Peter Boal Announces 6 Choreographers for NEXT STEP 2012.

There is a new tradition brewing around Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Phelps Center this time of year, and that is the beginning of the wonderful process of NEXT STEP . This distinctive performance where PNB Company dancers choreograph new works for our most advanced students in PNB School’s Professional Division is set for June 16, 2012. Although it’s four months away, one of the most exciting aspects of NEXT STEP is the creative process, and we would like to invite you to enjoy the ride with us! This blog will be your all-access pass until you see the final product on stage. To start, I thought it best to go to the source of artistic support for this vital opportunity for young artists; that support comes from PNB’s Artistic Director Peter Boal. Here are a couple of answers to questions I asked him about NEXT STEP, as well as his announcement of this year’s six NEXT STEP choreographers:

“There are three that are brand new to this and I think that is exciting, so they naturally have a heightened sense of nervousness. They are Chelsea Adomaitis, Kyle Davis, and Eric Hipolito Jr. I am eager to see what Eric and Chelsea come up with, and although NEXT STEP pieces are generally more contemporary, Kyle is challenging his dancers in a more classical way. Also I am intrigued to see how the veterans evolve in this year’s process. They are Sean Rollofson, and to watch him grow and draw his message out of the dancers will be fun to watch. Ezra Thomson who did a completely charming piece in 2011 and has terrific potential as a choreographer. Also one that never disappoints, Kiyon Gaines, who inspires and pushes his dancers will be bringing the best out of his cast.”

Professional Division student Kiara Felder in rehearsal for NEXT STEP.
Photo by PNB School student Nathaniel Solis.

Why is NEXT STEP important to Pacific Northwest Ballet?

I feel an obligation as Artistic Director to offer opportunities to up and coming choreographers so that they can practice their craft. How else do you develop the next Balanchine, the next Jiri Kylian or Christopher Wheeldon? And even some of the younger ones such as Mathew Neenan and Olivier Wevers who got their first chances at choreographer showcases such as NEXT STEP. I think without that opportunity the art form doesn’t continue to renew itself. We need NEXT STEP in order to invest in the future of our profession.



Can you explain how vital the learning process is for the Professional Division Students?

We look at every aspect of how we educate these young pre-professionals. When we started this process of choreographing on the students, you realize that it’s essential and a key part of becoming a professional dancer. Learning how to work with a choreographer, remembering the new material you have been given in the studio the next day, how to collaborate and make vocabulary come to life for an audience on stage. I think it is one of the most important things we offer and teach them. Also, many of the choreographers are not that far removed from being students themselves, so you have a sort of peer bonding that happens.
Rehearsals have really started to get underway, and it’s not only the students and choreographers who are involved. Nathaniel Solis, a PNB School student, will be taking some of our rehearsal photographs, and the brilliant student artists of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra will be joining us again for this treasure we call NEXT STEP . Please follow us on Twitter (#NextStepPNB) and on Facebook in order to keep up to date with the process!

Till later,


Nicholas Ade

Coordinator, NEXT STEP

Principal, Eastside School

Pacific Northwest Ballet School

http://www.pnb.org/

Don Q Dress Rehearsal Notes from Artistic Director Peter Boal

Artistic Director Peter Boal.

Photo © Angela Sterling

Dear Friends,


Join us in sunny Barcelona this weekend without the airfare or the time change! Alexei Ratmansky’s Don Quixote is here, and what a spectacular, over-the-top, inspiring moment for PNB. Here are a few facts you may not know:


We have only broken 30 fans so far! This is impressive given that almost every female in this large cast whacks her man with a fan. Kitri hits not only Basilio, but also Gamache and the floor. She even displays her fan throughout her 32 fouette turns. Our Spanish Dance Consultant Sara de Luis has taught our women to use these beautiful fans as weapons of femininity.

Our Fan Club members, who include more than 70 patrons who have collectively donated $700,000, deserve special thanks for ensuring that the US premiere of this production is happening right here in Seattle. (There’s still need if you want to help…)


14 pairs of castanets are used in each performance: none broken yet…

The mighty Tom Skerritt has broken his wooden sword three times!

It takes 36 stage crew members to work each performance. Our crew, with many additional hires, worked until 2am Tuesday morning loading in, with carpenters arriving at 4am to start the next day’s shift.

There are also 9 wig and makeup artists working each show, along with 13 dressers helping the cast of 70. There are 20 fast changes, with Ryan Cardea having 4 in each performance.

It’s been a pleasure to see this coming together from the dedicated work of our home team and an extensive list of guests including some of the finest designers and stagers and one brilliant choreographer. If you can attend Doug’s interview with Alexei prior to Dress rehearsal, it is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the greats.

A proud moment for PNB! See you at the ballet. - Peter

Don Q Behind the Scenes: An Interview with Principal Dancer Maria Chapman




PNB principal dancer Maria Chapman as Mercedes in Alexei Ratmansky's Don Quixote.
Photo © Angela Sterling.

 
What role(s) are you learning for Don Quixote? Have you danced in other Don Quixote productions before?
This will be my first production of Don Quixote, and I am learning two roles; Mercedes and the Queen of the Dryads. Mercedes is a sassy street dancer, and she enjoys showing off by dancing around the bullfighters’ knives. The Queen of the Dryads is a beautiful nymph who appears in Don Quixote’s dream, in Act 2.


What are you excited about for this premiere of Don Quixote?
I am excited to work with Alexei Ratmansky again. I enjoyed working with him briefly on Concerto DSCH last season, and I look forward to spending more time with him working on Don Quixote.


How long have you been rehearsing for this production?
I rehearsed Don Q for a couple of weeks in August, and we rehearsed for a few weeks in December, in addition to performing the Nutcracker. Now that it is January, we'll concentrate fully on Don Q as we ramp up for the February performances.

What has the process been like, learning this ballet?
Learning the new production of Don Q has been fun because many wonderful guest stagers have visited Seattle to teach us the choreography.

What preparations do you do, outside of rehearsals, to prepare for new roles and/or performances?
When I am learning a new role, I study videos of dancers performing the roles I am learning. I can look up a lot of these clips on YouTube to see how dancers all over the world dance my roles. As always, I spend a lot of time prepping my pointe shoes!

Pacific Norhtwest Ballet Presents
Don Quixote at McCaw Hall
February 3-12, 2012
TICKETS: 206.441.2424 or www.pnb.org

The Story of Don Quixote-Act 3



Photo courtesy Dutch National Ballet

© Angela Sterling.

 Act Three, Scene 1



Kitri and Basilio are enjoying themselves with Espada, Mercedes, and a group of friends in a tavern filled with gypsies, bullfighters, and other high-spirited folk. Kitri thinks she has escaped her forced marriage to Gamache. Unfortunately, it is not so easy, as her father and his followers manage to find them this time. The lovers hide, but Kitri is found and taken home.




PNB principal dancers Rachel Foster
and Seth Orza © Angela Sterling.



Act Three, Scene 2


But then Basilio appears and stabs himself because his heart is broken. Kitri realizes straightaway that he has only pretended to kill himself. Supposedly broken-hearted, she begs Don Quixote to persuade Lorenzo to give his blessing to her and the dead Basilio. After all, she can still marry Gamache afterwards, as a widow. But as soon as the blessing has been given, Basilio jumps up. He has fooled everyone. Gamache is furious and challenges the Don to a duel. But neither of them can fight, and Lorenzo becomes reconciled to his fate. And while the wedding of Kitri and Basilio is being celebrated, the Don and his squire go off in search of new adventures. (Story courtesy Dutch National Ballet).



Don Quixote at PNB
Feb. 3-12, 2012 at McCaw Hall
TICKETS: 206.441.2424 or http://www.pnb.org/