Tag Archive William Forsythe

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One Flat Thing, reproduced 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 © Angela Sterling.

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.

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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.

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancer Miles Pertl and Lindsi Dec in Slingerland Duet 2018. Photo © Lindsay Thomas.

“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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Friday Preview of Director’s Choice at Pacific Northwest Ballet

PNB dancers Lindsi Dec and Jerome Tisserand in Red Angels, 2018. Photo © Angela Sterling.

Last Friday, I got to watch a professional ballet rehearsal through PNB’s Friday Previews program. I’m not sure whether the assortment of peripheral ballet experiences has expanded in recent years, or if it’s only my awareness of them. For ages, I religiously attended every Pacific Northwest Ballet rep while studiously avoiding any activities that might increase my knowledge and understanding of ballet. It was some kind of misguided hippie idea about pure experience or something, I don’t know. So I don’t know when Pacific Northwest Ballet started selling tickets to rehearsals, but I’m so glad they did. Last Friday, I attended a Friday Preview of Director’s Choice, and from now on, attending ballet rehearsal is going to be part of my experience of every production. Read More

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Choice Time at Pacific Northwest Ballet

In kindergarten, almost every kid has the same favorite subject in school – Choice Time. Choice time usually disappears in third grade, but when it does appear in later life, it’s usually still a favorite. For me, that means the annual Director’s Choice program at Pacific Northwest Ballet. Of course, it’s the director’s job to pick the programs, so in a sense every program is the director’s choice. But the idea behind Director’s Choice is that for this one program, the director picks ballets he likes best without consideration for budgets and ticket sales. I doubt that the director is ever free from those considerations, but it’s a nice idea and it is true that Director’s Choice includes more premieres and bolder works than other programs throughout the season. Which is why I always end up liking it best.

This year was even more special to me, because for once, I only brought my kids to the introduction of the blog post, but was free to attend and enjoy the actual ballet for myself, without consideration for what kind of value it may have for kids or how to help kids understand and enjoy it. Even better, my companion for the evening is a dancer herself, so I could share her insights that I would never get on my own. Read More

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Ticket Season, Part Two: Pacific Northwest Ballet

16-17-renew“I love tickets!” squeals Cameron Diaz’s character in the first Charlie’s Angels movie. (And why has no one ever made a gif of that?) It’s supposed to illustrate what an eccentric character she is, but I understand completely. I love tickets. And spring is ticket season. Season-ticket season, to be precise. All of the arts organizations announce their upcoming seasons, tickets go on sale, and I spend hours each spring planning what I will be doing on Saturday nights all next winter. I’ve already written about next season’s offerings at Seattle Opera. Now let’s talk about ballet.  Read More