Ballet Talk with Pacific Northwest Ballet · Pacific Northwest Ballet

Rep 1 (2020-2021 Digital Season)

·23 min·2 clips

Doug Fullington introduces PNB's first digital season performance since dancers returned to the studio.

This episode features Doug Fullington introducing the first program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2020-21 digital season, titled "Dance Happens Everywhere." Fullington, a PNB staff member, hosts this pre-performance talk to provide context for the recorded dances. He notes this program marks the dancers' first recordings since returning to the studio after a hiatus. The program, curated by Artistic Director Peter Boal, consists of a diverse selection of solos, duets, and small ensemble works reflecting PNB's repertoire. Fullington plans to reference a casting insert to detail the numerous works, similar to his live talks at McCaw Hall. He encourages listeners to consult the repertoire entries on PNB's website for more information on each dance. The episode begins with a discussion of a solo from Jerome Robbins' "Dances at a Gathering," created in 1969 for New York City Ballet. Fullington mentions Robbins returned to City Ballet after years away working in American musical theater. During that period, Robbins created works like "West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the Roof," which he states defined the genre for the mid-20th century. The host frames this digital season premiere as a momentous occasion for the company and its dancers. He positions the selected Robbins solo as a particularly fitting opening piece for the program. The episode structure is straightforward, moving from general season context directly into analysis of the first specific ballet. Fullington's commentary is educational and preparatory, designed to enhance the viewing experience for the audience. The tone is informative and conversational, akin to a live pre-show lecture adapted for digital format. This episode is ideal for PNB subscribers, ballet enthusiasts, and anyone seeking background on the specific repertoire pieces before watching. Listeners preferring pure performance without commentary might choose to skip this introductory talk.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Ballet Talk with Pacific Northwest Ballet