Almost fifty years ago, I attended a New York City Ballet performance of George Balanchine’s Coppélia. Somewhere in the middle of the first act, I decided I wanted to dance. You know the rest of this story. Coppélia is all about the dancing, and the music, and the laughter, colors, costumes, and scenery. It may have the same effect on you as it did on me all those years ago.
Coppélia marks the final performances staged by PNB Rehearsal Director Otto Neubert, who will be retiring at the end of the season. Mr. Neubert joined Pacific Northwest Ballet in 1992 and has assisted PNB’s artistic directors in rehearsing teaching, and scheduling the Company, as well as rehearsing countless PNB School students in their roles for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® and other productions. He has also performed in PNB’s The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and Swan Lake. Learn more about Otto and his impactful career at PNB in this blog!
Yesterday (Tuesday) was our one-and-only full rehearsal day before our four-days of consecutive Dress Rehearsals & Performances coming up. Company dancers warmed-up and rehearsed in the beautiful City Center Studio 4. My schedule for yesterday was as follows: