In the past, my ballet exposure was limited to regular season performances. But this year I busted out of that narrow approach. I attended preview dress rehearsals, lectures, the season encore, and now, NEXT STEP. NEXT STEP is Pacific Northwest Ballet’s annual choreographers showcase. Managed by former PNB soloist Kiyon Ross, NEXT STEP is a one-night-only event where company dancers rise as choreographers, and the PNB School’s Professional Division students take center stage in an all-premiere program. This year it busted out of McCaw Hall, spilling onto the grounds of Seattle Center. Called NEXT STEP: OUTSIDE/IN, it featured (almost) all-new choreography (mostly) by PNB dancers. Appropriately, the evening began OUTSIDE.
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NEXT STEP: Outside
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No Export Tax – Constitution Article 1 §9.5
On Wednesdays we study the Constitution. I thought I’d never finish Article 1, Section 8, which lists the powers of Congress. But I finally got to Section 9, which limits the powers of Congress. It started off weak with a 20-year timeline for denying the importation of slaves, but it’s getting better. Last week I learned about the former ban on income tax. This week I’m on to Article 1 §9.5, which forbids taxation of state exports.
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Syringa Vulgaris
Latin names are necessary because common names are so unreliable. But sometimes they can be so disappointing. The common lilac is properly called Syringa vulgaris. That doesn’t sound proper at all. It makes this beautiful flower sound like a heroin addict. It’s hardly fair for such a traditional shrub.
On the other hand. That deep purple color is almost shocking. And the scent is intoxicating. Hey, does that photo look blurry to you or…
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Pacific Northwest Ballet Season Encore
Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers Amanda Morgan and Sarah Pasch with company dancers in Diamonds from Jewels, 2017. Photo © Angela Sterling.
This is the first season that I’ve attended any of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “extra” events – like performance previews, lectures, and now the Season Encore performance. Although it’s called a season encore, it’s not just a highlights reel of the past season. As I wrote yesterday, it’s also a farewell to departing dancers. In fact, several pieces performed at Season Encore were not even from the last season.