Helene

Congratulations to them both . And adding a third congratulations .

Paris Opera announced Petite Mort and Sechs Tanze along with Stepping Stone as part of an All Kylian program in their 2023-24 season, along with an All Robbins program. Plus they're doing Pite's The Seasons Canon, which was made for them. To do an "All" program, they either have to have a bunch in the rep under contract, or they have to have permission to get more than one at a time, which doesn't seem to be that common. The conditions have to be right, too, having the right stagers be available, and all kinds of "build up" requirements that foundations make, based on the company. And, if you're renting sets and costumes, they all have to be accessble at the same time.

ACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET PRESENTS April 14 – 23, 2023 Marion Oliver McCaw Hall 321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center Seattle, WA 98109 Only eight performances? Lord, what fools these mortals be! April 14 at 7:30 PM April 15 at 2:00 and 7:30 PM April 20 and 21 at 7:30 PM April 22 at 2:00 and 7:30 PM -- matinee is an additional, non-subscription performance. April 23 at 1:00 PM Streaming Digitally April 27 – May 1 SEATTLE, WA – A garden of delight for the eyes and ears, George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream returns to the McCaw Hall stage as the penultimate offering of PNB’s 50th Anniversary season. Staged by Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell and featuring exquisite scenic and costume designs by Martin Pakledinaz, PNB’s exuberant production of Midsummer – Shakespeare’s comic tale of romantic confusion – has been captivating all who enter its enchanted Northwest-inspired forest for over 25 years. The ballet follows the quarrels of the King and Queen of the Fairies, and the mayhem of mismatched lovers, abetted by mischief-maker Puck. All is resolved by Act II, which opens with Mendelssohn’s familiar Wedding March, and is crowned by the magnificent Divertissement pas de deux, considered one of Balanchine’s most beautiful creations. PNB has performed its one-of-a-kind Midsummer to great acclaim in Istanbul, Hong Kong, at the Edinburgh International Festival, and Sadler’sWells Theater in London, where the production was filmed by the BBC and released on DVD. A Midsummer Night’s Dream plays for eight performances only, from April 14 through 23 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at $37. The program will also stream digitally from April 27 through May 1. Tickets for the digital access are $35. For tickets and additional information, contact the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, in person at 301 Mercer Street, or online 24/7 at PNB.org. TICKET INFORMATION Tickets to PNB’s live and/or digital performances may be purchased through the PNB Box Office: • Phone - 206.441.2424 • In Person - 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center • Online 24/7 - PNB.org (Tickets are also available – subject to availability – 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall. In-person ticket sales at the McCaw Hall Box Office may be subject to day-of-show increases. Advance tickets through the PNB Box Office are strongly suggested for best prices and greatest availability.) Tickets for the live performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are $37 - $195. Groups of ten or more may enjoy discounts up to 20% off regular prices: Contact Group Sales Manager Julie Jamieson at 206.441.2416 or JulieJ@PNB.org for ticketing assistance. (Group discounts are not valid on lowest-priced tickets and may not be combined with other offers.) Tickets for PNB’s digital-only presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (April 27 – May 1) are $35. For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Pay-What-You-Can, Beer and Ballet night, rush tickets and more, visit PNB.org/offers. Health & Safety: PNB will continue to follow the advice of local health authorities in partnership with our labor groups to create our masking policies. At this time, masks are strongly encouraged but not required for audience members. For details and current info regarding PNB’s health and safety policies, visit PNB.org/Health. The show must go on: Pacific Northwest Ballet is committed to honoring its performance calendar. Performances will not be cancelled for snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night. In the unlikely event that the status of a performance does change, an announcement will be posted on PNB.org. SPECIAL EVENTS PNB CONVERSATIONS & DRESS REHEARSAL Thursday, April 13, 5:30 pm Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join PNB Associate Artistic Director Kiyon Ross, in conversation with PNB company alumni Deborah Hadley, Angela Sterling, and Eric Hipolito Jr. Attend the PNB Conversations event only or stay for the dress rehearsal of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tickets ($30) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. BALLET TALK Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join dance historian Doug Fullington for a 30-minute introduction to each performance, including discussions of choreography, music, history, design and the process of bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the stage. One hour before performances. FREE for ticketholders. MEET THE ARTIST Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Skip the post-show traffic and enjoy a Q&A with Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB dancers, immediately following each performance. FREE for ticketholders. PROGRAM NOTES A Midsummer Night’s Dream Music: Felix Mendelssohn Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust Staging: Francia Russell Scenic and Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli Premiere: January 17, 1962; New York City BalletPNB Premiere: May 16, 1985; New Production: May 27, 1997 Balanchine’s fondness for Shakespeare's tale of love's delusions and mishaps dated from boyhood when he had performed as an elf in a St. Petersburg production of the play. But his desire to bring this favorite theater piece to the ballet stage waited more than 20 years for fulfillment while he searched for music with which to expand Mendelssohn's original score to suitable length.* In Midsummer, which dance writer Anita Finkel has called "possibly the greatest narrative ballet of all time," Balanchine demonstrated brilliantly that the pace of a story ballet can be fleet, that mime can be delicate and to the point, and that the tale can be told almost entirely through dance. Perhaps most inspired is Balanchine's sustained employment of ballet's central metaphor of love—the pas de deux—to embody the play's subtle insights into the many permutations of the love relationship. The cloying embraces of Hermia and Lysander, the distraught pleadings of Helena with Demetrius, the thrashing resistance of Hermia to Demetrius and of Helena to Lysander—all are distortions of the ideal partnership between lovers, traditionally conveyed by the ballerina and her cavalier. This human game of power is also played out in the fairy realm where, tellingly, the disputing spouses Titania and Oberon never dance together but instead perform self-celebratory solos for their admiring retinues. When Titania does condescend to take a partner, it is either the non-descript cavalier, who functions more as prop than peer, or, in the work's most charming episode, an artless ass. Only in Act II, which is pure dance, do the battles and imbalances, the self-indulgences and self-deceptions give way to a genuine dance partnership, in the magnificent Divertissement pas de deux which crowns the wedding festivities.A Midsummer Night's Dream has been in PNB’s repertory since 1985. In 1997, with the approval of The Balanchine Trust, PNB commissioned Martin Pakledinaz to re-design the entire production — a "first" for a Balanchine story ballet. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, this freshly-designed Midsummer brings the choreographer's dramatic ideas to life scenically as never before. [Excerpted program Notes by Jeanie Thomas, edited by Doug Fullington. For complete program notes, visit PNB.org.] *Music details: Overture and incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 21 and 61, 1826, 1843; Overtures to Athalie, Op. 74, 1845; and The Fair Melusine, Op. 32, 1833; The First Walpurgis Night, Op. 60; Symphony No. 9 for Strings [first three movements], 1823; Overture to Son and Stranger, Op. 89, 1829 ABOUT THE ARTISTS Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, George Balanchine (1904-1983) is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. He came to the United States in 1933, accepting the invitation of the young American arts patron Lincoln Kirstein. Together, Balanchine and Kirstein founded the School of American Ballet in 1934, and New York City Ballet in 1948. Balanchine served as NYCB’s ballet master and principal choreographer, creating more than 400 dance works, until his death in 1983. Francia Russell was Artistic Director of PNB and Director of the PNB School from 1977 until her retirement in 2005. During her tenure, Russell oversaw the development of the community education program DanceChance. Russell danced for New York City Ballet and Jerome Robbins’ Ballets USA. Upon retiring from dancing, Russell joined the faculty of the School of American Ballet in 1962 and in 1964 was appointed ballet mistress of NYCB by George Balanchine. Russell was one of the first to be chosen by Balanchine to stage his works. She is responsible for the addition of many Balanchine works to PNB’s repertory and has staged 246 Balanchine ballets worldwide. From 1975 to 1977, Ms. Russell and Kent Stowell were Co-Artistic Directors of Frankfurt Ballet. Martin Pakledinaz was an award-winning costume designer for stage, television, and film. He won Tony Awards for Thoroughly Modern Millie and the 2000 revival of Kiss Me Kate, which also earned him the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design. His extensive design credits include work for Broadway, off-Broadway, leading regional theaters in the United States and for the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden. His designs for opera include works at the New York Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera, as well as opera houses in Seattle, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Sante Fe, Houston, Toronto, Salzburg, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Helsinki, and Gothenburg, among others. Mr. Pakledinaz’s dance credits include work for such diverse choreographers as George Balanchine, Eliot Feld, Deborah Hay, Mark Morris, Daniel Pelzig, Helgi Tomasson, and Lila York. In addition to his work on PNB’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mr. Pakeldinaz designed costumes for Kent Stowell’s Cinderella (1994) and Zirkus Weill (1995). Mr. Pakledinaz passed away in 2012 at the age of 58. Randall G. Chiarelli has devoted a career to lighting for dance, much of it at Pacific Northwest Ballet, and also for American Ballet Theatre, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Houston Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, among others. His collaborators include choreographers Mark Dendy, Kent Stowell, Susan Stroman, Twyla Tharp, and Christopher Wheeldon. In addition to lighting for dance, Mr. Chiarelli has created scenic and concert designs for many productions and artists. # # # The works of George Balanchine performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet are made possible in part by The Louise Nadeau Endowed Fund. Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2022-2023 50th Anniversary season is proudly sponsored by ArtsFund and Microsoft. Special thanks also to 4Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, and The Shubert Foundation. PNB’s digital season is made possible by Katherine Graubard and William Calvin. PNB media sponsorship provided by The Seattle Times.

YouTube links are fine, as long as they are public, not private.

The announcement says that it will be Corella's "captivating and innovative chorereography." Corella previously created work for Corella Ballet, which was renamed Barcelona Ballet.

Is this based on a relatively modern interpretation that Odile is supposed to ooze badness a la Cruella de Vil? I know Siegfried is under pressure, -- public pressure -- to marry, with his amygdala racing and that he sees what he wants to see, but she is, plotwise, trying to assure him that she is Odette. Softer music could work to that effect.

Welcome to Ballet Alert!, Danielle.

That's Waltz Girl.

Ballet Talk for Dancers (BT4D) announced today that the board will close at the end of April 2023. Here is a link to the announcement: https://dancers.invisionzone.com/topic/71398-ballet-talk-for-dancers-to-close/ BT4D was a subforum of Ballet Talk/Ballet Alert until it became its own standalone board in the 00's, and it was administered by Victoria Leigh until 2020. It has been nutured and grown by a dedicated group of Moderators. It is truly the end of an era.

Quoting because it can't be said enough.

Here's the press release with details for the entire season: Pacific Northwest Ballet Announces 2023-24 Season Line-Up. PNB’s 51st season to include a roster of crowd-pleasers from Donald Byrd, Alejandro Cerrudo, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Jessica Lang, Matthew Neenan, Alexei Ratmansky, and Twyla Tharp; and a world premiere from Danielle Rowe. Story ballets feature the returns of Swan Lake and Coppélia (and, of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.) PNB Box Office is now taking orders for new and renewing season subscriptions. Tickets to individual performances, including The Nutcracker, begin July 18. Single tickets start at $38 ($29 for The Nutcracker). Full-season subscriptions start at $201. Four-show partial-season subscriptions start at $138. Digital season subscription available for $300. September 2023 – June 2024 Marion Oliver McCaw Hall 321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center Seattle, Washington March 16, 2023, SEATTLE, WA – Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced the line-up for PNB’s 51st anniversary season, running from September 2023 through June 2024. Highlights include the return of Kent Stowell’s iconic Swan Lake, the comedic Coppélia, and Crystal Pite’s stunning The Seasons’ Canon. Also in the line-up are previous PNB crowd-pleasers from Donald Byrd, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Jessica Lang, Matthew Neenan, Alexei Ratmansky, and Twyla Tharp; a world premiere from Danielle Rowe; and the PNB premiere, at long last, of Alejandro Cerrudo’s large-scale One Thousand Pieces. (Plus a new family-matinee offering, Harold and the Purple Crayon, featuring the students of the PNB School; and, of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.) The PNB Box Office is now open for subscription renewals and new subscriptions; tickets for individual programs go on sale July 18. PNB plans to continue offering its digital subscription as well so audiences across the country and around the world can attend the show. For further information, contact the PNB Box Office by phone at 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org. As always, everything is subject to change. PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET’S 2023-24 SEASON LINE-UP Rep 1 – PETITE MORT September 22 – October 1, 2023 Digital streaming dates: October 5 – 9 PNB’s season-opener is jam-packed with whimsy, artistry, and drama. Built on a foundation of music from Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert, this triple-bill looks at the world of dance through the unique perspectives of Jiri Kylian and Alexander Ekman. Petite Mort Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Choreography: Jiri Kylian Staging: Roslyn Anderson Scenic Design: Jiri Kylian Costume Design: JokeVisser Lighting Design: Joop Caboort Sechs Tänze (Six Dances) Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Choreography: Jiri Kylian Staging: Roslyn Anderson Scenic and Costume Design: Jiri Kylian Lighting Design: Joop Caboort Cacti Music: Franz Josef Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert Text: Spenser Theberge Choreography: Alexander Ekman Staging: Ana Lucaciu Scenic and Costume Design: Alexander Ekman Lighting Design: Tom Visser Rep 2 – LOVE & LOSS November 3 – 12, 2023 Digital streaming dates: November 16 – 20 This trio of works shines a light on some of the world premieres that PNB’s New Works Initiative has created in recent years. Donald Byrd’s haunting Love and Loss premiered in 2019, Alexei Ratmansky’s stunning tribute to his homeland of Ukraine, Wartime Elegy, followed in 2022, and inventive Australian choreographer Danielle Rowe will create something brand new for PNB dancers this November. WORLD PREMIERE Music: Shannon Rugani Choreography: Danielle Rowe Costume Design: Emma Kingsbury Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama Wartime Elegy Music: Valentin Silvestrov, and Ukrainian Village Music Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky Scenic Design: Wendall K. Harrington Art: Matvi Vaisberg & Maria Prymachenko Costume Design: Moritz Junge Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama Love and Loss Music: Emmanuel Witzthum Choreography: Donald Byrd Scenic and Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli Costume Design: Doris Black George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® November 24 – December 27, 2023 (NOTE: Not part of the 2023-24 Subscription season.) Digital streaming dates: December 18 – 27 Whether a long-standing family tradition or a first trip to the theater, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is ready to delight one and all. From the liveliest lobby in town to the dazzling sets and costumes and unforgettable performances, The Nutcracker is an integral part of the holidays for ballet fans of all ages! Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust Staging: Judith Fugate with Peter Boal and Garielle Whittle Costume & Scenic Design: Ian Falconer Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls Swan Lake February 2 – 11, 2024 Digital streaming dates: February 15 – 19 By the light of Ming Cho Lee’s luminous moon, a flock of ethereal swans transports the audience to the wondrous world of Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. This classic tale features epic dancing, stunning scenery and costumes, and the iconic score performed live by the PNB Orchestra. Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: Kent Stowell Staging: Francia Russell (after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov) Scenic Design: Ming Cho Lee Costume Design: Paul Tazewell Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli Rep 4 – ONE THOUSAND PIECES March 15 – 24, 2024 Digital streaming dates: March 28 – April 1 Four years after its originally-scheduled PNB premiere, Alejandro Cerrudo’s complete One Thousand Pieces will finally take to the McCaw Hall stage. Cerrudo’s large-scale ensemble work is inspired by the work of artist Marc Chagall and features music from Philip Glass. Paired with the revelry and joy of Matthew Neenan’s made-for-PNB Bacchus. Bacchus Music: Oliver Davis Choreography: Matthew Neenan Costume Design: Mark Zappone Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli One Thousand Pieces Music: Philip Glass Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo Staging: Pablo Piantino/Ana Lopez Scenic and Costume Design: Thomas Mika Lighting Design: Michael Korsch Harold and the Purple Crayon [PNB Premiere] March 2023 dates TBA (NOTE: Not part of the 2023-24 Subscription season.) Featuring students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Based on the beloved book by Crockett Johnson, this hour-long, narrated tale of Harold and his trusty crayon features performances by PNB School students and is the perfect introduction to ballet for young audiences. Music: Andrew Bird Choreography: Robyn Mineko Williams/Terence Marling Scenic Design: Ryan Wineinger-Schattl Costume Design: Rebecca Shouse Lighting Design: Matt Miller REP 5 – THE SEASONS’ CANON April 12 – 21, 2024 Digital streaming dates: April 25 – 29 Back by popular demand, Crystal Pite’s mesmerizing The Seasons’ Canon features 54 dancers moving as one organism to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, recomposed by Max Richter. Pite’s opus is complemented by Twyla Tharp’s Shaker-inspired Sweet Fields and Jessica Lang’s stunning solo work, The Calling. Sweet Fields Music: 18th- and 19th-century American hymns and Shaker songs Choreography: Twyla Tharp Staging: Matt Rivera with Shelley Washington Original Costume Design: Norma Kamali Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton The Calling Music: Anonymous 12th-13th century Choreography: Jessica Lang Staging: Kanji Segawa Costume Design: Elena Comendador Costume Concept: Jessica Lang Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce The Seasons’ Canon Music: Max Richter (Antonio Vivaldi) Choreography: Crystal Pite Staging: Eric Beauchesne & Anna Herrmann Scenic Design: Jay Gower Taylor Costume Design: Nancy Bryant Lighting Design: Tom Visser Coppélia May 31 – June 9, 2023 Digital streaming dates: June 13 – 17 When a silent beauty appears on the balcony of toymaker Doctor Coppelius’ workshop, it spells trouble for sweethearts Swanilda and Franz: He’s smitten, and she’s determined to confront her rival and win back her beau. With spirited mime, bravura dancing, and Delibes’ famously melodic score, Coppélia is one of ballet’s greatest comedies. Music: Léo Delibes Book: Charles Nuitter, after E.T.A. Hoffman Choreography: Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust (after Petipa) Staging: Judith Fugate Scenic and Costume Design: Roberta Guidi di Bagno Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli SUBSCRIPTION & TICKET INFORMATION The Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office is now taking orders for subscription renewals, new subscriptions, and digital-season subscriptions to PNB’s 2023-24 season. Full-season [seated] subscriptions start at $201 for seats to all six programs. Four-show partial-season subscriptions start at $138. The digital-only subscription is available for $300. Beginning July 18, tickets to all PNB performances (starting at $38) and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (starting at $29) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office: · Phone - 206.441.2424 · In Person - 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center · Online 24/7 - PNB.org (Tickets are also available – subject to availability – 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall. In-person ticket sales at the McCaw Hall Box Office are subject to day-of-show increases. Advance tickets through the PNB Box Office are strongly suggested for best prices and greatest availability.) For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Pay-What-You-Can, and student and senior rush tickets, visit PNB.org/offers.

Here is a link to Ismene Brown's remembrance on The Arts Desk: https://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/you-want-cry-loving-do-it-so-much-lynn-seymour-1939-2023

Alastair Macaulay's obituary in The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/15/arts/dance/lynn-seymour-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=CC6j4UMzRdu78rrhNXxhnnzLkt9hTv3Ccsm9VukhH2ZZKALq16Qg565Fra9UO9ZFbD3kEB4fO3wmnF8wgbVb3cViseIb-owCM6rjoXsdgcQFoTjTg52z-_tqNsJ9Z2j0aTLSM_F_OBy_Tm6YJSBqoPxIgxiwgoP3du--kAZismo0wFGMaAbQPXE9XZxsXbVlGCWYSJ2ArX5Mz0QyEOxOS3YdcWTQyCE6brjAM1KSE4P9xnj7jq3jgWJt53VgeivsbSjS0UgX-j_mkmyiEaXataZA0o1PURE80fXtLFkSV4jgWF5BVhQW8sICx0xoLepEqB5m-StuTcgsHNuG41k&smid=url-share

Casting is up for both weekends, with two casts each for Wonderland (Penny Saunders) and Let Me Mingle Tears with Thee (Jessica Lang), and one cast for the Alejandro Cerrudo World Premiere: https://www.pnb.org/season/boundless/ Here's the link to the downloadable Excel file: Boundless 2023_03_13.xlsx As always, casting is subject to change.

Wow!!! Congratulations to him .

PNB has posted the news that Leta Biasucci and her husband, James Ratliff, have a daughter, Alma, who was born on November 30, 2022: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PNBallet/posts/pfbid02UEHsBRbEKvdmNabgqMv4T71RZ2oeveh4GntifHgbjWLSuMNgmD5UpL99ovRNnyKzl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpntb3OvQ6L/ Congratulations to the family

Marina Harss interviewed Jared Angle just after his retirement performance in Fjord Review: https://fjordreview.com/jared-angle-farewell/ I hope he's enjoying Copenhagen!

Not a "Where are they now?" but a "Where were they then?": Kurt Froman just posted a picture from School of American Ballet, where, in the back, he was partnering Maria Chapman: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpksVCWOSbQ/

Pacific Northwest Ballet posted this to Instagram after learning that Ian Falconer, children's book illustrator and theater designer who studied under David Hockney, has died: https://www.instagram.com/p/CplO2kfyWv9/ There are four wonderful photos to scroll through in the post. Here is an article from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/08/1161803473/ian-falconer-dies-olivia Here is the obituary in the NYT, which includes a photo of Falconer conferring about his Nutcracker designs for Pacific Northwest Ballet: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/08/books/ian-falconer-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=fyyiQMhm3lUiumfoxeJprPVZBvtbhT50wlQK0Sq4EiurMsa1n2r_vcOMhgU9zkmwUgdVsB3XJezobJxBBf8O9c2-aHi8kqNCpChJ_xAsyfnDI39K9cneVBHU3zk70bevPmqFye5HiX0Ag3CUvGdKoMIrnTPwYti0V545n5a91XEJStD_cOTtHs4MsT5gBddZckuhiSuEBSYjtLnFMQyGVrdIBAfCJezDUHrtp1bWeOLemG9B4tfG4peVbwRILXXBrXZqOyEOAq8QZv9Gh5k84iMEncjJLyxd2zQe4uDEa67acabGj_bFUN8kDrrVcihd4-ooEenJfnK8&smid=url-share

From this article, So that explains why we haven't seen Leta Biasucci for a while. Congratulations to her!

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 50th Anniversary Season with premieres aplenty from Penny Saunders, Alejandro Cerrudo, and Jessica Lang. Seven Performances: March 17 – 26, 2023 March 17 at 7:30 PM March 18 at 2:00 and 7:30 PM March 23 – 25 at 7:30 PM March 26 at 1:00 PM Marion Oliver McCaw Hall 321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center Seattle, Washington Streaming Digitally March 30 – April 3 SEATTLE, WA – On the third anniversary of the March 2020 closure, Pacific Northwest Ballet welcomes back three of its favorite pandemic-era collaborators to return to the McCaw Hall stage, this time with a live audience. Alejandro Cerrudo, Jessica Lang, and Penny Saunders consistently challenge and push the boundaries of dance and theatrical conventions. BOUNDLESS continues PNB’s celebration of its 50th Anniversary Season with Saunders’ theatre-roving Wonderland, and world premieres from Cerrudo and Lang. BOUNDLESS runs for seven performances, March 17 through 26 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at just $37. The program will also stream digitally from March 30 through April 3. Tickets for the digital access are $35. For tickets and additional information, contact the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, in person at 301 Mercer Street, or online 24/7 at PNB.org. The program line-up includes: Wonderland Original Music and Adaptations: Michael Wall Additional Music: Jean-Philippe Goude, Hugues Le Bars, Erik Satie, Camille Saint-Saëns, Stephen Foster Choreography: Penny Saunders Assistant to the Choreographer: Pablo Piantino Sound Design: Penny Saunders Costume Design: Melanie Burgess Lighting Design: Trad A Burns Premiere: November 12, 2020 (PNB Digital Season) PNB’s 2020 world premiere of Penny Saunders’ Wonderland is principally supported by the Jane Lang Davis New Works Fund and Glenn Kawasaki, with additional support by T.R. Ko. Wonderland pays homage to the marvel and magic of live theater – a love letter to the immense power and delight one finds within those walls. This work was originally made for film during the height of the pandemic. Now we happily inhabit this beautiful space again with a renewed sense of gratitude for the shared experience of live performance. [Program note by Penny Saunders.] Penny Saunders was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. After graduating from the Harid Conservatory in 1995, she enjoyed a 20-year performing career with American Repertory Ballet, Ballet Arizona, MOMIX Dance Theater, Cedar Lake Ensemble, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. As a choreographer, Saunders has collaborated with Hubbard Street, Cincinnati Ballet, Whim W’Him, Pacific Northwest Ballet, BalletX, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Seattle Dance Collective, and Grand Rapids Ballet, where she is currently Resident Choreographer. Saunders won the Princess Grace Award in 2016, and is an Artist in Residence at USC Kaufman School of Dance. New Cerrudo (World Premiere) Music: M. Ward (More Rain, “More Rain”), Parra for Cuva (Mood in C, “Mood in A”), Hidden Orchestra (East London Street, “East London Street- Drums Only Version”), Natalia Tsupryk (Mariupol, “Mariupol”), Brambles (Charcoal, “Unsayable”), Ben Crosland (The Turn, “The Hourglass”), Timber Timbre (Timber Timbre, “Demon Host”) Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo Scenic and Costume Design: Karen Young Lighting Design: Michael Korsch PNB’s 2023 world premiere of Alejandro Cerrudo’s yet-to-be-titled new work is principally supported by Aimee Truchard, with additional support from T.R.Ko. Alejandro Cerrudo was born in Madrid, Spain. His professional career includes work with Stuttgart Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater 2, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC). Cerrudo was HSDCʼs Resident Choreographer from 2008 to 2018. In 2020, Peter Boal named Cerrudo the first Resident Choreographer of Pacific Northwest Ballet, a post he will hold for three seasons. Cerrudo’s body of work has been performed by more than 20 professional dance companies around the world. His collaborations include Wendy Whelan on her program Restless Creature, Daniil Simkin for the Guggenheim Rotunda, and Sleeping Beauty for Ballet Theater Basel. In 2022 he became the Artistic Director of Charlotte Ballet. Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee (World Premiere) Music: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi Choreography: Jessica Lang Scenic & Costume Design: Jillian Lewis Lighting Design: Carolyn Wong Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, written in 1736 when he was only 26 years old, is one of his most celebrated sacred works and composed in the final weeks of his life. The Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Latin hymn which portrays Mary standing at the foot of the cross mourning the loss of her Son. Over centuries, the text has been a popular subject for many composers including Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Haydn, Schubert, Verdi, Dvořák, and Arvo Pärt. Featuring two voices, Pergolesi’s score is 12 movements, divided in two parts. The first half is in third person, with the text providing a bit of narrative storytelling while the second half is in first person becoming a universal prayer. [Program note by Jessica Lang.] The premiere of Jessica Lang’s Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee is principally supported by Deidra Wager, with additional support by Joshua Lieberman and Braiden Rex-Johnson & Spencer Johnson A celebrated choreographer of her generation, Jessica Lang has created over 100 original works on companies worldwide including ABT, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, PNB, and her eponymous company Jessica Lang Dance. Lang was Artistic Director of Jessica Lang Dance from 2011-2019. The company performed in over 85 cities presented by venues including Lincoln Center, LA Music Center, The Kennedy Center, Tel Aviv Opera, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and Helikon Opera. She is the recipient of a Martha Hill Mid-Career Award, an Arison Award and a Bessie Award, and fellowships at NY City Center and NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts. jessicalangchoreographer.com UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS PNB CONVERSATIONS & DRESS REHEARSAL Thursday, March 16, 5:30 pm Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join arts and culture reporter Marcie Sillman, in conversation with choreographers Alejandro Cerrudo, Jessica Lang, and Penny Saunders. PNB Conversations offers in-depth interviews with artists involved in putting our repertory on stage. Attend the Conversations event only or stay for the dress rehearsal of BOUNDLESS. Tickets ($30) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. BALLET TALK Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join dance historian Doug Fullington for a 30-minute introduction to each performance, including discussions of choreography, music, history, design and the process of bringing ballet to the stage. One hour before performances. FREE for ticketholders. MEET THE ARTIST Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Skip the post-show traffic and enjoy a Q&A with Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB dancers, immediately following each performance. FREE for ticketholders. (There will be no Meet the Artist event following the 3/18 matinee.)

Rest in peace, Ms. Seymour. Here is a link to the tweet from the Royal Opera House:

The press release for the 2023-24 season: 60th Anniversary Season BALLET WEST ANNOUNCES 23/24 SEASON MILESTONE SEASON WITH AUDIENCE FAVORITES, WORKS BY FOUNDER WILLAM CHRISTENSEN, COMPANY PREMIERES, TOURS TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND CHICAGO, AND THE RETURN OF THE CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVAL FIVE-BALLET PACKAGES START AT JUST $147 Salt Lake City, UT— In a live event at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute announced the internationally-acclaimed Company’s 60th Anniversary Season, highlighted by three full-length story ballets, three world premieres, a KSL-TV broadcast, and unique historic masterpieces. The season begins in October at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, and is generously sponsored by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake Zoo, Arts & Park, and Intermountain Health. “For this season, I wanted to honor the legacy of our founder, Willam Christensen, a visionary committed to the history of ballet, but also to its future,” said Sklute. “In addition, I want to pay homage to all of my predecessors in unique and subtle ways by presenting a mix of audience favorites and new creations.” The 60th Season is following two years of record attendance and audience growth. The Company is also pleased to welcome back accompaniment by the Ballet West Orchestra, led by Ballet West Music Director Jared Oaks. The season opens with the return of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, back by popular demand and just in time for Halloween! The production was hailed by the New York Times as “a Dracula beyond Stoker’s darkest dreams.” This blockbuster show is set to the music of Franz Liszt, as arranged by John Lanchberry. It features exciting pyrotechnics, flying vampires, and a ghostly carriage that careens on-and-off stage. Dracula runs Oct. 20 – 28 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Directly following is Firebird, a triple-bill of three works that honor the scope and vison of founder Willam Christensen, running Nov. 3 – 11. Opening the program is the revival of Christensen’s magical story of The Firebird to the iconic score by Igor Stravinsky. The ballet tells the tale of a prince who captures and then frees a magical bird, who in turn thanks the prince by saving him from attacking monsters and helps him find a beautiful princess. Next is the world premiere of Ballet West Demi-Soloist Joshua Whitehead’s Fever Dream. Whitehead has choreographed and composed the music for this sophisticated and mesmerizing work, originally shown as a workshop production for the students of Ballet West Academy. The program closes with George Balanchine’s joyous and unabashed celebration of Americana - Stars & Stripes. A huge cast of dancers present challenging classical dancing and intricate patterns to the upbeat and recognizable music of John Philip Souza (as arranged by Hershey Kay). The Nutcracker returns Dec. 8 – 27. Nearly 80 years after Christensen first choreographed it, America’s first full Nutcracker is still delighting audiences of all ages. The timeless music of Tchaikovsky will be performed live by the Ballet West Orchestra. In 2022, more than 42,000 experienced this beloved production and most performances were sold out. Prior to the traditional Salt Lake City run of performances, Ballet West will take The Nutcracker back to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for seven performances, Nov. 22 – 25, and then to Ogden, Utah before hitting the Capitol Theatre stage in Salt Lake City from Dec. 8 – 27. A must-see for any theater-goer, Swan Lake returns Feb. 9 – 17. The production is conceived and produced by Adam Sklute, after original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with additional choreography by Ballet West Principal Rehearsal Director, Pamela Robinson-Harris and the late Mark Goldweber. The story follows a forlorn prince, an evil wizard, and an enchanted maiden who can only become human by the light of the moon. April 12 - 20, the company presents Love and War, a powerful triple-bill of groundbreaking and astonishing works. The program opens with the Utah Premiere of Blake Works I by renowned choreographer William Forsythe, who is recognized as one of the greatest living chorographers in the world. This sensual work, created on the Paris Opera Ballet in 2016, is set to the tuneful and moody songs of James Blake. Next is the long-awaited Ballet West revival of Red Angels, choreographed by Ulysses Dove with music by Richard Einhorn. Four dancers and an electric violin, played by the original interpreter, Mary Rowell, one of only two people in the world to play this score, present a nonstop outpouring of energy and passion. Finally, one of the world’s greatest ballet masterpieces, Kurt Jooss’s 1932 work The Green Table, returns to the Ballet West stage with a spellbinding score for two pianos by Frederick Cohen. In eight profoundly moving scenes, Jooss and Cohen depict the futility of war, its tragedy, and the redemptive power of humanity. In addition to the mainstage season, the popular Family Classics Series returns with Beauty and the Beast, conceived and produced by Adam Sklute and choreographed by Ballet West Principal Rehearsal Director Pamela Robinson-Harris with Peggy Dolkas. Performed by Ballet West II and members of the Ballet West Academy, this production is designed for families and children looking for an introduction to ballet with a shortened run-time and narration. Performances run March 29 – 30 with a Spanish-only narration March 30 in the evening. The Choreographic Festival returns June 5 – 8 at the Rose Wagner Theatre. This season’s festival celebrates Asian choreographers, artists, musicians, and companies. Along with presentations by two soon-to- be announced international guest companies, Adam Sklute has commissioned world premieres for Ballet West by Caili Quan, a dynamic new voice in contemporary ballet and dance, and emerging choreographer Zhongjing Fang, currently a soloist with American Ballet Theater. The strength of this program has also garnered national interest that takes the company back on tour to The Kennedy Center June 18 – 22, 2024. “From the revivals of some of Ballet West’s most beloved presentations, to the creation of new, cutting-edge work, our 2023-2024 season is definitely the biggest and most ambitious season in Ballet West history!” adds Adam Sklute, “It is our gift to Utah, the world, and our grand art-form of ballet!” Subscribers to the 2023-2024 Season will enjoy exclusive benefits, including free ticket exchanges, up to 40% off single ticket prices, priority seating, and first access to purchase additional tickets to The Nutcracker. Five-performance pages start at just $147. Groups of 15 or more will have access to purchase tickets before single tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 5. Heritage Club Members will have access to exclusive insider events including pre-performance Director’s Pointe talks, Intermission Receptions, In-Studio Rehearsals, and more. Single tickets do not go on sale until September 5, so ballet fans are encouraged to subscribe now or renew their seasons subscriptions early to get the best available seats. Contact Ballet West at 801-869-6920 or visit BalletWest.org. DRACULA Oct. 20 - 28 Choreography: Ben Stevenson Music: Franz Liszt (as arranged by John Lanchbury) Lighting Design: Tony Tucci, adapted from original designs by Tim Hunter Lighting Recreation: Jim French Costume Design: Judanna Lynn Scenic Design: Thomas Boyd World Premiere: March 1997, Houston Ballet, The Brown Theater at The Wortham Center, Houston, Texas Utah Premiere: 2011 Recommended for ages 10 and up. FIREBIRD Nov. 3 - 11 The Firebird Choreography: Willam Christensen Music: Igor Stravinsky Scenic and Costume Design: Ronald Crosby Costume Design: David Heuvel Lighting: James Larsen Masks: Logan Long World Premiere: October 25, 1967, Ballet West, Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake City Fever Dream Choreography and Musical Composition: Joshua Whitehead Utah Premiere: November 2023 Stars and Stripes Choreography: George Balanchine Music: John Philip Souza (as arranged by Hershey Kay) Costumes: Karinska Original Lighting: Ronald Bates Lighting: James Larsen World Premier: January 17, 1958, New York City Ballet, City Center of Music and Drama, New York Utah Premier: April 9, 2010 Recommended for ages 10 and up. THE NUTCRACKER Dec. 8 - 26 Choreography: Willam Christensen Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Scenic Design: John Wayne Cook Additional Scenic Design: Dick and Belinda Bird Costume Design: David Heuvel World Premiere: 1944, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, California Utah Premiere: December 27, 1955, Kingsbury Hall Recommended for ages 5 and up. SWAN LAKE Feb. 9 – 17 Choreography: Conceived and Produced by Adam Sklute, after original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Additional Choreography: Mark Goldweber and Pamela Robinson Harris Sets and Costumes: Peter Cazalet Lighting: Jim French World Premier: March 4, 1877, Russian Imperial Ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Utah Premier: Feb. 2, 1982 LOVE AND WAR April 12 - 20 Blake Works I Choreography: William Forsythe Music: James Blake Costumes: William Forsythe and Dorothee Merg Lighting Recreated by: Brandon Baker World Premier: July 4, 2016 at the Palais Garnier in Paris, France Utah Premier: April 2024 Red Angels Choreography: Ulysses Dove Music: Richard Einhorn Lighting: Mark Stanley Lighting Recreation: Brandon Baker World Premiere: May 19, 1994, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater Utah Premiere: April 11, 2009, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts, Park City, Utah The Green Table Choreography: Kurt Jooss Music: Frederick Cohen Costume Design: Hein Heckroth Masks and Lighting Design: Hermann Markard Lighting: Kevin Dreyer World Premiere: July 3, 1932, Choreographic Festival in Paris, France Utah Premiere: March 2017 Recommended for ages 10 and up. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST March 29 - 30 FAMILY CLASSICS SERIES: Performed by Ballet West II & Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy Students. Spanish-only narration on March 30 at 7 p.m. Production: Adam Sklute Choreography: Pamela Robinson-Harris and Peggy Dolkas Music: Alexander Glazunov and Nikolai Tcherepnin Scenic Design: John Wayne Cook Costume Design: David Heuvel Lighting Design: James K. Larsen Utah Premiere: 2016 Choreographic Festival VI: ASIAN VOICES Choreographers: Caili Quan and Zhongjing Fang International Guest Companies: Soon to be announced

Have we caught up to 1998?

Congratulations to them both .