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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Doug Fullington introduces PNB's 2024/25 Season with our first performances of the year, THE TIMES ARE RACING. This program includes Edwaard Liang's The Veil Between Worlds, Jessica Lang's Black Wave, and Justin Peck's The Times Are Racing. Doug talks through these three works, the role of rehearsal directors in the ballet creation process, Jessica Lang's appointment as PNB's latest Resident Choreographer, recently promoted soloist dancer Luther DeMyer, and more!   Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in September 2024.

Listen and learn more about PNB's new Resident Choreographer Jessica Lang! Artistic director Peter Boal interviewed Lang ahead of the premiere of her new work Black Wave in PNB's first performances of the 2024/25 Season. The two cover Jessica's background dancing and choreographing career, the role of a resident choreographer, her experiences so far with PNB, and answers questions from the audience.    Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in September 2024.

Listen and enjoy Doug Fullington's pre-performance Ballet Talk on George Balanchine's Coppélia. Fullington recaps this comedic ballet, its history, and more! Recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA in June, 2024.

Join Doug Fullington as he interviews PNB's retiring rehearsal director Otto Neubert and PNB School students performing in our final production of the 2023/24 Season, Coppélia. Listen to Otto as he recounts his incredible career from dancing to rehearsal directing, how dance steps and roles are passed dancer to dancer, and Otto's advice to dancers of all ages.  This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA in June, 2024.

Join dance historian Doug Fullington as he takes us through the three works of Pacific Northwest Ballet's THE SEASONS' CANON. On stage this rep are Twyla Tharp's Sweet Fields™, Jessica Lang's stunning solo The Calling, and Crystal Pite's mesmerizing work for 54 dancers, The Seasons' Canon. Doug Fullington is the founder and director of The Tudor Choir who sing the Shaker hymns featured in Sweet Fields, as well as the music for The Calling.  Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in April 2024.    

Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and retiring PNB Principal dancer James Yoichi Moore talk about the ins and outs of James' career as a dancer. They cover his journey as a dancer pre-PNB, his on and off stage collaborators (Noelani Pantastico, Twyla Tharp, Seattle Dance Collective, etc.), his advice for young dancers, and more! Tune in to this conversation for a brief summary of James' contributions to PNB including some rapid-fire questions from Peter and the audience.    This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA in April 2024.

Doug Fullington talks PNB audience members through the exciting double-bill program consisting of Matthew Neenan's Bacchus and Alejandro Cerrudo's One Thousand Pieces. Doug covers the music of Oliver Davis and Philip Glass, the costuming, and how dancing in water works in the Cerrudo work. Tune in for this behind the scenes look at Rep 4 of PNB's 2023/24 Season! Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in March 2024.

PNB's music director and principal conductor Emil de Cou moderates this Dress Rehearsal Conversation with four members of the PNB Orchestra. Michael Jinsoo Lim (Concertmaster, violin), Jennifer Caine Provine (Associate Concertmaster, violin), Alexander Grimes (viola), and Page Smith (cello) talk with Emil and answer questions from our audience members about playing Philip Glass' music in Alejandro Cerrudo's One Thousand Pieces, film scores, their histories with the PNB Orchestra, and so much more. This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA in March 2024.

Pacific Northwest Ballet welcomes a new host of our pre-show Ballet Talk series, Dr. Anne Searcy! Anne is an Assistant Professor of Music History at the University of Washington. Listen along as Anne walks our audience through the history of Tchaikovsky's "undanceable" Swan Lake score, the origin of Swan Lake's infamous 32 fouette turns that end Act III of the ballet, and a quick plot summary including deciphering ballet pantomime.  Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in February, 2024. 

PNB's associate artistic director Kiyon Ross moderates this Dress Rehearsal Conversation with two PNB Principal dancers. Lucien Postlewaite and James Kirby Rogers talk with Kiyon and answer questions from our audience members about playing Prince Siegfried in Kent Stowell's Swan Lake, their interpretations of key moments of the ballet, recurring themes in romantic ballet, and so much more.  This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Lecture Hall in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA in February 2024.