Though November kicks off with a slightly quieter weekend than the danceapalooza that was October, the shows on the docket this weekend still offer a wide variety.
 Choreographer Margaret Mullin (right) works with Pacific Northwest Ballet corps de ballet dancers William Lin-Yee and Chelsea Adomaitis on the creation of her new ballet, Lost in Light. Photo © Lindsay Thomas. |
PNB’s All Premiere
November 2–4 and 8–11, McCaw Hall
A rather daring program for the pre-eminent ballet company in the Northwest, the bill features four works, all making their world premiere. The biggest name on the bill is modern dance legend Mark Morris who will be presenting his first ballet choreographed for PNB’s mainstage productions. The other three works are choreographed by PNB company members: soloist Kiyon Gaines, and corps de ballet members Andrew Bartee, and Margaret Mullin, who are both setting work on the company for the first time. Gaines’ piece, heavily influenced by Balanchine, is neo-classical in style while Bartee’s features his own fluid vocabulary. Mullin’s is an abstract ballet filled with grace and beauty. (To learn more about Gaines’ work read our interview with him here). Sure to be a diverse program, it highlights PNB’s commitment to fostering new choreographic talent as well as commissioning work by already established innovators. To purchase tickets, click here.
MOVE! A Contemporary Dance Series #19
November 3, 7:00 pm, Theater on the Square, Tacoma
Presented by MLKBallet, a tuition-free ballet school in Tacoma , MOVE! is a contemporary dance series that has been featuring companies from across the Northwest for the past 5 years. This program includes performances by Badmarmar DANCE, Barefoot Collective, project29, and Spectrum Academy
Discussions/Lectures
Donald Byrd: Jewish Themes in Modern Dance
November 4, 2:00 pm
Spectrum Dance Theater Director, Donald Byrd, speaks about The Theater of Needless Talents, his 2008 work about artists in the Holocaust, which he recently re-staged. For our take on his recent show, click here. He will also discuss his work at the American Academy in Jerusalem and how he has created dances incorporating Jewish themes for Music of Remembrance. This event is a collaboration between the Jewish Touch series at the Stroum JCC on Mercer Island and Spectrum Dance Theater. Tickets for the discussion are $12 general, $8 for Stroum Center Stroum Center
