Nutcracker by the Numbers: 12 Festive Facts about PNB’s Nutcracker Costumes
We’ve all heard about 5 golden rings and 10 lords a-leaping more than we’ve ever asked for or wanted. Today on the PNB blog, we’ve got 12 festive Nutcracker numbers that are much more interesting. Dive into the details of PNB’s costumes for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® with these 12 fascinating facts! PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is an […]
Nutcracker Character Guide
From the Mouse King to Marzipan, PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is full of characters that cheer and delight! If you’re attending the show, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with these enchanting Nutcracker characters before you see them on stage. That way you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance without wondering who’s who. Read on […]
Artistic Director’s Notebook: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
Dear Friends, Ask anyone what their introduction to ballet was – most will tell you it was a performance of The Nutcracker. They probably attended as small children. I was five. PNB expects to welcome about 85,000 people of all ages to our performances this year alone. Many will attend for the first time, starting a new […]
Executive Director’s Notes: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
Dear Friends, Welcome to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®! On behalf of everyone at PNB, thank you for choosing to celebrate the season with us. Over the years we’ve heard from many in our audience about what this production means to you. It may mark the official start of your holidays, be the destination for a much anticipated […]
Q&A With Choreographer Dani Rowe
Choreographer Dani Rowe discusses her creative process and new work for Pacific Northwest Ballet in this behind-the-scenes Q&A interview.
Q&A with Shannon Rugani, Composer of The Window
Shannon Rugani is the composer for The Window (choreographed by Dani Rowe) which will premiere on PNB’s stage on November 3rd, 2023 as part of our upcoming repertoire LOVE & LOSS. Born and raised in California, Shannon Rugani trained with San Francisco Ballet School on a full merit scholarship, joining San Francisco Ballet in 2004 as one of […]
LOVE & LOSS Choreographer Fun Facts
The second repertory of PNB’s 2023/24 season is a true mixed triple bill. We’re more than excited to showcase works by three choreographers with distinct styles. Read on for a few fun facts to get to know returning choreographers Donald Byrd and Alexei Ratmansky, and new-to-PNB-audiences Dani Rowe. 1. Donald Byrd has frequently been referred to as […]
Artistic Director’s Notebook: The Window, Wartime Elegy, Love and Loss
Dear Friends, When we think of storytelling, we think of words – spoken, signed, sung, or written. Recall a favorite novel or poem. Words illuminate plots and plays bringing them to vivid existence. How does dance tell a tale without words? Classical ballets have relied on two methods of communication – mime and program notes. I […]
Executive Director’s Notes: The Window, Wartime Elegy, Love and Loss
Dear Friends, Welcome to PNB’s November program and the place in our season we often mark by presenting new and contemporary work – a very PNB counterpoint to The Nutcracker immersion already taking place in our studios. This program is also an excellent expression of the interconnectedness of the dance world. Each of these three dancemakers has a […]
Meet the “Cac-tet” of Alexander Ekman’s Cacti
Written by Emma Love Suddarth Emma danced with PNB from 2008-2021. Her writing appears in Pointe and Dance Magazine, as well as for PNB. A handful of small, poky, green cacti. 16 boxes, lying flat or intricately stacked. Light rails dropping to precariously low heights above the dancers. The overpowering sounds of dancers smacking boxes, slapping their chests, […]