![]() The Balanchine and Stowell ballets remained PNB’s foundation through Stowell and Russell’s 28-year tenure. Stowell and Russell both had danced for Balanchine at NYCB, where Russell had served several years as ballet mistress. Without the funds to license or commission work, PNB relied heavily on a repertoire created by Stowell, as well as a healthy selection of ballets provided free of charge by New York City Ballet founder George Balanchine. Just a decade later, with two dozen dancers under contract, PNB was touring regularly up and down the West Coast, had performed in Asia, and made its New York debut.ĭespite attracting audiences, money remained scarce. The duo managed to negotiate the company’s independence from Seattle Opera in 1977, and the following year rechristened it Pacific Northwest Ballet. Stowell set out to recruit dancers while Russell was charged with starting a school that ultimately could produce new generations of PNB-grown artists like Wimpye. “But we looked around, evaluated the situation … rolled up our sleeves and got to work. ![]() It had a handful of dancers, a haphazard class schedule, and very little money to improve either situation. The Pacific Northwest Dance Association, as it had been known since its founding in 1972, started as an arm of Seattle Opera. At that point they could only dream that their struggling company would make it to age 50, let alone become a national powerhouse. The goal is to reflect America’s diversity, onstage and off.įounding artistic directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell likely never imagined PNB’s current iteration when they took over the fledgling dance troupe in 1977. PNB is now pushing the edges of classical ballet: seeking out new repertory, new choreographers and new BIPOC dancers like Wimpye. With almost 40 dancers on full-time contract, its own critically acclaimed orchestra and a thriving ballet school that serves hundreds of students in both Seattle and Bellevue, PNB has earned an international reputation for excellence.īut the company isn’t resting on those laurels. ![]() 23 at McCaw Hall), PNB is basking in the aftermath of successful summer tours to New York and Los Angeles. This story is part of Crosscut’s 2022 Fall Arts PreviewĪs it prepares to launch its 50th anniversary season (Sept. ![]()
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