Anyone ever heard of Lincoln Kirstein? It’s okay if you haven’t; even George Balanchine didn’t know who he was when Kirstein walked up to him in Paris in 1933. In the post-Diaghilev era in Europe, Balanchine was trying to find footing as a choreographer. He had just presented his new venture, titled Les […]
As dancers, we are drawn to routine and habit. From the pliés and tendus we execute every day in ballet class to the foods we eat before performances, it’s all part of a perfectly choreographed dance—one we are deeply familiar with. Our formula for success is repetition and, while boring to some, it […]
When I first saw Waiting at the Station it sure reminded me (quite literally) of something resonant with my own family. The story that follows is what came immediately to mind when PNB announced this project.
Sarah Pasch is from Dublin, California. She studied at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy, Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, and on scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She attended summer courses at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, Lines Ballet, the Kirov Academy, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Ms. Pasch joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as […]
SEATTLE, WA — Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and principal dancer Maria Chapman have announced that Ms. Chapman has decided to retire. Ms. Chapman joined PNB as an apprentice in 1995 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 1996, soloist in 2005, and principal in 2009.
“In […]
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 […]
Twyla Tharp is no ordinary person. One look at her bio and you get that. It’s not just the mountains of awards, medals, prizes, fellowships, and honorary degrees, or the three books, six films, twelve television specials, four Broadway shows, two figure skating routines, dozens of A-list collaborators, or the 129 dances she’s […]
The epicenter of Twyla Tharp’s newest creation, Waiting at the Station, is a large locomotive designed by Santo Loquasto and brought to life in PNB’s scene shop.
In a recent Seattle Times interview, Santo points out that the simple set has multiple entry points: Tharp, he […]
Soloist Kiyon Ross is well-known to PNB audiences as an outstanding performer and accomplished choreographer. Recently, he’s taken on a new role assisting choreographer Twyla Tharp in creating her latest work, Waiting at the Station. I sat down with him last week to discuss how he fits in to her the process of […]
We can’t help ourselves, there’s just nothing better than a little Frank Sinatra to finish out a rainy Friday in Seattle…
We’re looking forward to seeing Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, her classic homage to Ol’ Blue Eyes and ballroom dance, onstage again soon. While we’re all waiting for the season […]