Dress Rehearsal Notes from Artistic Director Peter Boal

Dear Friends,

Artistic Director Peter Boal.
Photo © Angela Sterling.

We have presented entire programs by one choreographer before, with several by George Balanchine and others featuring Jerome Robbins and Twyla Tharp. I never would have guessed that we would be looking at an entire program of choreography by someone under the age of 40, but Christopher Wheeldon is that good. Each individual work triumphs and collectively the range impresses. Here are a few facts about the program that you may not know:

San Francisco Ballet presented an all-Wheeldon program on tour in 2003 and New York City Ballet plans to present one this winter.

After the Rain was choreographed for Wendy Whelan and Jock Soto for Jock’s retirement from New York City Ballet. Polyphonia was also created on the two.

Carousel (A Dance) was created for the centenary of Richard Rodgers’ birth. It was meant to be performed only once at a gala.

Ian Falconer, set and costume designer for Variations Sérieuses, is also a cartoonist for the New Yorker and the creator of children’s books featuring the very fashionable and headstrong pig, Olivia.

In the original production of Variations, Seth Orza played the role of the lazy corps de ballet boy who bumps into the ballerina.

There’s a step in Variations Sérieuses called the “bitchy chicken.”

Catch Doug Fullington’s interview with Chris tonight at 6:00 PM prior to our dress rehearsal.

See you at the performances. - Peter

Peter Boal Answers the Question "Why Wheeldon?"

Rachel foster and James Moore in After the Rain pas de deux. Photo © Angela Sterling.

Recently, Artistic Direct Peter Boal was asked, "Why Christopher Wheeldon?" He explained…

“There was probably a time when people asked why Picasso, why Stravinsky, and why Balanchine? Wheeldon is that good. This is possibly the greatest choreographer of our time and yet the world is still discovering him. PNB is in front of the wave on this one. We are only the second company to present an ALL WHEELDON program, but he deserves to sit next to the greats with an entire program of his own. I also think the range of is abilities is impressive, making an entire program of his work surprisingly varied.”

ALL WHEELDON: Features four works that showcase Wheeldon’s diverse artistry—Carousel (A Dance), After the Rain pas de deux, Polyphonia and Variations Sérieuses.
Sep. 23-Oct. 2, 2011
McCaw Hall
Tickets start at $28

WHELLDON ON STAGE: One Night Only! Christopher Wheeldon hosts a rare onstage preview of some of his newest work and a lively Q&A.
Wednesday, September 21
6:30 pm @ McCaw Hall
Tickets are $20 ($10 for subscribers)

206.441.2424 or http://www.pnb.org/

Featured Work: Christopher Wheeldon's Polyphonia

PNB Company dancers in Christopher Wheeldon's Polyphonia. Photo © Angela Sterling.

POLYPHONIA©

Music: György Ligeti (Desordre from Études pour piano, premier livre, 1985; Arc-en-ciel from Études pour piano, premier livre, 1985; No. 4 Tempo di Valse from Musica Ricercata, 1951-53; Invention, 1948; No. 8 Vivace energico from Musica Ricercata, 1951-53; No. 2 Hopp ide tisztan from Three Wedding Dances, 1950; No. 7 Cantabile molto legato, 1951-53; No. 3 Allegro con spirito from Musica Ricercata, 1951-53; No. 2 Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale from Musica Ricercata, 1951-53; Capriccio No. 2 – Allegro robust, 1947)
Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
Staging: Jason Fowler
Costume Design: Holly Hynes
Lighting Design: Mark Stanley
Premiere: January 4, 2001; New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: March 15, 2007


“Wheeldon [is] regarded as one of the hottest classical choreographers of his generation…his work has a uniquely transatlantic quality: romantic and unsettling, lush and cerebral, modern yet steeped in an understanding of the past.” – The Guardian

“Romantic with comic twists” is how Christopher Wheeldon describes his ballet, Polyphonia (meaning “many voices”), set to ten eclectic piano pieces by György Ligeti. Overhead horizontal lifts, rolls and pushes off the floor contrast with classical ballet steps. The first of two key duets for the leading principal couple evokes sea creatures swimming, while the second looks like a strange plant growing and closing in on itself. The last horizontal lifts and fade-out arrest the movement, frame it, and let it dissolve like a film. Polyphonia won England’s Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 2003 and was the first ballet by Christopher Wheeldon to be taken into Pacific Northwest Ballet’s repertory.

ALL WHEELDON
Sep. 23-Oct. 2, 2011
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
Tickets: 206.441.2424 or www.pnb.org

Featured Work: Christopher Wheeldon's After the Rain pas de deux

PNB soloists Rachel Foster and James Moore in
Christopher Wheeldon's After the Rain pas de deux.
Photo © Angela Sterling.

AFTER THE RAIN PAS DE DEUX©
Music: Arvo Pärt (Spiegel im Spiegel, 1978)
Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
Staging: Damian Smith
Costume Design: Holly Hynes
Lighting Design: Mark Stanley
PREMIERE: January 22, 2005; New York City Ballet
PNB PREMIERE: September 20, 2008

"Spare and poignant, the duet intimates a renewal of faith, a reburgeoning of love." -- Village Voice


Christopher Wheeldon’s pas de deux from After the Rain is the second half of a two-part work, the first of which features an ensemble of three couples dancing to Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa. The following pas de deux is performed to Pärt’s spare and tender duet for piano and violin, Spiegel im Spiegel. The ballerina is dressed in pink and her partner is bare-chested. In a series of unfolding partnering movements, the dancers explore the shifting emotions of their relationship.


ALL WHEELDON
Sep. 23-Oct. 2, 2011
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
Tickets: 206.441.2424 or www.pnb.org

FREE Career Transition for Dancers Event @ PNB this Saturday!

Established in 1985, Career Transition for Dancers is the only organization in the United States dedicated solely to helping pre-professionals, current and former professional dancers, identify their unique talents, and pursue new career possibilities. Career Transition for Dancers’ national outreach project will be offering FREE workshops and one-on-one counseling in Seattle this Saturday, September 10. We invite you to participate in a fun, informative, and energizing afternoon of exploration!


WHEN:
Saturday, Sept. 10
11:00 am–2:00 pm – Workshop
2:30 –6:00pm One-on-One Counseling by Appt.

WHERE:
Pacific Northwest Ballet
301 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109

The Workshop includes:
Career possibilities & development
Emotional aspects of change
Grants & Scholarship

Complimentary lunch provided.
Please RSVP by phone or email: 323.549.6660 or ctfdla@sag.org

Critics Wild for Wheeldon! Read what they have to say...



Rachel Foster and James Moore in After the Rain
pas de deux. Photo © Angela Sterling.

 “In the past twenty years, only one ballet choreographer has emerged whose work has set off widespread, international excitement: Christopher Wheeldon.” —The New Yorker


“Wheeldon [is] regarded as one of the hottest classical choreographers of his generation. …his work has a uniquely transatlantic quality: romantic and unsettling, lush and cerebral, modern yet steeped in an understanding of the past.” —The Guardian


“Since Mr. Wheeldon emerged in the mid-1990s…it has been widely remarked how much he has learned from the legacies of George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton, Jerome Robbins and Kenneth MacMillan.” —The New York Times


“Christopher Wheeldon is one of the world’s most in-demand ballet choreographers. Critics routinely praise his wit and imagination and point to his keen musicality, mastery of stage space and inventive partnering.” —The New York Times


“Wheeldon seems almost intoxicated with movement.” —San Francisco Chronicle


“Christopher Wheeldon is upending the ballet establishment. …the boy wonder of classical ballet, having created for nearly every major ballet company.” —New York Magazine

“Some have gone so far as to lay the crown of "savior of ballet" upon the boyish head of the British-born Wheeldon—who in addition to being young is also extravagantly gifted and ambitious. He is arguably the most coveted ballet choreographer on the planet.” —The Washington Post


“The first really interesting choreographer to turn up in American ballet [since] George Balanchine…a hot ticket.” —The New Yorker

ALL WHEELDON
Sep. 23-Oct. 2
McCaw Hall