Pacific Northwest Ballet – Page 11

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ballet, ballet education, classical ballet, contemporary ballet, modern dance, Pacific Northwest Ballet

Ballet 101: Contemporary Ballet at Pacific Northwest Ballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers in William Forsythe’s One Flat Thing, reproduced, which PNB is presenting as part of DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, March 16 – 25, 2018. Photo © Stacy Ebstyne.

Forsythe’s not-a-ballet One Flat Thing, reproduced, 2018 PNB. Photo © Stacy Ebstyne.

This season Pacific Northwest Ballet launched an audience education program called Ballet 101. It was great timing for me. It coincided with my decision to give up on my hippie-dippy pure experience approach to ballet and start learning about the art form that I enjoy so much. But the timing wasn’t perfect – I couldn’t make it to the first two sessions. But this week I finally attended my first Ballet 101 event, Contemporary Ballet: New Works and Current Trends in Ballet. Read More

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One Flat Thing, One Flat Thing reproduced, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Robert Falcon Scott, Thom Willems, William Forsythe

One Flat Thing, reproduced at Pacific Northwest Ballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers in William Forsythe’s One Flat Thing, reproduced, 2018. Photo © Angela Sterling.

The Director’s Choice program at Pacific Northwest Ballet this year comprised four outstanding ballets. But let’s face it, the one everybody wants to talk about is William Forsythe’s “One Flat Thing, reproduced.” It’s one of the most divisive ballets ever performed at this company (spoiler alert: I love it). Some people question whether it is even ballet. They doubt that the score qualifies as music. The questions are valid, but the answers are a resounding “yes!” This is the best kind of music and ballet – the kind that confuses us, makes us uncomfortable, and makes us think.

Red Angels at Pacific Northwest Ballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Lesley Rausch and Lucien Postlewaite in Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels, which PNB is presenting as part of DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, March 16 – 25, 2018. Photo © Angela Sterling.

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers Lesley Rausch and Lucien Postlewaite in Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels, 2018. Photo © Angela Sterling.

When I watched part of the rehearsal for Director’s Choice at Pacific Northwest Ballet, my attention was captured by another piece (more on that one later). But during the performance, “Red Angels” was the one that stood out. When the piece ended and the lights came up, my nine-year-old (who usually prefers a more traditional style of ballet) turned me wide-eyed and said, “That was amazing.”

Slingerland Duet at PNB Director’s Choice

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Laura Tisserand and Karel Cruz in William Forsythe’s Slingerland Duet, which PNB is presenting as part of DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, March 16 – 25, 2018. Photo © Angela Sterling.

“Slingerland Duet (Pas de deux)” is only eight minutes long. But what wonderful minutes they are. “Slingerland Duet” is the second of four pieces presented at this year’s Director’s Choice at Pacific Northwest Ballet. Director’s Choice is my favorite rep of the season most years, but this year was the best yet. Artistic Director Peter Boal says he chooses pieces that he wants audiences to understand “are worth their attention and exploration.” That is certainly true of “Slingerland Duet.” Read More

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Director's Choice, Ezra Thomson, Francis Poulenc, Jerome Tisserand, Karel Cruz, Leta Biasucci, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Perpetual State, Ryan Cardea, Sarah Ricard Orza

Perpetual State of Director’s Choice at PNB

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Jerome Tisserand and soloist Leta Biasucci, with company dancers in the world premiere of Ezra Thomson’s The Perpetual State, which PNB is presenting as part of DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, March 16 – 25, 2018. Photo © Angela Sterling.

Every year, Director’s Choice is my favorite rep at Pacific Northwest Ballet, but this year, Peter Boal knocked it out of the park with his selections. I’ve described Director’s Choice as omakase in the past. Boal himself says he chooses pieces he “wants audiences to understand are worth their attention and exploration.” He has also said that this year, a theme emerged after he chose the four pieces: each piece was choreographed by a dancer who was “given a chance” by their ballet director. The first piece of Director’s Choice, appropriately, was choreographed by one of PNB’s own dancers, Ezra Thomson. Read More

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Ballet 101: Contemporary Ballet at Pacific Northwest Ballet

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One Flat Thing, reproduced at Pacific Northwest Ballet

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Red Angels at Pacific Northwest Ballet

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Slingerland Duet at PNB Director’s Choice

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Perpetual State of Director’s Choice at PNB

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Tag Archive Pacific Northwest Ballet

Ballet 101: Contemporary Ballet at Pacific Northwest Ballet

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One Flat Thing, reproduced at Pacific Northwest Ballet

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Red Angels at Pacific Northwest Ballet

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Slingerland Duet at PNB Director’s Choice

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Perpetual State of Director’s Choice at PNB

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