ivypink Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 I saw the announcement on PNB's Facebook, which linked to the company blog. Link to comment
Helene Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 This is the press release -- I'm still in shock and denial: Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer Maria Chapman Announces Retirement SEATTLE, WA, November 17, 2015 — Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and principal dancer Maria Chapman have announced that Ms. Chapman has decided to retire. Ms. Chapman joined PNB as an apprentice in 1995 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 1996, soloist in 2005, and principal in 2009. “In her 21st season with PNB, Maria has made the difficult decision to retire from the stage,” said Mr. Boal in his announcement. “Maria’s career has been filled with extraordinary roles, but it is her most recent real-life role, as mother of precious Eleanor, that has quickly become her favorite.” “With mixed emotions, I announce my retirement from PNB so that I can enjoy more time with my daughter,” said Ms. Chapman regarding her decision. “I feel blessed to leave the stage happy and healthy and with two decades of wonderful memories, on and offstage. I fully enjoyed my last performances with PNB, dancing three wonderful ballets, with the entire company, in the EMERGENCE program, and I can end my career on a high note. I know I will always miss this spectacular career, and the PNB community, however when Eleanor came into my life sixteen months ago, my goals changed and she became my world. As I did when I left home at age 15 to become a ballerina, I once again leave a safe ‘home’ to follow my heart to be a full-time mom. I am truly grateful to all of my fans, friends and family for the love and support you gave me throughout my career.” Mr. Boal continued: “I have had the unique pleasure of watching Maria grow from a gangly-legged student at the School of American Ballet, to an accomplished artist and beloved ballerina. Maria’s range has been tremendous not only in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Kent Stowell, but also as a muse to many choreographers. I will never forget her quirky allure as the punk heroine in Twyla Tharp’s Afternoon Ball, her embodiment of beauty in Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain, her innate elegance in the second movement of Balanchine’s Symphony in C, or her poignant portrayal of Odette in Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. In addition to her artistic triumphs, she has been a true advocate for academic education for dancers, as the chair of Second Stage, PNB’s career transition program. We will miss Maria on our stage and in our studios, but we are most happy for Eleanor.” Maria Chapman is from St. Simons Island, Georgia. She was a student of Magdalena Maury and studied under Patricia Bromley at Terpsichore Co., Ltd. in Atlanta. She continued her training on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet and attended summer courses at Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and the School of American Ballet. She joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 1995 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 1996, soloist in 2005, and principal in 2009. Ms. Chapman has danced leading roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, Apollo, Concerto Barocco, Coppélia (Spinner), Divertimento No. 15, Emeralds, The Four Temperaments, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Divertissement pas de deux, Helena), Symphony in C, and Symphony in Three Movements; Peter Boal’s Giselle (Myrtha); Todd Bolender’s Souvenirs; David Dawson’s A Million Kisses to My Skin; Ulysses Dove’s Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven and Vespers; Nacho Duato’s Jardí Tancat; Nicolo Fonte’s Within/Without; William Forsythe’s Artifact II, In the middle, somewhat elevated, and One Flat Thing, reproduced; Kiyon Gaines’ ə{SCHWA}; Paul Gibson’s Sense of Doubt; Ronald Hynd’s The Sleeping Beauty (Aurora in “Aurora’s Wedding”, Bluebird pas de deux); Jiri Kylian’s Forgotten Land and Petite Mort; Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette (Lady, Capulet, Rosaline); Mark Morris’ Pacific; Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Cylindrical Shadows; Crystal Pite’s Emergence; Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH and Don Quixote (Mercedes, Queen of the Dryads); Jerome Robbins’ The Concert, Glass Pieces, and In the Night; Kent Stowell’s Carmina Burana, Cinderella (Cinderella), Delicate Balance, Firebird, Nutcracker (Clara, Flora, Peacock), Silver Lining, and Swan Lake (Odette/Odile); Susan Stroman’s TAKE FIVE … More or Less; Price Suddarth’s Signature; Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s Mercury; Twyla Tharp’s Afternoon Ball, Brief Fling, In the Upper Room, Nine Sinatra Songs, Opus 111, and Waterbaby Bagatelles; and Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain pas de deux, Polyphonia, and Tide Harmonic. She originated leading roles in Kiyon Gaines’ ə{SCHWA} and Sum Stravinsky, Benjamin Millepied’s 3 Movements, and Victor Quijada’s Suspension of Disbelief, and featured roles in Donald Byrd’s Seven Deadly Sins and Christopher Stowell’s Quick Time. Ms. Chapman danced in the BBC’s 1999 film version of PNB’s production of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, filmed at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London. She is also featured in the 1999 danceWORKS fitness video and began appearing in Bloch dancewear advertising in 2002. In addition to her performing career, Ms. Chapman is a founding member (1998 to present) of Second Stage for Dancers, PNB’s career transition program. She is currently chairperson of the Second Stage Dancer Committee. Link to comment
Helene Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 In the letter from Peter Boal emailed to the mailing list were excerpts of the press release and a link to Chapman's dancer profile video from 2011: I've tried to identify her partners, and any help and corrections would be appreciated: In the middle, somewhat elevated: Casey Herd? On Flat Thing Reproduced: Batkhurel Bold is in yellow, but I'm not sure who's in blue Symphony in C: Jeffrey Stanton? Emeralds: Jeffrey Stanton 3 Movements: First partner-? Second partner: Seth Orza (earlier and later clips) Nine Sinatra Songs: Anton Pankevich Cinderella: Seth Orza Link to comment
pherank Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Yes, that is sad - she was my favorite dancer at PNB, along with Carla Körbes. I assume this has a lot to do with her having a child - the family comes first now. Link to comment
seattle_dancer Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Maria was fantastic in all roles the second weekend of Rep 2. The press release makes it sound as if those were her last performances. It's not clear (to me) whether she is finishing the season. She is not listed anywhere for Nutcracker opening weekend casting. Link to comment
Helene Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 I thought this statement made it clear that last weekend's performances were her last, and normally, when a Principal Dancer retires/leaves at the end of a season, a mention of a farewell at Season Encores is usually included" I fully enjoyed my last performances with PNB, dancing three wonderful ballets, with the entire company, in the EMERGENCE program, and I can end my career on a high note. I know I will always miss this spectacular career, and the PNB community, however when Eleanor came into my life sixteen months ago, my goals changed and she became my world. As I did when I left home at age 15 to become a ballerina, I once again leave a safe ‘home’ to follow my heart to be a full-time mom. I am truly grateful to all of my fans, friends and family for the love and support you gave me throughout my career.” Link to comment
apollosmuse Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 So sad about this one. She was fabulous in the rep this weekend and I was looking forward to seeing more of her this year. Sigh...family comes first but definitely a sad day for audiences. Link to comment
sandik Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 I've tried to identify her partners, and any help and corrections would be appreciated: In the middle, somewhat elevated: Casey Herd? On Flat Thing Reproduced: Batkhurel Bold is in yellow, but I'm not sure who's in blue Symphony in C: Jeffrey Stanton? Emeralds: Jeffrey Stanton 3 Movements: First partner-? Second partner: Seth Orza (earlier and later clips) Nine Sinatra Songs: Anton Pankevich Cinderella: Seth Orza Postlewaite in blue in One Flat Thing. I think it's Orza in Symphony in C I remember her performance in Sinatra with Pankevitch -- she was the spoiled beauty and he was charmed and exasperated. It was great. Link to comment
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