Legacies in Motion: A Tribute to Lynn Lindsay | Jonathan Batista, NEXT STEP 2025

By Leah Terada

On June 13, Pacific Northwest Ballet’s NEXT STEP program will feature a powerful new work by Principal Dancer and choreographer Jonathan Batista. This piece marks a deeply personal choreographic debut, created in honor of Lynn Lindsay– a devoted PNB supporter and a dear friend of Batista’s.

Lynn’s presence in Seattle’s arts community was radiant and unwavering. For Batista, she was a constant source of love, encouragement, and connection. From the moment she learned he was choreographing for NEXT STEP, she jumped into supporting the project, just as she had championed every step of his journey at PNB.

“Lynn showed up for me–loudly, boldly, and without hesitation,” Batista shared. “She believed in me before I believed in myself. This piece is my way of honoring her legacy, her love for the arts, and the joy she brought into my life.”

Behind the curtain and off the stage, Jonathan Batista is much more than the poised public figure many know from performance and social media. In his creative process, he chooses to go inward. He removes the layers, the roles, the polish, the expectations, and meets himself in a place of honesty, stillness, and messiness.

“There’s something sacred about stripping away the layers,” he says. “It’s a quiet rebellion against material attachment, a meditation in simplicity.”

In this work, Batista returns to his essential self: raw, curious, and unfiltered. He describes his creation time as an act of vulnerability and a moment to reconnect with what’s real. In this reflective practice and with his movement studies in the studio, Batista explores what’s in front of him and notices Lynn Lindsay’s encouraging aura, still supporting him through his journey.

Batista’s premiere on June 13 will be a reflection not just of his creative voice, but of the powerful impact one life can have on another. This is more than a performance—it’s a moment of reflection, remembrance, and love. And Lynn Lindsay will be there, in every movement.

Tickets are on sale now. Hope to see you there!