Archive for kennedy center
June 20, 2008 at 6:54 pm · Filed under ballet, dance, kennedy center, pacific northwest ballet, life, festival, NOE
My last few weeks at PNB were exciting and emotional, as expected. What’s so incredible about the past season is the rep that the dancers acquired, and the people that came along with it. I’ve never had a season so demanding and fulfilling. To end the 2007-2008 season we had a gala performance called 8 Encores. It’s quite a ride to put together an evening full of works from the past season, but what a great way to celebrate works new to PNB, and its dancers. Heck, what a great way to celebrate the dancers! Anyhow, it was nice for me to be able to look back and see har far we’ve come.
PNB dancers in rehearsal for Ulysses Dove’s Vespers.
In my very last week of work I was fortunate enough to perform at the Kennedy Center, and be a part of “Ballet Across America”. I realized during class the first day that my journey with PNB had come full circle. The very room where I had my last class with Peter Boal in the Kennedy Center, was the very same room where I did my first audition for PNB, when I was 13. I began and ended my journey with PNB in that studio. Strange!! The wrting was literally on the wall in the studio!
Septime Webre, Director of Washington Ballet taught our last class. Pictured are dancers from Kansas City Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Another season has come and gone at Pacific Northwest Ballet. What’s hard to believe is that I won’t be returning. It’s difficult to speak openly about my new venture in Monte-Carlo, because I find that people don’t quite understand what’s really going on, or they question my move. Most think something went wrong, be it my marriage or work at PNB. That’s not the case at all, and I guess I should just set the record straight. To put it simply, I want to try something new, and I have been fortunate enough to find new inspiration. I think there is a time in every person’s life where you have to make bold moves. I truly believe that you can’t get anywhere unless risks are taken. It was Mark Twain who said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” That said, I do still want to reflect on my years at PNB. I think what stands out the most in my mind is the sense of belonging and community that I had at PNB. Great things happen with team work and support. And quite honestly, one can’t do it alone. There was always a wonderful, collective energy from my colleagues. The picture below is one of the many group shots taken in one of my last weeks of work at PNB. Although it’s a scan of the photo, Angela Sterling should be credited for capturing a moment that we’ll never get back. Thank you Angela, and of course, thank you PNB.
Recent Posts by noelani pantastico
June 12, 2007 at 2:14 am · Filed under kennedy center, travel, dressing room, performances, candice thompson, CANDICE, ad hoc Ballet, Deborah Lohse
Posted by Candice Thompson
Suzanne Farrell Ballet was performing at the Kennedy Center this week, so Deborah Lohse and I decided to drive down on Sunday to see our friends perform. It was a quick day trip, but the weather was gorgeous and good times were had.
Here you see us in Georgetown on M street, in dresses that turned out to be quite similar, and in our comfy birks. Don’t worry, we put on fancy heels before we entered the opera house!
There was a beautiful sunset over the water during the second intermission. Deb decided to splurge on a box of chocolates and we each had one as we looked at JFK’s words of wisdom on the wall of the terrace.
The show ended with Slaughter on Tenth Avenue which was a great note to end on. We headed back to the dressing rooms to say hi to everyone and switch from contacts to glasses before the long drive back to NYC.
The drive back really wasn’t so bad and was completely worth it to see good friends dance; a rare opportunity when most are now spread out in companies all over the country. We played our music loud, talked about upcoming projects for ad hoc Ballet, and of course, wore our seatbelts!
Recent Posts by candice thompson
March 20, 2007 at 3:51 am · Filed under backstage, kennedy center, washington dc, new york city ballet, vacation, SOPHIE, abt, florida, beach, polaroid
| | Posted by Sophie
I apologize for my long absence! I have lots to catch you up on…
We successfully completed our winter season at the NY State Theater in late February, and we performed ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for a week during a Shakespeare festival in Washington, DC.
I then vacationed in Palm Beach, Florida for our week long lay off (I bumped into the ABT crowd while in Miami on a day trip!), and we are now rehearsing for our upcoming spring season.
Recent Posts by sophie
January 29, 2007 at 7:10 pm · Filed under backstage, ballet, tour, kennedy center, washington dc, DAVID, american ballet theater, cities, opera house, city tour
| | Posted by David
I always feel that when we go to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., it is one of the ideal theaters for dance.
Along with the plush red EVERYTHING in the Opera House, the stage, dressing rooms, and backstage area are very accommodating. The size of the Opera House is not as big as the Met, but just as beautiful, with the jeweled chandeliers hanging from the theater ceiling. It is always a pleasure to dance in the Opera House and the dancers from the company have a good feeling from the feel of the stage.
Although,
As big and intimidating as the Met seems to be, I feel most comfortable on that colossal stage (with 4500 people watching…)
Recent Posts by david hallberg
March 10, 2005 at 11:04 am · Filed under SLOAN, ballet, dance, tour, kennedy center, travel, washington, washington dc
| | Posted by Sloan
Every year, we perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC for a week in March after our New York season.
We stayed at One Washington Circle Hotel with half of the company. It was about a 5 minute walk to the Kennedy Center. We had really beautiful (but freezing) weather while we were there. Having this stunningly sunlit place as my destination every morning was amazing.
The theater is a bit narrower than the New York State Theater, and the stage is much louder, but it’s still a very nice place to perform. Also, they fixed the smelly dressing room problem from the year before, which was a big bonus for us corps ladies.
The house is all decorated in red, which is quite impressive looking from the stage. The strange thing about this complex is that there seem to be lots of spaces that are hardly ever used. Maybe they’re for special occasions, but it generally felt a little spooky in certain areas.
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
March 7, 2005 at 3:31 pm · Filed under SLOAN, ballet, dance, tour, family, kennedy center, travel, washington, washington dc
| | Posted by Sloan
On the roof of the Kennedy Center there is an amazing wrap-around terrace with great views of the city. The cafeteria is also on the roof, but indoors. It’s great to have a place to eat that’s inside the theater, and comfortable to sit and relax with family and friends. Although it can feel a bit weird having a glass of wine in front of the director, in the off chance that he doesn’t realize I’m done for the day.
Doug, my parents Gary and Gail, and our friends Mac and Ken came to hang out after seeing the matinee on Saturday.
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
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