PNB Blog
About Costume Designer Mark Zappone: “Follow Your Curiosity”
Mark Zappone has designed over 30 costumes for PNB, and he’s worked on many more productions for choreographers like Twyla Tharp, Christopher Wheeldon, and Yuri Possokhov. But Mark didn’t start his career designing costumes for dance. Mark became the accomplished ballet costume designer he is today by following his curiosity and saying “yes” to new opportunities.
Artistic Director’s Notebook: Bacchus, One Thousand Pieces
"We all have our harrowing stories from mid-March of 2020. Naturally, mine involves PNB. On the morning of March 12th Executive Director Ellen Walker informed me all theaters on Seattle Center campus had been asked to suspend any further activity. I told her I needed twelve more hours. That night we were scheduled to take the stage for the dress rehearsal of David Dawson’s Empire Noir and Alejandro Cerrudo’s One Thousand Pieces. Though we were able to run and film the dress rehearsal before retreating to our homes, PNB has never performed the complete One Thousand Pieces for a live audience. How grateful we are to finally bring this piece to the stage with you in the audience.
10 Ballet and Beverage Pairings!
Some say that the perfect beverage pairing can elevate a meal to a whole new level. What if the same was true of ballets? Today on the PNB Blog, we've paired ten ballets with various beverages, including custom cocktails and non-alcoholic options!
A Window into One Thousand Pieces’ Inspiration
PNB’s next performance features Alejandro Cerrudo’s One Thousand Pieces. This large-scale work is inspired by Marc Chagall’s America Windows. Today on the PNB Blog, we’ll dive deep into Chagall’s stained-glass masterpiece and how it influences One Thousand Pieces.
PNB Black History Month Profile: Jonathan Batista
PNB invited employees who celebrate Black History Month to share their stories with us – we hope you enjoy this profile of Jonathan Batista, PNB Company dancer.
PNB Black History Month Profile: Zsilas Michael Hughes
PNB invited employees who celebrate Black History Month to share their stories with us – we hope you enjoy this profile of Zsilas Michael Hughes, PNB Company dancer.
PNB Black History Month Profile: Betty Agent
PNB invited employees who celebrate Black History Month to share their stories with us – we hope you enjoy this profile of Betty Agent, PNB Orchestra's Assistant Principal Violist.
Meet PNB’s Newest Company Dancers!
PNB is excited to introduce you to our newest company dancers, Kali Kleiman, Emerson Boll, and Samuel Portillo. These three dancers joined PNB's Company just this season! Get to know each artist a little better in these brief interviews.
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!