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: Black History Month|Comments Off

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: 2023/24 Season, PNB Orchestra, Swan Lake|Comments Off

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.

2024-06-05T12:38:25-07:00January 23rd, 2024|Categories: Dancer Announcements, Dancers|Tags: 2023/24 Season, James Yoichi Moore, Retirement Announcement, Season Encore|Comments Off

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: Ashton Edwards, Clara Ruf Maldonado, Destiny Wimpye, Elizabeth Murphy, emma love suddarth, Juliet Prine, Leah Terada|Comments Off

Q&A With Choreographer Dani Rowe

In Pacific Northwest Ballet’s second repertory of the season, we are excited to present The Window, a world premiere work by a choreographer who isn’t yet familiar to PNB audiences. Dani Rowe is a former dancer, the Artistic Director at Oregon Ballet Theater in Portland, and now a choreographer who PNB is lucky to include in our roster of repertory choreographers. Read on to get to know a little bit more about Dani Rowe!

2025-04-17T10:04:54-07:00November 6th, 2023|Categories: Choreographers, Performances, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: 2023/24 Season, Dani Rowe, The Window|Comments Off

Dancer Promotions! Clara Ruf Maldonado, Kuu Sakuragi, and Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan

Before the curtain-raiser performance of Alexei Ratmansky’s Wartime Elegy on opening night of LOVE & LOSS, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and Associate Artistic Director Kiyon Ross announced to the audience that corps de ballet dancers Clara Ruf Maldonado and Kuu Sakuragi have been promoted Soloists, and Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan has been promoted to Principal dancer.

2023-11-07T14:28:24-08:00November 3rd, 2023|Categories: Dancer Announcements, Dancers, Life at PNB|Tags: 2023/24 Season, Clara Ruf Maldonado, Kiyon Ross, Kuu Sakuragi, Peter Boal, Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan|Comments Off

Q&A with Shannon Rugani, Composer of The Window

Shannon Rugani is the composer for The Window, which will premier on PNB's stage on November 2nd, 2023, but she is also a professional dancer, writer, and more. We asked Shannon how she became interested in dance and music, and she had some intriguing answers. Read on to learn all about her inspiring story!

2025-04-17T10:04:00-07:00October 31st, 2023|Categories: Performances, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: 2023/24 Season, Dani Rowe, Shannon Rugani, The Window|Comments Off

NEXT STEP 2024: Creativity on the Horizon

Kicking it up a notch. Elevating one’s game. Rising to the next level. It’s all right there in the name. NEXT STEP offers members of the PNB Company more than just studio space, talented dancers, and support from PNB’s incredible costume, lighting, and stage management departments. This is an opportunity to push forward in dance, and one that can have a substantial and long-term impact on a dance artist’s career.

2023-10-26T12:39:01-07:00October 27th, 2023|Categories: Dancers, Next Step Choreographers, PNB School|Tags: Amanda Morgan, Christopher D'Ariano, Dylan Wald, Elle Macy, Lily Wills, Luca Anaya, Melisa Guilliams, Noah Martzall|Comments Off

Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month at PNB

Written and compiled by PNB Company dancer Amanda Morgan

Foreword

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I found it important to highlight the many Latine artists that help make Pacific Northwest Ballet what it is. We range from being onstage to working behind the scenes to help the […]

2023-10-10T11:44:21-07:00October 10th, 2023|Categories: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility (I.D.E.A.), Life at PNB, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: 2023/24 Season, Amanda Morgan, Ayumi Matsuda, Dammiel Cr, Jonathan Batista, National Hispanic Heritage Month, PNB School Spotlight, Sarah Kolat, Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan, Will Moser|Comments Off

Celebrate National Book Month

Celebrate National Book Month with these Books by PNB-ers

We’re sure you know by now that PNB Faculty and the whole PNB Community is multi-talented. But did you know there are multiple published authors in our midst? Keep reading to explore our list of books for all ages by members of the […]

2024-12-05T10:31:46-08:00October 9th, 2023|Categories: Life at PNB, PNB School|Tags: Dina McDermott, Marjorie Thompson, Miriam Landis, Once Upon a Dance, Peter Boal, PNB School Spotlight, Reading List|1 Comment