Swan Lake is one of the most popular ballets of all time. It premiered in Moscow in 1877 and was met with a lukewarm reception. Despite its humble beginnings, this ballet continued to be performed, and in the 21st century, it’s frankly iconic! Read on to learn five reasons why this ballet is a must-see.
Over the last century, Swan Lake has become a quintessential ballet pop culture reference. Its iconic score, choreography, and costumes are synonymous with ballet performance and easily recognizable to anyone with even a casual ballet knowledge. While the 2010 film Black Swan may be the first to spring to mind, there are many examples from the last 100 years. Check out this blog to watch just a few!
When Swan Lake premiered at Pacific Northwest Ballet in 1981, PNB was a small, relatively unknown company. Over 40 years later, Kent Stowell's Swan Lake has been enjoyed by thousands of audience members and is still a PNB favorite. Take a look at PNB's 14 Swan Lake programs through the years, and let us know which one is your number one pick!
Performing in The Nutcracker is a rite of passage for many young dancers and something they look forward to each December. From Polichinelles to Party Children, see how Pacific Northwest Ballet Company dancers began their lifelong journey of dancing in The Nutcracker!
George Balanchine once said that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's music made him fall in love with ballet, and many ballet lovers echo Balanchine’s sentiment. To this day, some of PNB’s most popular ballets (Swan Lake and The Nutcracker) are set to Tchaikovsky’s music. Read on to learn about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s turbulent life and his iconic ballets!
Each Nutcracker costume is full of delicious details! Some ballet fans might feel they know this holiday classic like the back of their hand. Well, today on the blog, we're here to test that knowledge! Can you identify these seven Nutcracker costumes by their close-up photos?
PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is an impressive feat of costume design. Ian Falconer and the rest of the creative team poured whimsy and cheer into every detail of the show, from the whiskers of the Mice to the jewels on Coffee’s crown. Dive into the details of PNB’s costumes for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® with these 12 fascinating facts!
From the Mouse King to Marzipan, PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is full of characters that cheer and delight! If you're attending the show, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with these enchanting Nutcracker characters before you see them on stage. That way you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance without wondering who’s who. Read on to learn which Nutcracker character is which with this quick, helpful guide!
On behalf of everyone at PNB, thank you for choosing to celebrate the season with us. Over the years we’ve heard from many in our audience about what this production means to you. It may mark the official start of your holidays, be the destination for a much anticipated annual outing with visiting family, or offer a nostalgic antidote to a too-busy time of year...
Ask anyone what their introduction to ballet was – most will tell you it was a performance of The Nutcracker. They probably attended as small children. I was five. PNB expects to welcome about 85,000 people of all ages to our performances this year alone. Many will attend for the first time, starting a new tradition of enjoying this timeless holiday classic...