Ballet Talk with Pacific Northwest Ballet

Ballet Talk with Pacific Northwest Ballet

Welcome to the official podcast of Pacific Northwest Ballet, located in Seattle, WA. Join us for recordings of our Dress Rehearsal & Conversations events and Pre and Post-Show Q&A sessions with choreographers, composers, dancers, and other PNB guest artists.

Episodes

June 10, 2025 23 mins

Listen along as dance historian Doug Fullington takes the Ballet Talk audience through the three works featured in Pacific Northwest Ballet's final performances of the 2024/25 Season. Twyla Tharp’s American masterpiece Nine Sinatra Songs is still sharp 40 years after its premiere. In it, Tharp effortlessly floats between dance genres, set to the familiar strains of Frank Sinatra hits. Two pieces from innovative choreographers Rena ...

Mark as Played

Enjoy this episode featuring Pacific Northwest Ballet Associate Artistic Director Kiyon Ross in conversation with choreographer Rena Butler ahead of the world premiere of her new work for PNB, Cracks. The two speak on Rena's upbringing in Chicago, her journey from dancer to choreographer, insights into her detailed choreographic process, and her current cultural inspirations. 

This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Family Le...

Mark as Played
Jean-Christophe Maillot’s contemporary version of Roméo et Juliette requires that dancers tap into unique skills of storytelling. Converge Media host Trae Holiday moderated this conversation with PNB dancers performing iconic roles for the first time. Listen to Angelica Generosa (Juliet), Dylan Wald (Romeo), Luther DeMyer (Friar Laurence), and Kuu Sakuragi (Mercutio) talk through how they got their starts in ballet, their insights ...
Mark as Played
May 22, 2025 24 mins
Listen as guest Ballet Talk lecturer Anne Searcy takes an introductory tour through PNB's fifth repertory program of the 2024/25 Season, Jean-Christophe Maillot's Romeo et Juliette. Anne Searcy is an Associate Professor of Music History at the University of Washington. Searcy covers the basic story itself, puts the original Shakespeare play in historical context, and gives a brief history of the various versions of the ballet inclu...
Mark as Played
Listen to local Seattle arts journalist Marcie Sillman in conversation with PNB Company dancer Price Suddarth and collaborators on his new ballet Dawn Patrol. Hear from Price, choreographic assistant Emma Love Suddarth, scenic designer Chrisoula Kapelonis, composer Alfonso Peduto, lighting designer Reed Nakayama, and costume designer Mark Zappone. The collaborators talk through the inspiration for Dawn Patrol, the collaborative cre...
Mark as Played
March 25, 2025 31 mins

Enjoy Doug Fullington's pre-show Ballet Talk for PNB's EMERGENCE program. Doug talks through EMERGENCE's quadruple-bill production including the premiere of Dawn Patrol, a new work by PNB Company dancer Price Suddarth; Jerome Robbins' intimate Afternoon of a Faun; Marco Goecke's solo work Mopey; and another audience favorite of Crystal Pite's, the mesmerizing Emergence.

Recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in Marion Oli...

Mark as Played
February 12, 2025 31 mins

Join dance historian and The Sleeping Beauty stager Doug Fullington as he introduces Pacific Northwest Ballet's brand new production of The Sleeping Beauty in this Ballet Talk episode. Fullington covers the history of the ballet's original choreography by Marius Petipa and score by Peter Tchaikovsky, the process of restaging an 1890 ballet for modern audiences, this new productions talented collaborators (including Preston Singleta...

Mark as Played
November 13, 2024 30 mins

Dance historian Doug Fullington gives an ALL BALANCHINE overview. He covers the brief histories of George Balanchine and his legacy, including the founding of New York City Ballet, staging Balanchine ballets and the George Balanchine Trust, and Balanchine's collaborators on the three works in PNB's ALL BALANCHINE program. This triple bill features Square Dance (1957), Prodigal Son (1929), and Stravinsky Violin Concerto (1972). 

Rec...

Mark as Played

Listen to Peter Boal in conversation with two PNB dancers dancing the titular role in George Balanchine's Prodigal Son for the first time. Jonathan Batista and Kuu Sakuragi talk through their personal histories with Prodigal Son, their experiences through the rehearsal process, and answer audience questions. 

Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington in November, 2024.

Mark as Played
October 1, 2024 51 mins

In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, and in partnership with Casa Latina Seattle, El Centro de La Raza, Joyas Mestizas, KEXP, and Union Cultural Center, in October 2023 PNB hosted Baila Conmigo, a community open house. Held at PNB’s Seattle Center studios, this free, public event featured dance performances by PNB Company dancers and local dance group Joyas Mestizas, a kids’ movement class led by Mestre Silvinho,...

Mark as Played
September 20, 2024 30 mins
Doug Fullington introduces PNB's 2024/25 Season with our first performances of the year, THE TIMES ARE RACING. This program includes Edwaard Liang's The Veil Between Worlds, Jessica Lang's Black Wave, and Justin Peck's The Times Are Racing. Doug talks through these three works, the role of rehearsal directors in the ballet creation process, Jessica Lang's appointment as PNB's latest Resident Choreographer, recently promoted soloist...
Mark as Played
Listen and learn more about PNB's new Resident Choreographer Jessica Lang! Artistic director Peter Boal interviewed Lang ahead of the premiere of her new work Black Wave in PNB's first performances of the 2024/25 Season. The two cover Jessica's background dancing and choreographing career, the role of a resident choreographer, her experiences so far with PNB, and answers questions from the audience.    Recorded in the Nesholm Famil...
Mark as Played
June 8, 2024 28 mins

Listen and enjoy Doug Fullington's pre-performance Ballet Talk on George Balanchine's Coppélia. Fullington recaps this comedic ballet, its history, and more!

Recorded live in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall in McCaw Hall in Seattle, WA in June, 2024.

Mark as Played

Join Doug Fullington as he interviews PNB's retiring rehearsal director Otto Neubert and PNB School students performing in our final production of the 2023/24 Season, Coppélia. Listen to Otto as he recounts his incredible career from dancing to rehearsal directing, how dance steps and roles are passed dancer to dancer, and Otto's advice to dancers of all ages. 

This episode was recorded live in the Nesholm Lecture Hall in Marion Ol...

Mark as Played

Join dance historian Doug Fullington as he takes us through the three works of Pacific Northwest Ballet's THE SEASONS' CANON. On stage this rep are Twyla Tharp's Sweet Fields™, Jessica Lang's stunning solo The Calling, and Crystal Pite's mesmerizing work for 54 dancers, The Seasons' Canon. Doug Fullington is the founder and director of The Tudor Choir who sing the Shaker hymns featured in Sweet Fields, as well as the music for The ...

Mark as Played
Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and retiring PNB Principal dancer James Yoichi Moore talk about the ins and outs of James' career as a dancer. They cover his journey as a dancer pre-PNB, his on and off stage collaborators (Noelani Pantastico, Twyla Tharp, Seattle Dance Collective, etc.), his advice for young dancers, and more! Tune in to this conversation for a brief summary of James' contributions to PNB incl...
Mark as Played

Doug Fullington talks PNB audience members through the exciting double-bill program consisting of Matthew Neenan's Bacchus and Alejandro Cerrudo's One Thousand Pieces. Doug covers the music of Oliver Davis and Philip Glass, the costuming, and how dancing in water works in the Cerrudo work. Tune in for this behind the scenes look at Rep 4 of PNB's 2023/24 Season!

Recorded in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center's McCaw ...

Mark as Played
March 27, 2024 57 mins

PNB's music director and principal conductor Emil de Cou moderates this Dress Rehearsal Conversation with four members of the PNB Orchestra. Michael Jinsoo Lim (Concertmaster, violin), Jennifer Caine Provine (Associate Concertmaster, violin), Alexander Grimes (viola), and Page Smith (cello) talk with Emil and answer questions from our audience members about playing Philip Glass' music in Alejandro Cerrudo's One Thousand Pieces, fil...

Mark as Played
February 14, 2024 30 mins

Pacific Northwest Ballet welcomes a new host of our pre-show Ballet Talk series, Dr. Anne Searcy! Anne is an Assistant Professor of Music History at the University of Washington.

Listen along as Anne walks our audience through the history of Tchaikovsky's "undanceable" Swan Lake score, the origin of Swan Lake's infamous 32 fouette turns that end Act III of the ballet, and a quick plot summary including deciphering ballet pantomime....

Mark as Played

PNB's associate artistic director Kiyon Ross moderates this Dress Rehearsal Conversation with two PNB Principal dancers. Lucien Postlewaite and James Kirby Rogers talk with Kiyon and answer questions from our audience members about playing Prince Siegfried in Kent Stowell's Swan Lake, their interpretations of key moments of the ballet, recurring themes in romantic ballet, and so much more. 

This episode was recorded live in the Nes...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.