What is one role that holds special significance for you? The role Friar Laurence in Romeo et Juliet is a role that I have cherished exploring. It is a character that demands a full emotional buy-in on top of the ballet technique.
Do you have talents of passions outside of dance? Chess is really fun. Our rehearsal director, Otto, is ridiculously good at chess, and he beats me all the time!
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Worry less, enjoy more. You wouldn’t believe how fast a 20-year career can fly by.
What is the most rewarding part of being a dancer? Getting to share my soul through my physicality is liberating, scary, and supremely fulfilling. I love working with a team to create magic moments for the audience.
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.
What is the best advice that you've ever received? David Dawson told me to “Be brave!” minutes before the curtain came up on Empire Noir. I tell myself this often before performing, AND it’s also pretty applicable in my non-dancing life as well. The simplicity of an affirmation, am I right?
How has your approach to the career changed over time? My career at PNB and the pandemic has taught me to take myself less seriously and whole-heartedly embrace my successes and struggles equally.
The most rewarding part of being a dancer for me is to see the joy from the audience after shows. I want people to see that it’s a beautiful place to get away and to be part of an adventure.
PNB Principal dancer Cecilia Iliesiu is the Director of the organization Global Ballet Teachers, and recently travelled to Accra, Ghana. While there, Cecilia lead a Four-Day Teacher Workshop to inspire more connection between dance teachers around the world.
Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Lesley Rausch has announced that she will be retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season. Lesley joined PNB as a member of the corps de ballet in 2001. She was promoted to soloist in 2007 and principal in 2011. Lesley’s incredible 22-year career will be celebrated at the Season Encore Performance, Sunday, June 11, 2023 at McCaw Hall.