PNB's Choreographers’ Showcase

Since this is one night only, reviews will come too late. So April 21 be at McCaw Hall for the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Choreographers’ Showcase. It promises to be a delight worth seeing.

PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal calls these choreographic workshops an important contribution to dance. Unlike All Balanchine, All Tharp and 3 Dove, this will not showcase the talents of some of ballet’s biggest names. These choreographers are PNB’s own.

It is no secret that I am a fan of Principal Dancer Jonathan Poretta. So I am especially looking forward to see what he brings to the table as a choreographer. When someone dances, you see them apply their skill to the choreographer’s steps under the artistic director’s direction. While he has always performed expertly, I am curious to see what Poretta envisions. This will be his sixth showcase.

Soloist Seth Orza made his choreographic debut in 2009’s Choreographers’ Showcase. I have seen him in a number of roles and look forward to seeing what he has come up with. Corps de ballet dancers Barry Kerollis, Andrew Bartee and Margaret Mullin will also showcase pieces in the performance. This will not be the first showcase for any of them and shows the depth of the PNB talent pool. Bartee and Mullin have collaborated before and performed their piece in Arizona and France.

Not to take away from the greats of ballet’s past, I think it is safe to say that there is still more great ballet out there waiting to be discovered by the choreographers of the future. The great choreographers of the future are the dancers of today. There is an old adage. “Those that can do, those that can’t teach.” Those in the dance world that can, do, and those that can’t have no business in ballet. However, as you will learn on Wed. those that can and also teach are called choreographers.

Tickets to Choreographers’ Showcase start at $10. It falls in the middle of Seattle Restaurant week. Some of the best restaurants in Seattle offer three course meals for $30. Dinner and a show for $40, you will not find a better deal for a while.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at206.441.2424, online at www.pnb.org or in person at the PNB Box Office, 301 Mercer Street. I will see you there.



*Photo Credit: Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Jonathan Porretta. Photo ©Angela Sterling.