This is where you get the ins and outs of life as a dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. From Q&As to Promotions to Retirements to Cooking.

Mark Zappone on Designing the Costumes for Bacchus

Costume designer Mark Zappone has created many costumes over the years for PNB, including for Matthew Neenan’s Bacchus. Peek behind the scenes with us today on the PNB Blog as Mark explains how he created these delightful costumes!

2024-03-15T09:44:16-07:00March 14th, 2024|Categories: Performances, PNB Wardrobe, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Mark Zappone on Designing the Costumes for Bacchus

About Costume Designer Mark Zappone: “Follow Your Curiosity”

Mark Zappone has designed over 30 costumes for PNB, and he’s worked on many more productions for choreographers like Twyla Tharp, Christopher Wheeldon, and Yuri Possokhov. But Mark didn’t start his career designing costumes for dance. Mark became the accomplished ballet costume designer he is today by following his curiosity and saying “yes” to new opportunities.

2024-03-14T15:41:56-07:00March 13th, 2024|Categories: Life at PNB, PNB Wardrobe, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , |Comments Off on About Costume Designer Mark Zappone: “Follow Your Curiosity”

PNB Black History Month Profile: Jonathan Batista

PNB invited employees who celebrate Black History Month to share their stories with us – we hope you enjoy this profile of Jonathan Batista, PNB Company dancer.

2024-02-23T09:35:09-08:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Black History Month Profiles, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility (I.D.E.A.), Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , |Comments Off on PNB Black History Month Profile: Jonathan Batista

PNB Black History Month Profile: Zsilas Michael Hughes

PNB invited employees who celebrate Black History Month to share their stories with us – we hope you enjoy this profile of Zsilas Michael Hughes, PNB Company dancer.

2024-02-23T09:36:14-08:00February 21st, 2024|Categories: Black History Month Profiles, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility (I.D.E.A.), Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , |Comments Off on PNB Black History Month Profile: Zsilas Michael Hughes

PNB Black History Month Profile: Betty Agent

PNB invited employees who celebrate Black History Month to share their stories with us – we hope you enjoy this profile of Betty Agent, PNB Orchestra's Assistant Principal Violist.

2024-02-23T09:37:07-08:00February 20th, 2024|Categories: Black History Month Profiles, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility (I.D.E.A.), Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , |Comments Off on PNB Black History Month Profile: Betty Agent

Meet PNB’s Newest Company Dancers!

PNB is excited to introduce you to our newest company dancers, Kali Kleiman, Emerson Boll, and Samuel Portillo. These three dancers joined PNB's Company just this season! Get to know each artist a little better in these brief interviews.

2024-02-16T09:40:16-08:00February 16th, 2024|Categories: Dancers, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Meet PNB’s Newest Company Dancers!

Black Ballet History Reading List

As a part of PNB’s celebration of Black History Month 2024, we’ve created a list of books that celebrate black excellence in dance. From classic picture books to exciting releases, there’s a book here for any ballet lover looking to learn more about the art form’s history. Read on to see which book you’ll be adding to your “tbr” pile!

2024-02-05T12:20:00-08:00February 5th, 2024|Categories: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility (I.D.E.A.), Life at PNB|Tags: |Comments Off on Black Ballet History Reading List

Dan Williams, PNB’s Principal Oboist, on Swan Lake

The first notes of Swan Lake's enduring score are played by the oboe. The instrument features prominently throughout the ballet; in fact, those first five notes are inverted to begin the Swan Lake theme. Today on the blog, we sit down with PNB's Principal Oboist Dan Williams to learn more about his perspective on Swan Lake, PNB's Orchestra, and playing the oboe!

2024-01-26T10:43:30-08:00January 25th, 2024|Categories: Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Dan Williams, PNB’s Principal Oboist, on Swan Lake

Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer James Yoichi Moore Announces Retirement

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer James Yoichi Moore has announced that after a 20-year career with the company, he is retiring at the end of PNB’s 2023-24 season. Moore joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2004 and was promoted to soloist in 2008 and principal in 2013. His two decades with the company will be celebrated at the Season Encore Performance, Sunday, June 9 at McCaw Hall.

2024-01-23T13:38:17-08:00January 23rd, 2024|Categories: Dancer Announcements, Dancers|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer James Yoichi Moore Announces Retirement

Pointe Shoe: Ballet’s Beloved Illusion

Ballet has become synonymous with the pointe shoe—every time a little one dreams of spinning around on a massive stage under glowing lights dressed in a sparkling tutu, their feet are clad in such shoes. PNB's Artistic Director, Peter Boal, says “to be honest, I don’t know where PNB would be without the pointe shoe…. [E]verything balances on the pointe shoe.” Read on to learn more about this fundamental tool of ballet dancers and what PNB dancers have to say about their relationship with pointe shoes!

2023-12-21T12:23:33-08:00December 21st, 2023|Categories: Life at PNB|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on Pointe Shoe: Ballet’s Beloved Illusion
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