PNB announces the passing of former Principal Dancer Deborah Hadley (1951 – 2023)
With great sadness and on behalf of her family, Pacific Northwest Ballet announces the sudden passing of Deborah Hadley, PNB’s original prima ballerina. Hadley joined PNB in 1979 and reigned as a Principal Dancer for 13 years. In reporting on her retirement, Carole Beers of The Seattle Times described Hadley as “the ballerina who shaped PNB’s look.” And […]
Q&A with Corps Member Melisa Guilliams
Last season, I had the incredible opportunity to perform David Parsons’s Caught. It was my first featured role, so it was exciting to navigate such a daunting task. It gave me the confidence to take on roles in the future! When I was 14, I took a short break from dancing and ran track and field. […]
Q&A with Corps Member Luther DeMyer
It is hard to pick only one, but one of my favorites was performing Ulysses Dove’s Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven. He choreographed the ballet after many important people in his life died in quick succession, including his father. Many of his friends at the time were lost due to the AIDS epidemic, and […]
Q&A with Corps Member Abby Jayne DeAngelo
I have studied music since I was a young girl and I play the piano and the harp. Music is a huge part of who I am and partially why I love dancing so much. George Balanchine famously said “see the music, hear the dance,” and I resonate with this very much, as dance and […]
Q&A with Corps Member Ryan Cardea
What are you most looking forward to for the 50th Anniversary Season? This season is going to be something special. In my 14 years here, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen more world premieres and PNB premieres on the calendar. The thrill, both for us to perform and for audiences to experience something brand new, […]
Q&A with Soloist Dammiel Cruz-Garrido
It means the world to be part of such a great company on this special milestone. I’ve been following the company since was back at SAB so it’s really fulfilling. I’m looking forward to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Balanchine. 50 feels extra special because it’s a half century of excellence in dance here in Seattle!
PNB by the Decades: Dancing around the Globe and in Seattle in the ’90s
As PNB celebrates our 50th anniversary season, we are looking back to our past. We’ve discussed the company’s beginning during our “Far-Out” first years and the creation of Kent Stowell’s productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker during the ‘80s. Now, we’re turning our sights to the ‘90s, which were “all that and a bag of chips” when it comes to PNB. Now […]
Q&A with Corps Member Malena Ani
Every emotional challenge you face on your path in dance is a chance to find healing and be one step closer to unconditional love. Channeling this love into your performances is a beautiful gift to experience and share with our audiences. No matter where you are, you are exactly where you need to be. I […]
Q&A with Soloist Price Suddarth
There are so many roles that hold a special place in my heart, but one of the top must be Oberon from Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I was first cast in the role as an apprentice in 2010 and have had the chance to return to it multiple times throughout my career. Every time it comes […]
Q&A with Soloist Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan
Do you have pre-performance rituals? I love matching the leotard I wear in class to the costume I’ll be wearing in performance. How has your approach to the career changed over time? After experiencing my first injury last season, I understand the importance of working smart, not hard. I feel I am so much more mindful […]