PNB School Kicks Off National Audition Tour for 2011 Summer Course

Pacific Northwest Ballet kicks off its national audition tour for the 2011 Summer Course on January 8! Our Summer Course offers serious ballet students the highest caliber of intensive classical training, augmented by a rich diversity of dance forms necessary to meet the eclectic demands of dance companies today.



Students attend class Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday mornings for a technique class. Summer Course also offers students seminars on a wide variety of topics including nutrition, dance history, music, foot health, production and pointe shoe care.

In our spacious, light-filled studios at The Phelps Center in downtown Seattle, students experience the ultimate setting for professional training while enjoying the benefits of PNB's outstanding faculty, rigorous curriculum, and safe, secure environment.

Audition students must be 12 to 18 years of age during the 2011 Summer Course. Registration with a $30 fee begins 1/2 hour prior to audition. Students should wear regular class attire and bring pointe shoes; no photos or resumes. Audition results will be mailed within one month.

Audition dates are as follows:


Atlanta - Saturday, January 15
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education
1695 Marietta Blvd. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
1:00 ages 12-18

Austin - Saturday, January 22
Ballet Austin Butler Dance Education Center
501 West 3rd St.
Austin, TX 78701
2:30 ages 12-18

Boca Raton - Sunday, January 23
The Harid Conservatory
2285 Potomac Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
4:00 ages 12-18


Boston - Saturday, January 22
The Boston Ballet
19 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 2116
6:00 ages 12-14
7:30 ages 15-18

Carlisle - Sunday, February 13
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
5 North Orange Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
11:00 ages 12-18

Chicago - Sunday, January 16
The School of Ballet Chicago
17 N. State St. suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60602
4:30 ages 12-13
6:00 ages 14-15
7:30 ages 16-18

Columbus – Sunday, February 20
Columbus City Ballet School
763 Radio Drive
Lewis Center, OH 43035
2:30 ages 12-15
4:00 ages 16-18


Dallas - Sunday, January 23
Dallas Metropolitan Ballet
6815 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, TX 75205
3:00 ages 12-13
4:30 ages 14-15
6:00 ages 16-18


Denver - Saturday, February 5
Colorado Ballet
1278 Lincoln Street
Denver, CO 80203
9:00 a.m. ages 12-18


Huntsville - Monday, January 24
Huntsville Ballet School
800 Regal Drive
Huntsville, AL 35801
5:30 ages 12-18


Kansas City - Saturday, January 8
Kansas City Ballet
1616 Broadway Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64108
4:00 ages 12-14
5:30 ages 15-18

LA/Santa Monica - Sunday, February 6
Westside School of Ballet
1711 Stewart Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
12:30 ages 12-14
2:00 ages 15-16
3:30 ages 17-18

New York - Saturday, January 8
School of American Ballet
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
3:30 ages 12-14
5:00 ages 15-16
6:30 ages 17-18


Orlando - Monday, January 17
Orlando Ballet School
1111 N. Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32804
4:30 ages 12-18


Pittsburgh - Sunday, January 16
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
2900 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
2:30 ages 12-18


Salt Lake City - Sunday, January 9
University of Utah/Dept of Ballet
330 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
4:00 ages 12-18


San Diego - Sunday, January 30
4S Ballet Academy
10804 Willow Court
San Diego, CA 92127
4:00 ages 12-14
5:30 ages 15-18


San Francisco - Sunday, February 13
Alonzo King LINES Dance Center
26 Seventh Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
1:00 ages 12-13
2:30 ages 14-15
4:00 ages 16-18


Seattle - Saturday, January 29
Pacific Northwest Ballet - The Phelps Center
301 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109
9:00 am ages 12-13
11:00 am ages 14-15
12:30 ages 16-18


Seattle/Bellevue - Saturday, February 19
Pacific Northwest Ballet - Francia Russell Center
3440 NE 16th St.
Bellevue, WA 98005
2:00 ages 12-15
3:30 ages 16-18

Spokane - Saturday, January 29
Ballet Arts
109 W. Pacific
Spokane, WA 99201
5:00 ages 12-18

Tucson - Friday, February 4
Ballet Arts
200 South Tucson Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85716
7:00 ages 12-18

Washington D.C. - Saturday, January 15
American Dance Institute
1570 East Jefferson Street
Rockville, MD 20852
3:00 ages 12-15
4:30 ages 16-18

Winston-Salem - Monday, January 17
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
1533 South Main St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27127
4:30 ages 12-15
6:00 ages 16-18

Peter Boal's Director’s Notes on Nutcracker

Artistic Director Peter Boal
Photo © Angela Sterling

After being deposed as Prince from New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker, which happens after you reach 5' tall, I remained part of the production. I became the “bed boy.” The “bed boy” is given a set of knee pads and a few sketchy instructions before he climbs underneath Clara’s bed and maneuvers it around the stage during the snow scene. Though less glamorous than the role of the Prince, it is no less challenging. When performed correctly, no one in the audience suspects human touch, guessing instead that mechanics, or perhaps even magic, are the cause. “Bed boys” aren't listed in the program for obvious reasons, but they are unsung heroes behind one fleeting moment of illusion.

Nutcracker is ripe with magic, wonder, and illusion, and we in the audience are full of fascination. Knowing the magicians tricks can end the fascination, and I’m hesitant to give away too many secrets. I do want to talk about some of the unsung heroes that make our production happen. As you watch today’s performance, ask yourself how it is possible to see a scene of large, painted mice on one side of fabric and the Stahlbaum’s parlor on the other. When those mice come to life, how do they see through oversized mouse heads? How do the wings of the owl flap when the clock strikes during the Christmas Eve celebration? How do the legs of the giant clock swing to life during Clara’s dream? What makes the cannons roar? In Act II, how do the waves move, and how does the scenic landscape behind the boat travel across the backdrop? We do give away one secret in performance: The Chinese Tiger is one of our male dancers in a very cleverly designed costume.

Truth be told, there are hundreds of people onstage and behind the scenes making all of the wonder happen: “bed boys" and Princes, Claras, and clarinet players. These individuals are consummate professionals who deserve recognition. Let me take a moment to list who’s involved and let you know who they are. Let’s start with our 200 junior performers: three casts in many roles. 65 musicians fill the pit and the hall with Tchaikovsky’s music. 40 stage hands pull scenery on and off the stage. 3 stage managers coordinate the whole thing with 13 dressers scramble behind the scenes. 46 Company dancers, 40 advanced students, and a few dozens supernumeries round out the cast. 3 ballet masters, 3 conductors, 3 physical therapists, 15 wardrobe personnel, 1 parent volunteer coordinator and 75 volunteers, 9 make-up artists, 1 lighting designer, and fulltime staff at the ballet and box office are also essential. And of course we wouldn’t have a production without choreographer Kent Stowell and set and costume designer Maurice Sendak.

A handful of individuals have been working on this Nutcracker since it was created 27 years ago. One of the reasons they care so much about the production is because at every performance someone in the audience is seeing it for the first time. Often, but not always, it is someone quite young and it’s someone who believes in magic. The ballet is pretty close to magic and Nutcracker is the perfect place to start. If you love what you see today, come see us again. Cinderella is right around the corner and many treasures lie ahead in our season. The magic continues at the ballet. -- Peter Boal