Pacific Northwest Ballet Schl

Pacific Northwest Ballet performs Jewels. Wow, what a superb performance! Tonight we went to see Jewels, a Balanchine choreographed set of dances set to Faure, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. But first, a quick side note: I like the glitter and symmetry and pretty colors, and all, but I have to say after the first 45 minutes of a traditional ballet I have had my fill. One more Nutcracker and I'll.... oh never mind. But the new director, Peter Boal, has really done some great work with the PNB, and tonight's performance was an excellent example. The three dances, Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds, were each very different. Rubies was by far my favorite - the dancers actually looked notatall bored and were truly stretching their talents and the art. I had heard that the old PNB set of fans ditched the ballet company when the old directors left and Boal came. Granted Boal is a mere "kid" at age 39, but he has really done something wonderful. more

The Pacific Northwest Ballet is a top notch ballet company. They do a fabulous version of the Nutcracker with sets designed by Maurice Sendak. (We won't talk about the *ahem* liberties they take with the story - really people, there are NO whales leaping the original version!) But that aside - the dancing and the costumes are amazing. I agree with the reviewer who said that the company deserves another look - beyond just the Nutcracker. They have a wonderful, creative artistic director and I've seen them do everything from the classic Romeo and Juliet to a tribute to Alvin Ailey. The kicker is - everything they do is breathtaking and well worth the price of admission. more

I just returned from viewing the dress rehearsal of the Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Sleeping Beauty" and I was blown away by the artistic creation that was at hand. The costumes were brilliantly colored, ethereal in some cases, and flowed well with the dancers. The sets were large and anything but static... the trees moved and the dancers flew through them. The dancers danced their hearts out in the most graceful, exquisite production of artistic movement I have ever witnessed. Perfect for little ones if they can sit through a two hour plus show-- a great dance sequence between two cats had all the children screeching in delight. Take the family and enjoy this lush display of art. more

It's something of a tradition to take the family to church on Easter and to see the Nutcracker at Christmas and then be done with religion and fine arts for the year. I won't speak to religion, but Pacific Northwest Ballet deserves another look. Their repertoire goes way beyond tutus and family Christmas specials. Former directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell literally built PNB from a basement ballet school into a world class company. This is the first season with new artistic director Peter Boal and people have stayed away in droves. That's a real shame because Boal has presented something amazing at every performance. This year I've seen ballet set to music by the Cramps, dances incorporating African folk rythms and last night's performance included spoken word. This year I find myself looking forward to every ballet like it's Christmas- I just can't wait to see what goodies Boal is going to give us next. If you haven't been to see PNB lately, you should really check it out. You may be surprised how vibrant and contemporary ballet can be. more

We have been taking our daughters to the Nutcracker since they were tiny tots. At first we weren't sure whether they were old enough to appreciate it, but it proved to be a wonderful experience for the entire family. The movements of the dancers, the colors and lights and, of course, the music kept the kids captivated through the entire show. The hot chocolate and cookies before the show were a big hit too. more

Pacific Northwest Ballet is a great ballet company. The dancing is always given it's 100% and besides superb dancing, the sets and costumes are always eye appealing. However the tickets are extremely expensive! Only the wealthy or extremely devoted can get season tickets. more