by: Rachel Benton
Ballet Northwest boldly enters its 55th Season with highly innovative, inspirational and diverse programming in store. Time flies by quickly, so mark your calendars now and make a plan to purchase tickets for the following events:
Crescendo: a one-night-only event October 11, when dancers will share the stage with Masterworks Choral Ensemble and Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia.
The Nutcracker: Olympia’s favorite December tradition that invites the whole family into a land of sweets and all others we create in our imagination.
As we count down the days to each event, we are excited to give you an inside glimpse into everything that is in store.
Crescendo
Promising to be a historic performance, Crescendo will bring Ballet Northwest, Masterworks Choral Ensemble, and Student Orchestras of Olympia together on stage for the first time. Artistic Co-Director, Ken Johnson commented, “It’s going to be something audiences in Olympia won’t want to miss because it’s really rare for that many artists of different disciplines to share the stage…it’s going to be very special.”
The 9-piece program will feature world premiere choreography paired with a diverse music selection, including (but not limited to) Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, excerpts from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, and an Irving Berlin medley. The cherry on top, so to say, is the fact that each piece will be choreographed by Ballet Northwest or Johanson Olympia Dance Center Alumni including:
- Ashley Baker: BNW alumna, current soloist Ballet Idaho
- Rachael Parnell: BNW alumna, BFA, University of Hartford and Olympia Dance Center faculty member
- Emily Walter: BNW alumna, BFA, Point Park University
- Ann Sanders: BNW alumna, Olympia Dance Center faculty member
- Xijun Fu: Olympia Dance Center faculty member
- Kristin Burch: Olympia Dance Center alumna, performer, 5th Avenue Theatre and Villager Theatre
- Natalie Allenton: BNW Alumna, dancer with Diablo Ballet (CA)
Reflecting on the magnificence of this performance, Johnson shared, “We’re bringing these nine new pieces to the stage with very diverse choreographers and music. It’s a big task, but it’s really exciting for our dancers.”
Get your tickets from the Washington Center Box Office, or by visiting: https://www.washingtoncenter.org/organizer/bnw/
The Nutcracker
If you close your eyes, you can hear magic accumulating and beginning to take shape as we draw near Nutcracker time. Going strong for 40 years, Ballet Northwest continues to refresh and maintain the pure magic that comes with the Nutcracker Ballet. This is a tradition that not only BNW audiences love, but that the dancers continue to look forward to each year.
Johnson commented, “I never get tired of it. It’s just such a huge part of the holiday season. The music, the story, the beautiful sets, the costumes…” He continued, “it just creates a wonderful opportunity for families, friends, and people of all ages to come together at the holidays (and enjoy something truly special).”
Occasions like these are always fun opportunities to get dressed up, enjoy a meal at one of our many delicious downtown restaurants and add some wonder to the holiday shopping. The Nutcracker oftentimes is a show that brings people to ballet for the first time and truly allows them to enter a whole other part of the arts they have never explored. This privilege to make positive impressions on people’s lives and to have such high-quality art in our community feels priceless but cannot exist without the continued presence and generosity of audiences.
Further in, Johnson shared, “Both my wife (and co-director of Ballet Northwest) Josie and I have such fond memories of growing up and performing in The Nutcracker. I actually grew up performing The Nutcracker at the Washington Center, performing in Ballet Northwest’s Nutcracker starting at eight years old. The Camaraderie and the bonds that happen backstage behind the scenes with the cast and crew are truly special and have created such wonderful memories.”
Later in his years at Ballet Northwest, during his time as Artistic Co-Director, Johnson fondly remembers a year when there was a major snowstorm and most things were shut down, but the show went on. “Most of our performers were able to make it in, and the theatre staff shoveled sidewalks out front so that audiences could make it in. It was (incredible) to see everyone come together and make the show possible … Winters in Olympia are generally mild, but it was (magical to experience) Olympia covered in snow and people still coming to see The Nutcracker.”
Memories are made in the arts, and especially at Ballet Northwest. Make your plan, come to the show, and soak in the hope that the magic of it all brings.
Tickets will be on sale at the beginning of October. Keep an eye on the Washington Center Box Office.
Photos of Ballet Northwest performances from previous years. Photos by Angela Sterling and Jill Carter.
WHAT
Crescendo
WHEN
October 11
WHERE
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia
COST
$35-$45
WHAT
The Nutcracker
WHEN
Dec.12-21
WHERE
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia
LEARN MORE
Phone 360-867-8824
http://balletnorthwest.org/