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.

Rachel Foster to retire at the end of 2018-19 season

Pacific Northwest Ballet artistic director Peter Boal has announced that principal dancer Rachel Foster will retire at the end of the 2018-19 season. Ms. Foster joined PNB as a member of the corps de ballet in 2002. She was promoted to soloist in 2008 and principal in 2011.

Meet the Artist: Ron Gatsby

Ron Gatsby is a dancer, teaching artist, and choreographer based in Seattle. He is the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the Purple Lemonade, an artist collective which he founded in 2016. Ron’s work reflects a desire to create movement that makes queer art in general – and black art in particular – visible and […]

2019-04-02T14:28:51-07:00April 2nd, 2019|Categories: Events, Next Step 2019, Next Step Choreographers, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Meet the Artist: Ron Gatsby

Meet the Artist: Dammiel Cruz

Dammiel is also a teaching artist for REACH […]

Meet the Artist: Eva Stone

Eva Stone is a teaching artist, choreographer, and founder/producer of CHOP SHOP: Bodies of Work, an annual contemporary dance festival. She received her BFA in Performance & Choreography from Arizona State University, and later earned an MA in Choreography […]

Eva Stone is a teaching artist, choreographer, and founder/producer of CHOP SHOP: Bodies of Work, an annual contemporary dance festival. She received her BFA in Performance & Choreography from Arizona State University, and later earned an MA in Choreography […]

2019-03-27T11:16:24-07:00March 27th, 2019|Categories: Life at PNB, Next Step 2019, Next Step Choreographers, PNB School, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Meet the Artist: Eva Stone

Meet the Artist: Steven Loch

Steven Loch is from Denton, Texas. He joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2011. He was promoted to corps de ballet in 2012 and soloist in 2018. He will present his latest work for NEXT STEP at 2019’s NEXT STEP: OUTSIDE/IN; tickets go on sale April 1.

Meet the Artist: Nancy Casciano

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Nancy Casciano joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2014 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2015. She will present her second work for Next Step at 2019’s NEXT STEP: OUTSIDE/IN; tickets […]

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Nancy Casciano joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2014 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2015. She will present her second work for Next Step at 2019’s NEXT STEP: OUTSIDE/IN; tickets […]

2019-03-27T10:06:31-07:00March 27th, 2019|Categories: Life at PNB, Next Step 2019, Next Step Choreographers, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on Meet the Artist: Nancy Casciano

PNB Conversations: NEXT STEP Program Manager Kiyon Ross

Kiyon Ross wears many hats at PNB: PNB School faculty member, DanceChance mentor, and NEXT STEP program manager, a position he has held since 2012. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Kiyon trained at Baltimore School of the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre […]

Kiyon Ross wears many hats at PNB: PNB School faculty member, DanceChance mentor, and NEXT STEP program manager, a position he has held since 2012. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Kiyon trained at Baltimore School of the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre […]

2019-03-05T12:00:50-08:00March 5th, 2019|Categories: Next Step 2019, Next Step Choreographers, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on PNB Conversations: NEXT STEP Program Manager Kiyon Ross

So You Want to be a NEXT STEP Choreographer


PNB’s NEXT STEP initiative is designed to foster choreographic talent among PNB company dancers. A nine-month process which includes educational seminars, professional development tools, rehearsal time and space, and access to PNB’s production resources, NEXT STEP gives aspiring and rising choreographers […]

2025-04-15T10:26:49-07:00March 5th, 2019|Categories: Next Step 2019, Next Step Choreographers, PNB School, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , , , , , |Comments Off on So You Want to be a NEXT STEP Choreographer

Our Favorite Balanchine Quotes for His 115th Birthday

Our Favorite Balanchine Quotes for His 115th Birthday

Everyone knows George Balanchine the choreographer, and George Balanchine the founder of New York City Ballet. How about Balanchine the wordsmith?

An iconic figure in 20th century dance, the Russian-born son of a composer shaped our current vision of […]

2022-11-02T11:59:40-07:00January 17th, 2019|Categories: Choreographers, Life at PNB|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Our Favorite Balanchine Quotes for His 115th Birthday

Jonathan Porretta to retire at the end of 2018-19 season

Pacific Northwest Ballet artistic director Peter Boal and principal dancer Jonathan Porretta have announced that after a 20-year career with the Company, Mr. Porretta – one of PNB’s most beloved dancers since 1999 – will retire at the end of the 2018-19 season. Mr. Porretta’s acclaimed career will be celebrated at PNB’s Season Encore Performance on Sunday, June […]

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