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Pacific
Northwest Ballet: By
Dina McDermott Seattle is tucked in the far Northwest corner of the United States,
surrounded by breathtaking mountains and chilly Puget Sound, a city of gray
mists and long, drizzly winter days. First impressions are of local lifestyles
focused primarily on rugged, outdoor activities: many enjoy kayaking, skiing,
and hiking. However, the Seattle institution visible on the international cultural
scene is one of a wholly, different bent, but of an equally athletic nature.
That institution is Pacific Northwest Ballet, directed by Francia Russell and
Kent Stowell. No less than London critic Clement Crisp of the Financial Times described a
recent performance of the company there as "a performance of rare virtues,
and a company of rare abilities." New York Times critic Anna Kisselgoff
reports, "Pacific Northwest Ballet from Seattle would stand out in the
richest of seasons." "The Nutcracker alone is worth a trip to
Seattle," says Newsweek magazine. What is behind this local phenomena,
which obviously has achieved international acclaim? How did this evolve? Founded
in 1972, and during the subsequent twenty-five year tenure of artistic directors
Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, the company has performed in Australia, United
Kingdom, Hong Kong, New York’s City Center, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center
and in 1999, the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London. The company returns for
another Sadlers Wells season in June, 2002. Pacific Northwest Ballet is widely known as one of the five largest and most
highly regarded ballet companies in the United States. The repertory focuses on
four areas: original compositions by Stowell; restaging of Balanchine
masterpieces by Russell; contemporary works commissioned by the company; and
classics from the ballet and modern repertory. Recent audience favorites have
included Silver Lining by Kent Stowell, and stagings of works by
Paul Taylor, Nacho Duato, Mark Dendy, Anthony Tudor, William Forsythe, August
Bournonville and Marius Petipa. A company of 48 dancers gives over 90
performances per year. The company is performing temporarily at the Mercer Arts
Arena, but in Fall, 2003, will premiere at their new, magnificent theater,
Olivier McCaw Hall. To what can we owe this incredible, homegrown success? Seattle has always
been known for its pioneering entrepreneurial spirit. Witness the success of
Microsoft, Starbucks and Boeing. PNB has inherited a classical
tradition and re-shaped it with a new, zestful, high-energy flavor. Certainly,
to pinpoint the company’s success, we need to look at the two leaders at the
helm, Francia Russell and Kent Stowell, both of whom performed for Balanchine at
New York City Ballet. Another key to the success is the company’s training
ground, the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, described by Dance Magazine’s
Marion Horosko as "one of the leading, if not the definitive, professional
training schools in the country." Housed in The Phelps Center, the company
and school’s home is a state of the art facility featuring studios, a costume
shop, extensive office and conference space. I am proud to say I am a
faculty member in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Discover Dance
program. This is an outreach program that sponsors in-school residencies; the
mission is to "encourage community’s ongoing interest and lifelong
appreciation of dance." Discover Dance introduces ballet to
local school children that might otherwise have no experience with dance.
Residencies of varying lengths are taught, culminating with performances for the
community, either in their school or in local, community theatres. A strong school and a healthy bond with the community have not
only produced a successful company with homegrown talent but also attracted some
of the best dancers, teachers, choreographers and designers from around the
world. PNB, by definition, is a world class company from the top down.
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