A Sensory Prelude to a Larger Mexican Tale | Kyle Davis & Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan NEXT STEP 2025
By Leah Terada Ballet has always been more than movement; it is memory, mood, metaphor. But in Pas de Deux from an Unnamed Story, choreographers Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan and Kyle Davis invite audiences to go even further. They ask us to taste and smell, to feel, and to remember. Set in 1800s Veracruz, Mexico, this duet, premiering June 13th as part […]
PNB School Retirements: Denise Bolstad and Abbie Siegel
PNB School director Peter Boal recently announced the retirements of esteemed PNB School faculty members Denise Bolstad and Abbie Siegel. “Denise Bolstad, PNB School Managing Director, will retire at the conclusion of Summer Course, and Abbie Siegel, PNB School Principal, will retire from her position after School Performance. It is hard to imagine PNB School […]
A Day in the Life of a Professional Division Student: Operating Puppets in The Sleeping Beauty
PNB’s world-premiere production of The Sleeping Beauty is a reimagining of the classic tale. The performance is full of innovative and exciting elements, like Preston Singletary’s Indigenous Northwest Coast-influenced set designs, Paul Tazewell’s stunning costumes, and puppets designed by Basil Twist! The Sleeping Beauty is PNB’s largest production ever, and PNB School’s Professional Division students (PDs) are operating many of these […]
10 Fast Facts about The Sleeping Beauty Costumes
With 184 roles and 80 costume designs, The Sleeping Beauty is PNB’s largest production ever. Work on the production began in October 2023, 15 months in advance of opening night. Over 90 artisans, craftspeople, drapers, stitchers, first hands, dyers, and milliners have contributed to the costume build, including costume designer Paul Tazewell, who also designed costumes for the […]
Meet Them Through the Music: PNB Music Director and Principal Conductor Emil de Cou’s Playlist
PNB is the home of so many artists: dancers, costumers, musicians, and more. In this series, we highlight PNB Orchestra members through their musical taste. Today, meet PNB Music Director and Principal Conductor Emil de Cou. As PNB approaches the world-premiere production of The Sleeping Beauty, it was fitting to feature Emil, who has a deep love for Tchaikovsky’s music. Keep […]
Dancer Promotion! Luther DeMyer
Moments before Pacific Northwest Ballet launched its 2024-25 season, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and Associate Artistic Director Kiyon Ross stepped out in front of the sparkly-red McCaw Hall stage to announce to the audience that corps de ballet dancer Luther DeMyer has been promoted to Soloist. “Luther is sometimes the quietest person […]
Diving Deeper with New Works: A Conversation with Resident Choreographer Jessica Lang
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s New Works Initiative has been an important part of realizing the Company’s artistic vision since 2005. It has facilitated the creation and acquisition of nearly 150 new works. Countless choreographers, including Donald Byrd, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Robyn Mineko Williams, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, and Twyla Tharp have created new ballets […]
Announcing New PNB Faculty Member Kurt Froman
Pacific Northwest Ballet School has announced that Kurt Froman has been hired to lead the School’s Men’s Division. An accomplished and highly respected teacher and mentor with dancing careers at New York City Ballet and on Broadway, Mr. Froman was the resident choreographer of the Broadway show Billy Elliot, The Musical, training and coaching the young actors […]
2024 Summer Course by the Numbers
Over the summer, PNB’s studios are full of dedicated young dance students here for our annual Summer Course. Today on the PNB Blog, we’re breaking down some fun numbers to see just how hard these students are working. Join us in celebrating them and all their achievements this summer! Students attended 18 to 21 classes […]
Meet the 2024 NEXT STEP Artist: Amanda Morgan
In this blog, you’ll learn more about PNB dancer Amanda Morgan, who is choreographing a new work with Christopher D’Ariano for NEXT STEP! NEXT STEP provides opportunity, infrastructure, and support to grow tomorrow’s choreographic talent while providing a unique performance opportunity for PNB School’s Professional Division dancers. This year, Professional Division students will perform original work from company dancers […]