In past years, Seattle suffered a nasty trade imbalance in dance, losing Merce Cunningham, Robert Joffrey, Trisha Brown, and Mark Morris to New York and beyond. A whole series of independent choreographers and dancers ebbs and flows here, and at the moment the flow is strong. 12 Minutes Max showcases five to seven short performances of new and experimental work by regional composers, choreographers, and playwrights, while the Northwest New Works Festival, which runs for several weekends in late spring, presents longer, more polished versions of similar work.
Special events take place in summer.
Under the guidance of artistic directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, former dancers with New York City Ballet, PNB has earned recognition as one of the top five regional companies in America. Most Augusts, the company presents two fun, family-oriented, outdoor performances at Chateau Ste. Its holiday-season Nutcracker is superb for all ages, thanks to sets by Maurice Sendak and an excellent reserve of young PNB school students. There's usually one wilder card thrown into the mix, such as the Ballet Philippines. And homeboy Mark Morris has taken to showing up here for several seasons running.