Arts
Read More ›
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Backdrop Tells Its Own Story
The busts in the backdrop are actual historic figures associated with this timeless classic
This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
Clockwise from top center portrait (1, depicting E.T.A. Hoffmann, original author): 2, Marius Petipa (original choreographer), 3, Lincoln Kirstein (who helped establish the New York City Ballet, where The Nutcracker has been performed annually since 1954), 4, George Balanchine (renowned NYCB choreographer), 5, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (composer), 6, Lev Ivanov (Russian ballet dancer who choreographed The Nutcracker with Petipa) and 7, Alexandre Dumas (author who adapted Hoffmann’s novella into the ballet The Nutcracker)
This article appears in print in the December 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the magic of this perennial production might be wearing thin, take another look. Peer beyond George Balanchine’s crisp choreography and the artistry of the Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers who bring the ballet to life (look for newly appointed principal dancer Leta Biasucci in multiple roles), and examine this backdrop, created by set and costume designer Ian Falconer.
The busts are actual historic figures associated with this timeless classic (see caption for the who’s who). The cameos above Tchaikovsky and Balanchine? George and Martha Washington. The Christmas star that appears at the end of Act I? It’s a piece from Dale Chilhuly’s Chandelier series. And the pig? Well, we’re not going to tell you everything.
11/23–12/28. Times and prices vary. McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 301 Mercer St.; 206.441.2424
Follow Us
SENSORIUM Takes on Our Screen Addiction
Dance, drag, and immersive art collide in an eight-week exploration of our phone-obsessed lives, with a few surprises along the way.
What do drag queens, smartphone addiction, art installations, and an old luggage shop have in common? According to longtime Seattle choreographer Alana O’Farrell Rogers, a lot. “There’s no dead time anymore,” says Rogers, explaining how the proliferation of smartphones fills the empty spaces that once served as time for rest or connection. Where we snuggled…
Salt-N-Pepa on Breaking Barriers and Staying Power
Ahead of their performance at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture gala, the hip-hop pioneers talk about creative ownership, connecting with new generations, and the songs that still resonate.
The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) will host its annual ICONS of Pop Culture Gala in Seattle on October 22, honoring five artists and institutions whose work has helped shape entertainment and culture. This year’s honorees are martial arts and film legend Bruce Lee, fashion designer Jeremy Scott, the video game franchise Halo, hip-hop pioneers…
Studio Sessions: Christopher Paul Jordan
Drawing on childhood memories, neighborhood history, and salvaged materials, Christopher Paul Jordan’s latest show at Cornish’s Behnke Family Gallery explores how the past stays with us.
Start in the middle. It’s good advice for telling a story, and a way into Christopher Paul Jordan’s paintings. By the time you encounter them, their materials have already been something else, and who knows what they might move on to become. The Tacoma interdisciplinary artist works with salvaged objects, including screens, picture frames, canvas,…
Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
WEDDING BELLS I’ve been a bit absent from this column lately, but I think I have a pretty good excuse: I got married! It’s already been three weeks since my September 19 wedding, but I’m still reflecting on the magic of the day. My fiancé, well husband now (I can’t get used to saying it!),…