Mandy Dray

About Mandy Dray

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Mandy Dray has created 57 blog entries.

Access to PNB Facilities – Parent/Guardian Lounges

Hello PNB School families,

We hope that everyone had a wonderful first week of classes to start the 2024-25 season! PNB’s dance facilities, while wonderfully accommodating to our students and dancers, are very busy buildings and space is limited. We respectfully ask all visitors to show consideration for our working environment.

As each school location is slightly different, we ask that you please take the time to read our rules and regulations:

-Dropping off your student no more than 15 minutes and picking up promptly (within 15 minutes of the end of class) helps mitigate the volume and traffic in the hallways.

-When possible, please have your student arrive dressed for class.

-No photography or videography in the building at any time.

-Please do not stop in the hallways to view classes and rehearsals.

– Please utilize the parent/guardian badge to be granted access to our buildings. This is for security and safety purposes as this is one of our top priorities for those a part of PNB. This badge can be found here on the portal (attached to this post below – you can bookmark this page), and is to show proof that you are a PNB Parent/Guardian. All of our staff and faculty have a similar badge and is for safety and security, as we are located in very public places.

Eastside/Francia Russell Center

  • We ask that all parents/guardians remain in the lobby; please do not pass the stanchions by the front desk. If you need to use the restrooms in the back, we ask that you do not proceed upstairs, as that is restricted to PNB staff, faculty, and Pilates students.
  • We ask that you please wait in a parking spot for your student if you arrive more than 5 minutes prior to the end of your students’ class. As you are in the pickup/drop-off line please pull up as the cars in front of you leave in order to keep the line moving. If needing to leave your vehicle, please park in a designated parking spot.

Seattle/Phelps Center

  • We have repurposed and transformed our former telemarketing space to create a new parent guardian/lounge. The lounge is just to the right of the main doors of the Phelps Center, and is under the watchful eye of our wonderful security guard. We ask all parents/guardians to utilize this lounge to help ease congestion inside the main building. The lounge is equipped with a restroom, microwave, wifi, and space to meet and converse with other PNB parents.
  • When inside the main part of the building, we ask that you do not pass the stanchions (unless needing to utilize the restroom) and remain on the first floor; second floor access is strictly for PNB staff and company dancers.

As always, our goal is to maintain a safe, welcoming, and productive environment.

Please reach out if you have any questions: 206.441.2435 or pnbschool@pnb.org

Access to PNB Facilities – Parent/Guardian Lounges2024-10-11T10:03:07-07:00

PNB Family 2024-25 Performance Discount Code

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2024/25 Season opens this week! PNB’s newly appointed resident choreographer Jessica Lang will debut a brand-new work, Black Wave, complimented by the color and vibrancy of both Edwaard Liang’s The Veil Between Worlds and Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing. 

PNB School students and their families receive a student rate of 20% off tickets to all performances in PNB’s season including The Nutcracker. Mention promo code PNBS25 when calling the Box Office or enter the code and select seats labeled “Family” when buying tickets online.

PNB Family 2024-25 Performance Discount Code2024-09-16T16:40:32-07:00

Seattle Level VI Schedule Clarification!

We are reaching out to clarify the class time for the Friday Level VI Technique class at our Seattle location. We apologize for any confusion caused. Please find the correct schedule below: 

Level VI

Fridays 

4:30-6:00pm

Thank you! We appreciate your patience!

Seattle Level VI Schedule Clarification!2024-09-16T15:52:23-07:00

2024-25 Ticket Voucher Information

SAVE THE DATES!

We encourage all students to attend PNB Company performances. The live theater experience provides an essential and enriching component to the education of our students. Students in Levels IV-VIII and Advanced C will receive ticket vouchers good for two tickets to the following Reps in PNB’s 2024-25 season:

Rep 2: All Balanchine

November 1 – 10, 2024

This program highlights the range and creativity George Balanchine brought to all of his work, and how he used the music of Vivaldi, Corelli, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky to inspire and influence his choreography.

This meeting of music and dance is as thought-provoking now as it was when Balanchine created these now-classic ballets. Don’t miss this intriguing blend of American folk dance (Square Dance), dramatic parable (Prodigal Son), and ballet blockbuster (Stravinsky Violin Concerto).

Rep 4: Emergence

March 14-23, 2025

Crystal Pite’s audience favorite Emergence returns after a six-year hiatus!

“Like the best works of art, it transforms its audience, as well as its participants,” says The Seattle Times of Emergence. This mesmerizing piece is accompanied by Jerome Robbins’ intimate Afternoon of a Faun, Marco Goecke’s solo work Mopey, and a World Premiere from PNB dancer and choreographer Price Suddarth. Each of these choreographers pushes the boundaries of dance with their own unique vision, and are especially remarkable when juxtaposed with one another.

Ticket vouchers will be distributed in class a few weeks prior to each Rep. Students will be able to choose from a selection of performance dates and times determined by PNB.

PNB School students and their families receive a student rate of 20% off tickets to performances. Mention promo code PNBS25 when calling the Box Office or enter the code and select seats labeled “Family” when buying tickets online.

2024-25 Ticket Voucher Information2024-09-13T10:32:06-07:00

Class Assistant Opportunity!

Dear Pre-Intermediate C families,

I am reaching out to invite your Pre-Intermediate C student to become a class assistant for Dance for All. Dance for All offers inclusive creative dance classes for students of all abilities and mobility levels, ages 6-10, centered in supporting neurodiverse students and students with disabilities of all kinds.

We are looking for students to assist Fall Session Dance for All classes:

Francia Russell Center

Wednesdays, 3:00-4:00pm

October 2-December 11

Class assistants are asked to commit to a minimum of 5 classes within the Fall Session (can be a mixture of Wednesday and Saturday classes). A sign-up link will be sent out to class assistant families so students can indicate their days of attendance. Class assistants take part in an orientation to equip them to help within classes.

A strong component of the PNB School is student leadership development through class assisting. Within Dance for All’s inclusive environment, class assistants are relatively close to participants’ ages and act as peer models, participating in class curriculum and helping their fellow classmates. Peer models and participants alike have the unique opportunity to learn from one another. This inclusive learning dynamic promotes friendship, empathy, leadership skills and appreciation of similarities and differences.  

If your student has interest in being a class assistant for Dance for All, please reach out to DanceforAll@pnb.org . Please share how you anticipate your student benefiting through the experience of being a peer model for Dance for All.

To learn more about this program, please visit DanceforAll and/or reach out with any questions.

Kind regards,

Naomi Glass

Director of Access Programs

Faculty

Class Assistant Opportunity!2024-09-12T16:18:48-07:00

Class Assistant Opportunity!

Dear Level III families,

I am reaching out to invite your Level III student to become a class assistant for Dance for All. Dance for All offers inclusive creative dance classes for students of all abilities and mobility levels, ages 6-10, centered in supporting neurodiverse students and students with disabilities of all kinds.

We are looking for students to assist Fall Session Dance for All classes:

Francia Russell Center

Wednesdays, 3:00-4:00pm

October 2-December 11

Saturdays, 9:00-10:00am

October 5- December 14

Class assistants are asked to commit to a minimum of 5 classes within the Fall Session (can be a mixture of Wednesday and Saturday classes). A sign-up link will be sent out to class assistant families so students can indicate their days of attendance. Class assistants take part in an orientation to equip them to help within classes.

A strong component of the PNB School is student leadership development through class assisting. Within Dance for All’s inclusive environment, class assistants are relatively close to participants’ ages and act as peer models, participating in class curriculum and helping their fellow classmates. Peer models and participants alike have the unique opportunity to learn from one another. This inclusive learning dynamic promotes friendship, empathy, leadership skills and appreciation of similarities and differences.  

If your student has interest in being a class assistant for Dance for All, please reach out to DanceforAll@pnb.org . Please share how you anticipate your student benefiting through the experience of being a peer model for Dance for All.

To learn more about this program, please visit DanceforAll and/or reach out with any questions.

Kind regards,

Naomi Glass

Director of Access Programs

Faculty

Class Assistant Opportunity!2024-09-12T16:00:27-07:00

Welcome, New Voices Students and Families!  (NVI – Level VII and NV II – Level VIII):

I am deeply excited and grateful for the start of the seventh year of this wonderful program, and I am ready and eager to get our year under way!

As a reminder, I will ask that all students bring a dedicated notebook and writing implement to every class.

We have some exciting events coming up this year. Please make a note of the following:

NV I and NV II: We will be attending PNB’s Rep 1 at McCaw Hall on Saturday, September 28 at 7:30pm. These tickets are generously provided by the Education Committee, so I appreciate your attendance!

NV II: Students will be creating and collaborating on a group choreography piece that will be presented at the Discover Dance show on Thursday, November 14 at 6:30pm at McCaw Hall. Students should be available from 12noon onwards to help with event organization, and all must be available for dress rehearsal (time TBA), and performance. Community service hours are available for those who need them. Family and friends are all invited to this performance; more information on tickets to come as time nears. 

NV I: will have a showing of solo and duet work on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30pm in Studio C at the Phelps Center. All are invited! 

NV I and NV II: We are having our second outing to see LINES performing on Saturday, April 5 at 8pm at Meany Hall. Please save the date!

NV I and NV II: Both classes will have choreographic presentations on Wednesday, June 4 in Studio C at the Phelps Center. NV I will present trio/quartet work starting at 6pm. NV II will be presenting repertoire and group work at 7pm. All are invited. 

To the newcomers to New Voices, welcome! To those who are familiar with this wonderful program, thank you for your continued support and I am looking forward to seeing you at our showings. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to a very creative year!

Warmly,

Ms. Stone

Eva Stone,  BFA, MA (she/her)

NEXT STEP Program Coordinator Modern/New Voices Instructor

Welcome, New Voices Students and Families!  (NVI – Level VII and NV II – Level VIII):2024-09-13T10:09:06-07:00

Level IV Pointe Shoe Information

Dear Level IV families,

As pointe shoe fittings wrap up for this week, we wanted to send a reminder that students should bring their pointe shoes and Pointe Shoe Sewing Supplies to pointe classes with them, as they will learn to sew their shoes in class.

Faculty must approve shoes before sewing, and pointe shoes are to be worn only in class.

Pointe Videos

We’d also like to share two informative pointe videos created by PNB School Level VIII students just for you! The first offers tips on breaking in your shoes; the second includes some strengthening exercises you can do to benefit your pointe training. Click the links below to review these, and let your teacher know if you have any questions.

Level IV Pointe Shoe Information2024-09-13T10:10:15-07:00

Videos: Pre-Ballet at Home Conditioning Videos!

Dear Pre-Ballet families,

We are happy to share that we have added new videos to our at home conditioning program!

Reminders:

  • These videos are for our students to practice at home to help your dancer achieve their goals. Your student’s will be receiving instruction on how to properly execute these exercises in class but please know that these are all achievable at home.
  • You will be receiving updates throughout the school year with new videos that will build upon the curriculum that they are learning in class and will help them progress through the year.
  • We ask that you do not share these videos with those who are outside of PNB.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the school with any questions!

https://vimeo.com/showcase/10635755

Password: PB1

Videos: Pre-Ballet at Home Conditioning Videos!2024-09-12T15:19:46-07:00

VIDEOS: Level I at Home Conditioning Program!

Dear level I families,

We are happy to share that we have added new videos to our at home conditioning program!

Reminders:

  • These videos are for our students to practice at home to help your dancer achieve their goals. Your student’s will be receiving instruction on how to properly execute these exercises in class but please know that these are all achievable at home.
  • You will be receiving updates throughout the school year with new videos that will build upon the curriculum that they are learning in class and will help them progress through the year.
  • We ask that you do not share these videos with those who are outside of PNB.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the school with any questions!

Password: PNB1

VIDEOS: Level I at Home Conditioning Program!2024-09-12T15:05:19-07:00
Go to Top