Getting to Know: Crystal Pite
Crystal Pite is a former company member of Ballet British Columbia and William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt. She made her professional choreographic debut in 1990 with Ballet British Columbia, and has since created more than 40 works for companies including Nederlands Dans Theater (where she has been an Associate Artist since 2008), Paris Opera Ballet, the […]
What It Takes to Be Crystal Pite
Let’s just soak in the genius of Crystal Pite for a moment. You’ve probably heard us gushing about this groundbreaking choreographer ever since we first staged Emergence in 2013 (and again now that we’re putting on the American premiere of her piece Plot Point). It’s for good reason: she’s one of the most in-demand choreographers in dance today, […]
Her Door to the Sky: Q&A with Choreographer Jessica Lang
We had a chance to talk with Jessica Lang about Her Door to the Sky, which premiered at Jacob’s Pillow in the summer of 2016 and debuted in Seattle early this year. [This Q&A has been slightly edited for brevity and clarity.] Tell us about your research for this piece. Because of my extensive research on […]
The Making of PNB’s New Jewels
George Balanchine’s Jewels celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and we’re throwing the biggest birthday party possible! All new costumes and sets are coming to PNB’s production of Jewels. But these things don’t happen overnight. Read on for breathtaking photos AND facts about the process of stitching it all together! A total of 79 costumes were built. We […]
Q and A with Summer Course Students
With summer course auditions just around the corner, we asked three students from 2017’s summer course to give advice on how to prepare yourself for the intensive training and how to get the most out of your summer course experience. Below are excerpts from a conversation with Charlotte Sanford (age 13) Maeva Laube (age 17), and […]
PNB Principal Dancers Carrie Imler and Batkhurel Bold Announce Retirements
Their two decades of dance will be honored at Season Encore Performance, June 11, 2017. Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal, with principal dancers Carrie Imler and Batkhurel Bold, has announced that Ms. Imler and Mr. Bold will retire at the end of the 2016/2017 season. Their acclaimed careers will be celebrated at PNB’s […]
A Brief Fling – Musical Mystery Solved!
By Emil de Cou, Music Director/Principal Conductor, PNB Orchestra On February 28, 1990 Twyla Tharp’s Scottish-themed ballet Brief Fling made its debut on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. I was in the orchestra pit that night, conducting a performance of La Bayadere – Kingdom of the Shades. A colleague led the orchestra in a lively performance […]
10 Things to Know About Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp, one of the most iconic dancemakers of our time, has collaborated with all of the greatest ballet companies in the world – including PNB.
Q and A with Dylan Wald
Dylan Wald is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He studied at Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute, where he became an apprentice in 2012, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He attended summer courses at Pacific Northwest Ballet, the School of American Ballet, The Juilliard School, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Mr. Wald joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as […]
Q and A with Nancy Casciano
Nancy Casciano is from Atlanta Georgia. She studied at the School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and she attended summer courses at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell. Ms. Casciano joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2014. On my weekends, I […]