Ballet Talk with Pacific Northwest Ballet

Rep 6 - ...throes of increasing wonder, cracks, Nine Sinatra Songs (2024/25)

Listen along as dance historian Doug Fullington takes the Ballet Talk audience through the three works featured in Pacific Northwest Ballet's final performances of the 2024/25 Season. Twyla Tharp’s American masterpiece Nine Sinatra Songs is still sharp 40 years after its premiere. In it, Tharp effortlessly floats between dance genres, set to the familiar strains of Frank Sinatra hits. Two pieces from innovative choreographers Rena Butler and PNB’s own Kiyon Ross round out the program. Kiyon Ross' ...throes of increasing wonder and Rena Butler's world premiere work for PNB cracks finish off this triple-bill of three entertaining dance works. 

Recorded live in the Nesholm Famliy Lecture Hall inside Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in June, 2025.

 

Choreographer Rena Butler - PNB Conversation Series

Enjoy this episode featuring Pacific Northwest Ballet Associate Artistic Director Kiyon Ross in conversation with choreographer Rena Butler ahead of the world premiere of her new work for PNB, Cracks. The two speak on Rena's upbringing in Chicago, her journey from dancer to choreographer, insights into her detailed choreographic process, and her current cultural inspirations. 

This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA on May 29, 2025. 

Premiering Roméo et Juliette dancers Angelica Generosa, Dylan Wald, Luther DeMyer, Kuu Sakuragi - PNB Conversation Series

Jean-Christophe Maillot’s contemporary version of Roméo et Juliette requires that dancers tap into unique skills of storytelling. Converge Media host Trae Holiday moderated this conversation with PNB dancers performing iconic roles for the first time. Listen to Angelica Generosa (Juliet), Dylan Wald (Romeo), Luther DeMyer (Friar Laurence), and Kuu Sakuragi (Mercutio) talk through how they got their starts in ballet, their insights into their characters, and more!

 

Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in April, 2025. 

Rep 5 - Roméo et Juliette (2024/25)

Listen as guest Ballet Talk lecturer Anne Searcy takes an introductory tour through PNB's fifth repertory program of the 2024/25 Season, Jean-Christophe Maillot's Romeo et Juliette. Anne Searcy is an Associate Professor of Music History at the University of Washington. Searcy covers the basic story itself, puts the original Shakespeare play in historical context, and gives a brief history of the various versions of the ballet including the version from Jean-Christophe Maillot and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo that PNB performs. She also gives an overview of the character-based musical themes in Sergei Prokofiev's orchestral score and outlines how these themes work to tell the story of the ballet through the music. 

 

Learn more about Anne Searcy and her work here: https://music.washington.edu/people/anne-searcy.

Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in April, 2025. 

Building a New Work with Price Suddarth and Collaborators - PNB Conversation Series

Listen to local Seattle arts journalist Marcie Sillman in conversation with PNB Company dancer Price Suddarth and collaborators on his new ballet Dawn Patrol. Hear from Price, choreographic assistant Emma Love Suddarth, scenic designer Chrisoula Kapelonis, composer Alfonso Peduto, lighting designer Reed Nakayama, and costume designer Mark Zappone. The collaborators talk through the inspiration for Dawn Patrol, the collaborative creative process between each other and the dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet, and answer audience questions. Price Suddarth's Dawn Patrol premiered on March 14, 2025 at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle.

Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in March, 2025.

Rep 4 - Emergence (2024/25)

Enjoy Doug Fullington's pre-show Ballet Talk for PNB's EMERGENCE program. Doug talks through EMERGENCE's quadruple-bill production including the premiere of Dawn Patrol, a new work by PNB Company dancer Price Suddarth; Jerome Robbins' intimate Afternoon of a Faun; Marco Goecke's solo work Mopey; and another audience favorite of Crystal Pite's, the mesmerizing Emergence.

Recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA on March 15, 2025.

Rep 3 - The Sleeping Beauty (2024/25)

Join dance historian and The Sleeping Beauty stager Doug Fullington as he introduces Pacific Northwest Ballet's brand new production of The Sleeping Beauty in this Ballet Talk episode. Fullington covers the history of the ballet's original choreography by Marius Petipa and score by Peter Tchaikovsky, the process of restaging an 1890 ballet for modern audiences, this new productions talented collaborators (including Preston Singletary, Paul Tazewell, and Basil Twist), and answers audience questions. 

Recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA on February 9, 2025.

Rep 2 - All Balanchine (2024/25 Season)

Dance historian Doug Fullington gives an ALL BALANCHINE overview. He covers the brief histories of George Balanchine and his legacy, including the founding of New York City Ballet, staging Balanchine ballets and the George Balanchine Trust, and Balanchine's collaborators on the three works in PNB's ALL BALANCHINE program. This triple bill features Square Dance (1957), Prodigal Son (1929), and Stravinsky Violin Concerto (1972). 

Recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in November 2024.

Premiering Prodigal Sons with Jonathan Batista and Kuu Sakuragi - PNB Conversation Series

Listen to Peter Boal in conversation with two PNB dancers dancing the titular role in George Balanchine's Prodigal Son for the first time. Jonathan Batista and Kuu Sakuragi talk through their personal histories with Prodigal Son, their experiences through the rehearsal process, and answer audience questions. 

Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in November, 2024.

Hispanic Heritage Month Panel

In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, and in partnership with Casa Latina Seattle, El Centro de La Raza, Joyas Mestizas, KEXP, and Union Cultural Center, in October 2023 PNB hosted Baila Conmigo, a community open house. Held at PNB’s Seattle Center studios, this free, public event featured dance performances by PNB Company dancers and local dance group Joyas Mestizas, a kids’ movement class led by Mestre Silvinho, and a panel discussion moderated by Movimento Afrolatino Seattle founder Monica Rojas, with PNB dancers Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan and Jonathan Batista, El Sonido host DJ Albina Cabrera, and Joyas Mestizas Co-Director Luna Garcia. 

We are pleased to offer this panel discussion as a podcast, with transcripts available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. We hope you enjoy listening, reading, and celebrating these local creatives. 

Click here to read the English Transcript >> https://www.pnb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PNB_Hispanic_Heritage-Panel-English-Transcript-2023-1.pdf

Click here to read the Spanish Transcript >> https://www.pnb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PNB-Hispanic-Heritage-Month-Panel-_SPANISH.pdf

Click here to read the Portuguese Transcript >> https://www.pnb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PNB-Hispanic-Heritage-Month-Panel_Portuguese.pdf

 

En conmemoración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana, y en asociación con Casa Latina Seattle, El Centro de La Raza, Joyas Mestizas, KEXP y Union Cultural Center, en octubre de 2023, PNB organizó Baila Conmigo, una jornada de puertas abiertas comunitaria. Celebrado en los estudios del PNB Seattle Center, este evento público gratuito contó con presentaciones de danza de bailarines de la compañía PNB y el grupo de danza local Joyas Mestizas, una clase de movimiento para niños dirigida por Mestre Silvinho y un panel de discusión moderado por la fundadora del Movimento Afrolatino Seattle, Mónica Rojas, con Los bailarines de PNB Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan y Jonathan Batista, la presentadora de El Sonido, la DJ Albina Cabrera y la codirectora de Joyas Mestizas, Luna García. 

Nos complace ofrecer este panel de discusión como un podcast, con transcripciones disponibles en inglés, español y portugués. Esperamos que disfrute escuchando, leyendo y celebrando a estos creativos locales. 

Em comemoração ao Mês da Herança Hispânica, e em parceria com a Casa Latina Seattle, El Centro de La Raza, Joyas Mestizas, KEXP e Union Cultural Center, em outubro de 2023 o PNB sediou o Baila Conmigo, um open house comunitário. Realizado nos estúdios do PNB Seattle Center, este evento público e gratuito contou com apresentações de dança dos dançarinos da PNB Company e do grupo de dança local Joyas Mestizas, uma aula de movimento infantil liderada por Mestre Silvinho, e um painel de discussão moderado pela fundadora do Movimento Afrolatino Seattle, Monica Rojas, com Os dançarinos do PNB Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan e Jonathan Batista, a apresentadora do El Sonido, DJ Albina Cabrera, e a codiretora de Joyas Mestizas, Luna Garcia. 

Temos o prazer de oferecer este painel de discussão como um podcast, com transcrições disponíveis em inglês, espanhol e português. Esperamos que você goste de ouvir, ler e celebrar esses criativos locais.