Chocomel

Did anyone see it? I was hoping to hear some impressions from people who are more educated than I. I really enjoyed seeing the program.

10 yo dd liked Brian Reeder's "Mad Maidens" best.

My 13 yo ds and my mom liked Kiyon Gaines' dance "Infinite Intricacies" the best, but disliked the music.

My favorite was Sonia Dawkins' "Cu Ture." I don't know if I "got it" correctly, but I thought it was a hilarious send up of the high fashion industry. Some of the screeching electric violin was really annoying.

I thought the dance "Of the Name They Do Not Speak" was mostly interesting, but boring in a few parts.

We were all so impressed by the costumes that PNB Costume Shop designed. They were wonderful.

It was also fun to see the two PDs that will be apprentices with the company next year, Liora Reshef and Leah O'Connor. Both were definite standouts. A couple of the male PD's were wonderful as well. If I have the names straight, they were Mark Wax & Andrew Bartee. Eric Hipolito was exceptional dancing the Swan Lake pas de deux with Liora Reshef in the first school performance. I thought the PD's were quite an impressive group.

I'm totally hooked! We go to the lectures before and the Q&A's afterward so we can learn more. I find it helps tremendously.

My very generous mom told me that she had been feeling badly that she always buys things for my kids, but rarely for me. She asked me what I would want for my birthday more than anything else if money were no object. I told her a subscription to PNB for next year. So that's what she gave me. I couldn't be more excited and grateful! As soon as the subscriber renewal time ends, I'll be able to purchase it with the parent's discount. (April 16th, I think.)

Look what I found! Those should help me choose.

Program A Casting

http://pnb.org/season/festival-cast3a.html

Program B Casting

http://pnb.org/season/festival-cast3b.html

Program C Casting

http://pnb.org/season/festival-cast3c.html

So now that I see the casting, I've finally figured out how clueless I really was. I thought they wanted me to buy tickets to all the dates listed in Program A which would be 3 different dates with different dances on those different dates. Two different dates for Program B with different dances on each of the two dates, and the same with Program C. Now I see that Program A really is just one program done 3 different times, (2 for B). See? I really am a novice. I told you I needed Dance Festival for Dummies 101. Blushing and slinking back under my rock now.

Yes, I confess that I swapped my Friday night tickets for Saturday matinee as soon as the casting was up.

Thank you both so much.

What have we liked? We have a subscription this year (parent discount is very helpful) and have enjoyed everything. I can honestly say there is nothing we disliked. I am amazed at the quality of dancing by the entire company.

We splurged and went to the Opening Gala since dd was one of the little Circus Polka girls. WOW! I think we will always go to that now. How wonderful to be able to see all of the principals on stage the same night!

My kids predictably enjoyed Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and La Sonnambula. But they also particularly remember Fancy Free and Rassemblement. In addition, my son really enjoyed "The one where you could see the sweat flying off the guys," by which he means In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. It was also a very new style of music for him and he was intrigued.

My most vivid memories are from many different parts; The beautiful and extensive pointe work in Theme and Variations; The playful competition of the dancers in In the Middle; The dramatic lighting of Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven; The dramatically different style of dance and emotion in Rassemblement; The incredible intertwinings of Polyphonia. And I loved the playfulness of Waterbaby Bagatelles. I hope I haven't mixed up the names of any of those.

But watching Carla Korbes dance Odette/Odile has been the highlight of the year for me so far. When I saw others dance Odette/Odile (dd was in it), it was beautiful and the corps of swans was so enchanting. The whole package was beautiful. But when Carla Korbes danced it, my attention was riveted to her. I've never seen anything so beautiful and graceful. I now change my tickets to when she is dancing the most.

So those are the musings of a novice. From your descriptions, it sounds like I would enjoy them all. I guess it still doesn't narrow it down for me, but whichever I could get to would be pleasing.

Thanks.

I'm being marketing blitzed for the Celebrate Seattle Spring Dance Festival. However, I feel rather confused about it. I'm quite new to the world of dance, drawn in by my young daughter, but I have enjoyed learning. Could someone please talk me through it? Something along the lines of Dance Festival for Dummies 101?

It is being sold in 3 "programs" of either 3 or 2 performances. Are single performance tickets available?

In teeny, tiny print there are many different dance companies listed. Is there any way to tell who is performing in which performance? How would a novice with limited finances know which would be the best choices to make?

Thank you for any help you can offer.