From Screen to Stage – The Veil Between Worlds Creation Process 

The Veil Between Worlds has a curious program note: “premiere June 10, 2021; Pacific Northwest Ballet (digital release).” This ballet was originally created, filmed, and shown during PNB’s 2020/21 Digital Season. Much like the inspiration for the work, The Veil Between Worlds has lived many lives; the piece has been performed on the screen and on the stage! Read on as we dive deep into The Veil Between Worlds unique creation process.   Choreographer […]

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Coppélia

Dear Friends,  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 […]

Coppélia Story and Character Guide

Our story begins in a sunny square in the heart of Galicia. Colorful homes are decorated with whimsical painted tiles and wisteria. Swanilda lives on the edge of the town square and loves to meet her many friends there. Just around the corner is the home of Dr. Coppelius, who makes enchanting and very life-like […]

The Man Behind the Music: Léo Delibes

Composer Léo Delibes, perhaps best remembered for the ballet Coppélia, greatly impacted ballet music. Even iconic ballet composer Tchaikovsky admired his work. Read on to learn more about his life, his impact, and his ballet Coppélia!  Léo Delibes was born on February 21, 1836, in northern France. Delibes was born into a musical family; his grandfather was a professional […]

Artistic Director’s Notebook: Sweet Fields, The Calling, The Seasons’ Canon

What goes into programming a season? There are more factors to list than my word count allows. Putting together programs for PNB over the past two decades has been a favorite part of the job. I’m also grateful to have input from others and most recently from Associate Artistic Director Kiyon Ross. I start with works […]

5 Women in Choreography

Celebrate Women’s History Month with five female choreographers who have created works at PNB, including Amanda Morgan, Jessica Lang, and Crystal Pite.