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Pacific Northwest Ballet 

Description

In Pacific Northwest Ballet's 40th Anniversary Season, there are many milestones to celebrate. At 40, PNB is a vital contributor to the artistic and economic fabric of our region. From its inception in 1972, PNB has continually strived to realize a vision to "enrich lives in the Pacific Northwest, to be considered a national treasure and acclaimed worldwide, and to epitomize excellence in the performing arts."

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Peter Boal, who succeeded Founding Artistic Directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell in 2005, PNB uses its three programming mainstays—dance performance, classical ballet training, and community education programs—as the vehicles for achieving its objectives. Through almost 250 public events annually, PNB works to support the value that more than 225,000 citizens place on arts and culture and to expand the diversity of community participants.

Mission Statement
Set new standards for artistic excellence, innovation, and creativity. Attract the most talented dancers, choreographers, musicians, collaborative artists, staff, and volunteers. Educate and develop dance artists as well as enthusiasts. Captivate a devoted, supportive, continually growing and diverse audience. Strengthen our financial and organizational foundation.
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Pacific Northwest Ballet
301 Mercer St 
Seattle 
WA
98109-4600 
(206) 441-9411 

D. David Brown 
Executive Director 

Programs

Pacific Northwest Ballet Programs

Each year, Pacific Northwest Ballet Company presents approximately 100 performances in six varied programs, the holiday classical, Nutcracker, and on tour. The Company's repertory represents 255 works by 96 choreographers and continues to expand as new choreography is introduced each season. Pacific Northwest Ballet Company's artistic goals are centered on the New Works Initiative, an expansive effort to build PNB's signature body of work and bring new choreography to our community.

Pacific Northwest Ballet School is regarded as one of the preeminent ballet institutions in the nation. Offering a complete professional curriculum to more than 1,100 students annually, the School plays an instrumental role in developing the Company's distinctive style and versatility. Our Professional Division and Summer Course attract and train talented students from around the U.S. and the world. In addition, DanceChance, part of PNB School, offers all-inclusive dance education to talented students from low-income, culturally and ethnically diverse communities.

PNB's Community Education Department reaches almost 29,000 people annually. Its youth and adult education programs are offered both in the community and at PNB facilities to engage students, educators, and patrons in the artistic process. Last year, PNB's youth outreach efforts served 20,621 students and educators through in-school residencies aligned with state arts standards, special performances, field trips to PNB studios, and customized workshops for schools throughout the Puget Sound region. Adult education programming emphasizes audience development and education; it includes PNB's lecture series, open discussions with artists, special lecture-demonstrations with choreographers and PNB dancers, and pre- and post-performance lectures with Q & A sessions.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

The success of PNB's New Works Initiative has allowed PNB to bring more than 70 new acquisitions and commissions to the region since 2005. This initiative is an expansive effort to build the PNB repertory as well as support and enhance the cultural fabric of the dance world. PNB has been able to support local choreographers and bring renowned artists to the region. The New Works Initiative highlights the breadth and depth of the art form while offering local audiences world-class dance.

Each season, PNB is pleased to showcase a diverse repertory that challenges our dancers, engages our audiences, and builds PNB's signature body of work. Donors play an influential role in PNB's success. Annual support makes possible PNB's presentation of classical and contemporary works. Donations also support Pacific Northwest Ballet School, which offers access to high-quality dance education to young dancers from the Seattle area and around the world.

Evaluation


For nearly forty years, Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) has played a key role in contributing to the artistic and economic fabric of our region. Offering performances ranging from classic favorites to new works, a professional school for student dancers and community education initiatives, PNB connects the region to dance.

Proven Success
PNB has a strong reputation around the country for its ability to commission and present both classic and contemporary works. The Company has been invited to perform works at prestigious venues around the country.

Sustainability
Founded in 1972, PNB will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. In 2005-2006 PNB launched its New Works Initiative, an expansive effort to build the diversity of its repertoire. This initiative not only re-engaged dancers in the company, offering them new and challenging works, but provided patrons an opportunity to become even more connected to a production, as they could directly fund a work and see it through its production. This has engaged patrons in a new way, and expanded fundraising options for the ballet, achieving record support.

Accessibility
PNB’s education programming, particularly its youth outreach efforts DanceChance and Discover Dance, work to bring ballet to a wider community than are generally able to access it. Both programs target students from low-income, culturally and ethnically diverse communities by partnering with public schools that have these demographic profiles. For most of these students, access to sustained arts experiences, particularly dance, is limited or non-existent.

PNB received a Wallace Foundation grant to grow and keep younger audiences. They redesigned their website with content focused at these age groups, increased their social networking presence, and offer a variety of special marketing and pricing promotions to provide reduced price tickets to these audiences. They have already seen progress toward their audience goals.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
9/10/2011 $25,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2008 $38,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/14/2006 $40,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/18/2003 $61,000.00support the Technology Initiative.

Financials

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