soon become one. One Thousand Pieces is the fourth […]