PNB shows versatility, brings Broadway to the ballet

Ballet isn’t all pointe shoes and tutus. With the Broadway Festival running through March 22, the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) will showcase its versatility.

“I want to see the West Side Story,” said Krissy Girardi, a local dance teacher and professional ballet dancer. She is really excited to see the new production. “It is really nice to see the difference in the company.” Girardi said.

It used to be that ballet was very structured, with feet firmly planted in the classical styles. In ballet there is a name for everything; it is all very logical. That is what Girardi experienced when she danced in Italy for a few years. Now it is really important in the dance world to have diversity.

Stealing a line from “A Chorus Line,” Media Manager for the PNB Gary Tucker said, “Everything is better at the ballet.”

Ballet is art communicated through movement. It allows viewers to “experience something of beauty,” said Joanna Goff, chair of the EdCC drama department.

“I can recall some special magical times in the theatre that I was completely overwhelmed by what I saw and heard,” Goff said. “Several of those were when I was watching ballet and was so involved in the story that the movement, passion, the elements of light, sound and costuming working together were stunning. This experience lifts my heart and makes me cry, it is so beautiful!”

Goff recommends that students ex¬perience new forms of artistic expression. Everyone has a sense of what is beautiful in the world based on his or her place in the world. “It is important to expand on this; it is an enrichment of our lives,” Goff said.

PNB helps students expand their artistic experiences with special deals. More than just a nice escape, there are “good deals all over the place,” Tucker said. The “Senior and Student rush” tickets are half price 90 minutes before the performance on the day of show.

On Fridays there is the “Under 25” deal. Tickets are just $15 or two for $25 and can be bought in advance, but must be picked up in person. Or “Teen Tix” for those ballet aficionados ages 13-18. Tickets are just $5 on Friday.

Tucker suggests going to the pre-show lecture in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall. The lecture are free to ticket holders and rarely fills up. Going to the lecture will give the audience member a greater appreciation of what they are about to see.

Those who want to avoid the post show traffic mad dash can attend a Q&A in the Norcliffe room one level up from the main lobby. Members of the audience can ask anything they want to know about the show.

“I always recommend the pre and post [lectures]” Tucker said. The Broadway Festival lectures might be helpful for those accustomed to more traditional ballet.

The first performance, “Take five … more or less,” is a jazz piece with an ensemble of 11 dancers. Tony Award-winning Broadway choreographer Susan Stroman created this piece for the PNB’s Laugh Out Loud! Festival in April 2008.

According to the PNB Web site “Stroman’s starting point was the idea that artists never really “take five.” Their art is always with them, even when they sleep—witness the “nighttime” section of the ballet, featuring a ballerina dancing over the heads of the sleeping dancers.”

Next up is “West Side Story Suite” based on the original 1957 Broadway production. Choreographer Jerome Robbins extracted a sequence of dances from West Side Story to make this suite for New York City Ballet in 1995. Now Robbins, with Peter Gennaro, has brought the production to Seattle.

“West Side Story” is based on the musical of the same name that explores the tensions of two rival gangs in 1950s New York. The music selections for the ballet will be “Prologue,” “Something’s Coming,” “Dance at the Gym,” “Cool,” “America,” “Rumble,” and “Somewhere Ballet” originally composed by Leonard Bernstein.

The music for the last two performances, “Carousel (a dance)” and “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue” was composed by Richard Rodgers. The pieces will be orchestrated by William David Brohn and Hershy Kay respectively.

Carousel has a carnival atmosphere. The theme is tragic romance as the dancers create a stylized carousel on stage, separating the lovers with their movements. “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue” tells a story of a strip joint customer who falls in love with a mobster’s girl. The Big Boss arranges a hit on the hoofer, but is saved by the girl.

During the intermissions on the Promenade level of the lobby there will be a mini-revue of Broadway showtunes sung by the Three Ladies of the 5th Avenue Theatre, Billie Wildrick, Candice Donehoo and Jeannette d’Armand.

For those 21 and over, after the show on March 14 there is the Backstage Bash event. Sponsored by Backstage Pass, PNB’s social group for ballet lovers over the age of 21. “You get to dance on stage after the show,” Tucker said. Tickets are $45 for regular admission and $100 for VIP tick¬ets that include admission to the ballet and a gift bag from PNB and the sponsors.

Backstage Pass is a chance for patrons to socialize with dancers and other ballet enthusiasts. Members enjoy discounts, free wine at hosted intermissions, parties and other events.

Along with the traditional shows like “Swan Lake” running April 9 – 19 and the “Christmas Nutcracker Suite,” PNB is showing the diversity of modern ballet with shows such as “ALL Tharp” and now the “Broadway Festival.” With “West Side Story,” “Carousel” and “Slaughter on Tenth Street” premiering in Seattle, PNB promises this to be a show to see.

Tickets and information can be found at www.PNB.org.




*Reprinted with permission from The Triton Review