ByGD
Photo by Angela Sterling for Pacific Northwest Ballet
Before I saw Pacific Northwest Ballet’s all Forsythe repertory The Vertiginous Thrill of Forsythe, I never realized that in some ways, the avant-garde contemporary ballet that thrills me has more in common with the straight-laced classical ballet that puts me to sleep than it does with anything that came between. Read More
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Photo by Angela Sterling, courtesy of PNB.
I have a confession to make. It’s a little ironic, because I’m a writer. Stories are my life and my livelihood.
I don’t love story ballets. Too much time in stately processions and miming instead of dancing, while the dancing that does occur interrupts the story. And then along comes Don Quixote, a story ballet about an obsession with stories. It has subplots and cinematic pacing that disguises rigorous classical technique with gorgeous choreography and laugh-out-loud humor. Read More
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The Director’s Choice program is always one of my favorite ballet performances of the year. I look forward to Peter Boal’s selection of modern, intriguing, challenging pieces all year. So when I ran a 102 F temperature the day before I was supposed to go, I hated the thought of missing it. Fortunately, as a season subscriber, I was able to call the box office and change my dates without any fees. Unfortunately, on the day of the final performance, I was still completely out of commission, so I ended up sending my husband and daughter. My daughter has been attending the ballet for half of her life. That’s only five years of ballet, so her opinions are not necessarily the same as mine. But her opinions (lightly edited) are the ones you’re getting today.
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Jewels Stolen from Pacific Northwest Ballet StageAudiences report that the gemstones were swiped right off the stage in the middle of performances over the weekend. Ballerina Angelica Generosa is considered the prima suspect.
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Giselle is right up there with Swan Lake when it comes to ballet fame. But I was still surprised when my oldest daughter gasped, “I have to see Giselle; you can take my sister to all the rest of them but I have to see Giselle,” and then proceeded to tell me the entire story. She practically levitated through both acts of the Saturday matinee. So it’s a little bit ironic Giselle was the most challenging piece for me this season.