PNB took tremendous leaps toward establishing itself as an acclaimed ballet company in the 1980s. PNB’s original productions of Swan Lake and the Nutcracker, which both premiered in the ‘80s, were pivotal steps in this dance toward success. As PNB celebrates our 50th Anniversary, step back in time with us to our twentieth year and the very beginnings of some of our favorite productions!
Louise Nadeau is from Long Island, New York. She trained at the Alexandra School of Ballet in St. Louis and the School of American Ballet. Ms. Nadeau danced with Basel Ballet and Kansas City Ballet before joining Pacific Northwest Ballet as a Soloist in 1990. She was promoted to Principal in 1992 and retired […]
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 elevate the reputation and expectations of a fledgling Pacific […]
This October, the scenic design world, Harvard students, and ballet, theater, and opera audiences everywhere lost an exceptional artist; Ming Cho Lee. While Mr. Lee’s work was renowned around the world, Seattle audiences had the opportunity to delight in his masterpieces through his longtime collaboration with Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell. We asked […]
Dances at a Gathering
Opening Solo
Music: Frederic Chopin (Mazurka, Op. 63, no. 3. 1846)
Choreography: Jerome Robbins
Staging: Philip Neal & Jenifer Ringer
Costume Design: Joe Eula
Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton, recreated by Randall G. Chiarelli
by Artistic Director Peter Boal
Ask anyone to name two ballets they have seen. I’m willing to bet Nutcracker would come first, Swan Lake second. We agree. Swan Lake is the second-most-attended ballet in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s history.
If Nutcracker is the gateway to the world […]
Special Tribute to be part of Season Encore Performance, June 7, 2015
SEATTLE, WA — Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and principal dancer Carla Körbes have announced that Ms. Körbes will retire from the Company at the end of PNB’s 2014-2015 season. Ms. Körbes joined PNB as a soloist in 2005 and […]
This spring, Pacific Northwest Ballet celebrates the conclusion of principal dancer Kaori Nakamura’s brilliant, 17-year career with the Company. Ms. Nakamura will retire from performing in June of 2014 and join PNB School’s distinguished faculty. With over 40 lead roles to her name and guest appearances worldwide, her accomplishments and contributions to the art […]
Principal dancer Carrie Imler’s fouettes in Act 3 of Swan Lake are legendary. But what does she do to unwind? She reads. We recently asked Carrie to share a list of some of her favorite books with us and this is what she said…
Stories are the bridge between the public and the art form. We can’t get them to watch The Four Temperaments until we get them on that bridge. And I can do those stories in ways that haven’t been done before.
Kent Stowell in Mindy Aloff’s essay, Balanchine and Beyond, Melbourne International Festival of […]