Digital only: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®

Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) is one of the largest and most highly regarded ballet companies in the United States. PNB was founded in 1972 as Pacific Northwest Dance Association under the aegis of Seattle Opera Association. The Company became an independent organization in September 1977 and was renamed Pacific Northwest Ballet in 1978.

Each year, the company of nearly fifty dancers presents more than 100 performances, including full-length and mixed repertory ballets in Seattle, as well as on tour. For the regular season, PNB performs at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. The regular season runs from September through March, with special additions through June.

The Company has toured to Europe, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, and throughout the United States, with celebrated appearances at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Centre in Massachusetts, and in New York City and Washington DC.

Pacific Northwest Ballet is also recognized as one of the top three ballet training institutions in the United States. The PNB School offers a professional curriculum serving more than 1,000 students. The School’s Open Program attracts another 600 teens and adults who wish to pursue recreational dance instruction in a supportive and encouraging setting. PNB school has two facilities: The Phelps Center at Seattle Center and The Francia Russell Center in Bellevue.

Finally, PNB created Second Stage in 1999, a career transition program to support PNB dancers in achieving their goals following a career in dance. Second Stage provides resources for dannces to take classes, access mentors and career counseling, and receive grants. PNB dancers transition to become Pilates instructors, real estate agents, interior designers, small business owners, medical students, and law students. A partnership with Seattle University offers PNB dancers college courses at convenient times that work with their busy schedules.

Classic Ballet dancers photo by rmarinello – DepositPhotos.com

About Ballet Costumes and Production Staging

Since 1987, nearly every costume that PNB’s dancers worn has been built in PNB’s Costume Shop at Phelps Center, overlooking the company’s rehearsal space.

Ballet costumes begin with a design idea or sketch. Costumers in the shop work with the designer to develop a pattern for the idea and an initial costume constructed of muslin. Dancers try the muslin costumes, and a series of design changes, fittings, color choices, and fabrics are worked to complete the fully developed costume as intended by the designer intended.

The costumes must be constructed to withstand the stress of a dancer’s movement, yet move effortlessly with the dancer, and last through countless washings. Costumes must also be easy for a dancer to put on and take off, and allow for easy alterations from one dancer to the next.

PNB’s Production Shop has been in existence since 1975. Initially the staff worked in the boiler room of the Good Shepherd in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, then in the old Ballard Ice Arena, and finally a warehouse in Fremont.

Set creation is a collaborative process involving the artistic staff, choreographer, designers, and technicians who facilitate their work by constructing models to check the production’s sets and props against choreography, lighting, and costumes. Some sets take a full year to build. Once completed the set must be dismantled and stored, then transported and installed in the theater for the next performance.

The requirements for ballets vary widely. The PNB Production shop has produced 200 pounds of snow for the Nutcracker from fireproof paper, installed over 1,000 miniature light bulbs on the Nutcracker Christmas tree, constructed Cinderella’s filigreed 23-foot carriage, and found chandeliers, pewter and china for Cinderella in antique stores.

Pacific Northwest Ballet 50th Anniversary Season 2022/23

Here’s the line-up of six ballets for the company’s 50th Anniversary Season, from September 2022 through June 2023. Highlights include six world premieres, a major PNB premiere from Crystal Pite, and story ballets Giselle and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as works by George Balanchine, Edwaard Liang, Penny Saunders, and PNB Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell. (Plus, of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. PNB plans to continue offering its digital
subscription as well so audiences across the country and around the world can attend the show. As always, everything is subject to change.

September 23 – October 2, 2022: Carmina Burana. Goldstar ticket discount offer: Carmina Burana
November 4 – 13, 2022: The Seasons’ Canon. Goldstar ticket discount offer: The Seasons’ Canon
February 3 – 12, 2023: Giselle
March 17 – 26, 2023: Boundless
April 14 – 23, 2023: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
June 2 – 11, 2023: Worlds to Come

More info: Season Ballet Performances at Pacific Northwest Ballet (pnb.org).

PNB offers a variety of subscription options to suit any budget:

Storytime Package at $121 includes 3 full-length ballets (The Nutcracker, Giselle, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) performed by PNB Company dancers and one hour-long ballet (Snow White) performed by PNB School students—great for families, date nights, and gift-giving.
Partial Season (four shows) subscriptions begin at just $132.
Full Season ticket (six shows) subscriptions begin at $192.
The Digital Season is $260 includes all six ballets PLUS the digital presentation of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Note: Digital season will not run day-and-date with the live performances.
Individual tickets to all PNB 50th Anniversary season performances start at $37.
Individual tickets to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® start at $27.

Other ways to save: Offers | Season & Tickets | Pacific Northwest Ballet (pnb.org)