PNB by the Decades: The 2000’s Launch a New Era at PNB

The 2000s began a new era of Pacific Northwest Ballet history with the retirement of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell and the hiring of Peter Boal as artistic director. In many ways, the PNB that audiences know and love today took shape during the 2000s. Read on to learn about this influential decade!

2023-08-16T16:29:58-07:00May 11th, 2023|Categories: Choreographers, Life at PNB|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on PNB by the Decades: The 2000’s Launch a New Era at PNB

Artistic Director’s Notebook: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

There’s something about George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With fairies, fireflies, Bottom, and Puck, playwright William Shakespeare and choreographer George Balanchine offer us a winning combination of joy, laughter, and ebullience.

2023-09-26T12:43:25-07:00April 13th, 2023|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Carmina Burana, Allegro Brillante, and Wartime Elegy

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Carmina Burana, Allegro Brillante, and Wartime Elegy

Guess who’s turning fifty? Not me, that happened already. It’s PNB. In 1972, a small but committed group of extraordinary individuals envisioned a great classical ballet company based here […]

Artistic Director’s Notebook – Season Encore 2022

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Season Encore 2022

Doctor, nurse, social worker, scientist, esthetician, aerialist–just a few of the professions our dancers have embraced after retiring from the company. Emotions at PNB’s Season Encore run high as we recognize departing dancers for their myriad contributions to the company, while mourning the fact they will […]

2023-09-26T13:05:35-07:00June 7th, 2022|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook – Season Encore 2022

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Brief Fling, Sweet Fields, Waiting at the Station

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Brief Fling, Sweet Fields, Waiting at the Station

Jahna Frantziskonis strutted casually across the studio floor on pointe while tapping her left palm with her right index finger.

 

“Twyla, is she texting?” I asked “…on pointe?” Twyla nodded. “I think you’re the first person to choreograph […]

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Swan Lake

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Swan Lake

Swan Lake defines a classical ballet company. It offers the epitome of cohesion for a corps de ballet, the apex of artistry for principal dancers, a challenge and a triumph for an orchestra, and an opportunity to lay claim to greatness. It certainly helped to […]

2023-09-26T13:10:02-07:00April 11th, 2022|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: Swan Lake

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Before I Was, Caught, Plot Point, The Times Are Racing

Artistic Director’s Notes: Before I Was, Caught, Plot Point, The Times Are Racing

The words “ballet” and “gender-fluid” don’t often appear in the same sentence. In ballet’s early years at the court of Louis XIV, men danced in roles depicting women, but by the 20th century, gender entrenchment had set in. Princes […]

2023-09-26T13:11:35-07:00March 14th, 2022|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: Before I Was, Caught, Plot Point, The Times Are Racing

Artistic Director’s Notebook – George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker 2021

Artistic Director’s Notebook: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ 2021

“This cannon fires cheese,” Mr. Gio explained in a recent battle scene rehearsal for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, prompting all the nine and ten-year-old Soldiers to giggle uncontrollably.

 

“What kind of cheese?” asked Soldier Number Seven, […]

2023-09-26T13:13:37-07:00November 23rd, 2021|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances, The Nutcracker|Tags: , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook – George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker 2021
Go to Top