PNB School Retirements: Denise Bolstad and Abbie Siegel

Denise began working for PNB in 1980 and held various positions with the School including Registrar and Principal. Denise’s contribution to PNBS is beyond measure. She has seen the School through its move from the Good Shepherd Center to the Phelps Center and from the first Eastside school to the first and second Francia Russell Center. She has helped a devoted team implement and enhance DanceChance, Community Education, Dance for All, Dance for PD, New Voices, NEXT STEP, the Mentorship program, multiple Teachers’ Seminars, countless conferences, dozens of Scholarship Teas, School Celebration Dinners, Petite Finales, audition tours, faculty meetings, 42 school performances, and the first dedicated wellness team in the country for a ballet school. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work alongside her.

Though Abbie has decided to retire from her School Principal duties in June, luckily for us, she will remain on the faculty. Throughout her 34 years at the School, Abbie has been an irreplaceable member of the faculty, teaching students at every level. Abbie has also held many important roles, including DanceChance Manager, serving as Assistant Principal, Principal of the Francia Russell Center, and, since 2012, as Principal for both schools. Her many roles are impressive, but her true strength lies in the quiet, everyday moments when she’s there to help students and families navigate life’s challenges and celebrate their accomplishments in ballet. She has always led with her heart, deeply committed to what’s best for each student, guiding them not just in dance, but in life.