Artistic Director’s Notebook: Square Dance, Prodigal Son, Stravinsky Violin Concerto

To capture Balanchine’s contribution to ballet in America in a few paragraphs is impossible, but I’ll attempt to scratch the surface. Balanchine, often in partnership with benefactor and arts impresario Lincoln Kirstein, founded the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet. These institutions served as his dance laboratories. In these humble studios, with the help of dancers, musicians, and fellow artists, revelatory discoveries in ballet technique and dance-making came to life. Dancers hold Balanchine’s ballets in a place of reverence. That is especially true of PNB dancers, who enjoy a wealth of Balanchine repertoire and possess an innate technique and musicality acquired at schools like ours...

2024-10-24T12:01:27-07:00October 24th, 2024|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: Square Dance, Prodigal Son, Stravinsky Violin Concerto

5 Reasons Why PNB’s The Nutcracker Tickets Are More Affordable Than People Think

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is the Northwest’s favorite festive tradition – and it can only stay that way if people can enjoy it! Here at Pacific Northwest Ballet, we make sure Nutcracker tickets are affordable. Keep scrolling to learn how you can see The Nutcracker for less! 

2024-10-21T12:23:11-07:00October 21st, 2024|Categories: Performances, The Nutcracker|Tags: , , |Comments Off on 5 Reasons Why PNB’s The Nutcracker Tickets Are More Affordable Than People Think

Meet Them Through the Music: PNB Concertmaster and Solo Violinist Michael Jinsoo Lim’s Playlist

PNB is the home of so many artists: dancers, costumers, musicians, and more. In this series, we highlight PNB Orchestra members through their musical taste. Today, meet PNB Concertmaster and Solo Violinist Michael Jinsoo Lim, who will be featured in Stravinsky Violin Concerto, part of PNB's upcoming ALL BALANCHINE program! Click here to read more about Michael and the music (and musicians) who influence him.

2024-10-17T16:43:28-07:00October 17th, 2024|Categories: Life at PNB, Performances|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Meet Them Through the Music: PNB Concertmaster and Solo Violinist Michael Jinsoo Lim’s Playlist

Prodigal Son Story

George Balanchine's Prodigal Son is a dramatic masterwork. The story was the idea of Boris Kochno, Serge Diaghilev’s assistant and frequent artistic collaborator. His libretto is based less on the biblical account and more on a passage from Alexander Pushkin’s short story, The Stationmaster (1830), in which the author describes engravings depicting scenes from the parable that hang in a postal station somewhere in Russia. Read on to learn Kochno's story of Prodigal Son. 

2024-10-10T11:10:20-07:00October 10th, 2024|Categories: Performances, Tell the Tale|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Prodigal Son Story

Spotlight on Square Dance – Balanchine’s Fusion of Ballet and American Folk Dance

George Balanchine’s Square Dance is a fascinating combination of two surprising elements: American square dancing and classical ballet. Balanchine (1904-1983) explained, “I have always liked watching American folk dances, especially in my trips to the West, and it occurred to me that it would be possible to combine these two different types of dance, the folk and the classic, in one work.” Today on the PNB Blog, we’ll explore how Balanchine combined these two styles of dance to make one beloved ballet, including fascinating details about the original version with a square dance caller onstage! 

2024-10-08T15:42:30-07:00October 7th, 2024|Categories: Performances|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Spotlight on Square Dance – Balanchine’s Fusion of Ballet and American Folk Dance

New Audio Dance Description Program at PNB

The old dictum, “timing is everything,” is everywhere in dance—the precise timing of a lift, the coordination of a musical phrase with a physical gesture, a moment of complete unison from the corps de ballet—timing is at the core of everything PNB does. Last year, we received a generous grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to expand our accessibility offerings. We saw the opportunity to grow our accessibility options to include the Blind and Visually Impaired community by introducing Audio Dance Description to our regular season programming. In November 2023, the timing lined up, and a bit of fate intervened... Click here to read how PNB's Audio Description programming began!

Interview with Salina Fisher, Composer for Black Wave

The premiere of Jessica Lang's Black Wave was an exciting celebration of many "firsts." Black Wave is the first work of Jessica Lang's Choreographic Residency at PNB. Black Wave is also the first work in PNB's repertory with music composed by award-winning artist Salina Fisher. In fact, this is Fisher's first experience collaborating with a choreographer! Click to learn more about Salina Fisher and her work in this interview!

2024-09-23T14:04:14-07:00September 23rd, 2024|Categories: Life at PNB, Performances, Q&A with Dancers, Choreographers & Staff|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Interview with Salina Fisher, Composer for Black Wave

The Inspiration for Black Wave; Notes from Choreographer Jessica Lang

Choreographer Jessica Lang is busy in PNB’s studios putting the finishing touches on Black Wave, her first work as PNB’s resident choreographer. Jessica’s work for PNB is both thought-provoking and emotionally moving, and Black Wave is no different. Click to learn about Jessica’s unique inspirations for this piece.  

2024-09-19T11:31:19-07:00September 19th, 2024|Categories: Choreographers, Life at PNB, Performances|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on The Inspiration for Black Wave; Notes from Choreographer Jessica Lang

Executive Director’s Notes: The Veil Between Worlds, The Times Are Racing, Black Wave

Welcome to the fall arts season in Seattle and PNB’s first repertory program of our performing year. We hope that with this program, and the rest of our 2024/25 season, you encounter the warmest welcome from PNB and experience the universal connection and sense of well-being that ballet can so often provide. We deeply appreciate your support and presence in our community – from all of us at PNB, thank you for joining us.

2024-10-24T12:08:32-07:00September 13th, 2024|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances, PNB on Tour|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Executive Director’s Notes: The Veil Between Worlds, The Times Are Racing, Black Wave

Artistic Director’s Notebook: The Veil Between Worlds, The Times Are Racing, Black Wave

Welcome to the first program of the new season. What a season it promises to be with the unveiling of our much-anticipated new production of The Sleeping Beauty, the return of Roméo et Juliette, and three world premieres. There are also plenty of fan favorites like Crystal Pite’s Emergence, Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun, Marco Goecke’s Mopey, and Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs. The excitement starts right here – right now, with Rep I!

2024-10-24T12:06:06-07:00September 13th, 2024|Categories: Director's Notebook, Performances|Tags: , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Artistic Director’s Notebook: The Veil Between Worlds, The Times Are Racing, Black Wave
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