PNBSchool

Sunday, November 15 2020

Dear PNB School Families,

You may have heard the latest announcement from Governor
Inslee today (see link below), issuing updated business restrictions as well as
revised guidelines for social gatherings in an attempt to lessen the impact of
COVID-19 on our communities. One of the updates includes the closure of indoor
service at fitness facilities and gyms; dance studios fall into this category.

From the Seattle Times: 

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/gov-inslee-orders-sweeping-restrictions-on-indoor-gatherings-restaurants-bars-gyms-as-covid-19-cases-surge-in-washington-state/

Given these updates, PNB has once again suspended access to
the PNB studios for all students, beginning immediately. In addition, all
PNB School classes (in person and zoom) will be cancelled on Monday, November
16^th, to give PNB Management time to review and potentially
adjust staffing at both the Phelps Center and the Francia Russell Center. We
hope to resume all classes as scheduled via Zoom on Tuesday, November 17^th;
however, in order to comply with reduced building capacity mandates, we will
not be able to bring students into the studios, in pods or individually.

These new measures from the Governor are expected to last at
least through December 14^th. We are extending the studio
restrictions beyond December 14^th, through PNB School’s Winter
Break, and will revisit the situation to see if studio access might be possible
again after January 4, 2021. Of course, we will continue to follow guidelines
from King County Public Health, CDC, Washington Department of Health
authorities, and will keep you apprised of any changes or updates to projected
return-to-studio dates.

We understand and share your disappointment at this news, as
we just brought Level VII, VIII, and Men’s Division students back to the
studios. Although reverting back to strictly online instruction was a distinct
possibility moving into the winter months, it is heartbreaking just the same.
And while we are all working to maintain our physical health and safety, mental
well-being is equally important, so we want to take this opportunity to remind
you that PNB School’s Consulting Therapist, Josh Spell, is a tremendous health
and wellness resource for our School families. Josh is available to meet with
students one-on-one as needed, and can be reached at jspell@pnb.org.

As always, we will pass along any updates regarding
COVID-related impacts upon the School as they develop. Until then, keep working
hard in your zoom classes, and please reach out to us if you have any questions
or concerns.

Sincerely,

Denise Bolstad

Managing Director

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Posted by PNB School
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Thursday, November 12 2020

Did you know that PNB School has a Physical Therapy
Consultant? Henry Lu, PT, ATC has been working in orthopedic and sports
rehabilitation since 2003, and has over 10 years of experience working in Dance
Medicine and Rehab. Henry is available to meet with students at his office, Velocity Physiotherapy in Wallingford; and he welcomes
questions from PNB School parents regarding ballet classes and physical therapy
in this new age of online/at home Zoom instruction. (206) 905-8575; henry@velocityphysio.com

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Posted by PNB School
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Wednesday, November 11 2020

Hello PNB Families, 

PNB School will be closed Thursday, November 26th through Sunday, November 29th in honor of Thanksgiving. All classes will be held as normal on Wednesday, November 25th. 

We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday! 

PNB School

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Posted by PNB School
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Wednesday, September 30 2020

Dear Level IV
Students and Parents:

The BIG DAY is near! Level IV is a milestone level at PNB School that
many students dream of reaching, as students begin pointe work. We share your
excitement at getting those first pair of pointe shoes! In the coming weeks,
students will be spending time in pointe class discussing what to expect during
the fittings. Teachers will explain how a shoe should fit, what to wear at the
fittings, answer any questions from students and/or parents, and what the next
steps will be once students have had their shoes approved by PNBS faculty.

After much discussion and
planning with our colleagues at New York’s Freed of London office, we realized
that virtual/IN-person fittings at the PNB studios will not be feasible for Level
IV students this year. However, we have a fantastic fitting opportunity
right in our own backyard! Rhea Whitfield Lwin, owner of On Pointe Dancewear in
Bellevue, has graciously agreed to fit all PNB
level IV students. Rhea has been working with
PNBS and Freed to provide the BEST fitting experience we need for our students.

Fitting details:

All
Level IV students must go through an in-person fitting in order to purchase
pointe shoes from On Pointe Dancewear. Pointe shoe fittings must be scheduled
ahead of time through On Pointe’s website: www.onpointebellevue.com.
Please make your appointment as soon as possible.

• Select the service “PNB Level IV
  Pointe Shoe Fitting.”

• Please indicate your street shoe size in
  the comments section
• Each student must have their own
  individual appointment 
• Please arrive with clean feet and
  trimmed toenails
• Students should wear clean tights to the
  fitting
• Face masks are required to enter the
  store
• Dancers’ families can expect to purchase
  the following: 1 pair of pointe shoes, matching Freed satin ribbon, pointe
  shoe elastic, toe pads, and a sewing kit. Each dancer will receive a free
  mesh pointe shoe bag and a special PNB discount of 10% off for this
  one-time purchase. It is possible that we might recommend additional
  accessories based on individual dancer’s needs.

All shoes must meet PNB
School faculty approval before sewing.
On Pointe and PNBS faculty will make every
effort to find the best fit we can for each student.  On Pointe has expert fitters, and they
are also aware of PNBS requirements. Some students may need to experiment with
a different type of shoe. The faculty will continue
to advise each student to find the best shoe for her foot; so once you
have purchased your shoes, please bring them to the next zoom class and your
teacher will approve them to be sewn.

Ø 
A
special “Sewing Seminar” for
students will be held during scheduled pointe classes (on Zoom) after shoes are
given final approval. This seminar is for students and parents; we want each
student to do her own sewing, but parents should be there to help as
needed. Students should have their pointe shoes and sewing supplies at
each pointe class following the fittings.

We
know that this is a very exciting time for Level IV students, and we hope that any
questions or concerns you may have will be answered at your fittings and during
class time. Please contact the School if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Denise
Bolstad

Managing
Director

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Posted by PNB School
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Wednesday, September 23 2020

Dear PNBS students and families,

The School year has begun and while we usually mark this occasion with sounds
of excited students crowding hallways and the highly anticipated first parent
watch day; this year is quite different. Despite restrictions, we are moving
ahead with education and dialogue.

Today, as I walked the halls of the Phelps Center, I heard
young men speaking via Zoom with new faculty member Ikolo Griffin. They
discussed the challenges of double tours en l’air, while a younger set spoke to
Jonathan Porretta about new steps and new combinations. Circuit training,
pointe, variations, choreography, pre-pointe and modern were being broadcast
from every studio in Seattle and in Bellevue as hundreds of students resumed
their study of dance. Thank you for your patience as we explore the safest
practices and best technology applications for students, families, faculty and
staff.

One of our Professional Division students has approached us about starting an
affinity group for Black, Brown, Biracial, and Multiracial students and their
families. We are wholeheartedly behind this idea and invite all students and
parents who would like to participate in this affinity group to join us. PNB
consultant and diversity strategist Theresa Ruth Howard will facilitate first
discussions. Student-led and PNBS supported, School leadership will participate
and engage with this group on a regular basis in order to  listen to
feedback and support the creation of safe spaces for students and families of
color.

PNBS is also open to the introduction of other affinity groups, and understand
that our approach to a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive PNB has many
intersections. If you have an idea for another student-led affinity group,
please contact Denise Bolstad at pnbschool@pnb.org.

We find ourselves living in an
altered world, and though we may not all be able to enter a studio at this time
or experience in-person instruction, PNBS is exploring every opportunity to
invite our students and families to be an integral part of how we shape our
future.  I hope you will join us as we move forward and embark on a new
year and a new era for our School.

Sincerely,

Peter Boal and Denise Bolstad

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Posted by PNB School
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Wednesday, September 9 2020

Hello PNB Families, 

Below please find the link to the email that was sent to families on September 3rd. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have issues accessing the email via the link. 

http://bit.ly/PNBSBacktoSchool

Best regards, 

PNB School

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Posted by PNB School
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Thursday, August 27 2020

PNB School is thrilled to introduce you to Josh Spell, former
PNB Company Dancer, and our new Consulting Therapist!  Josh officially joined our Consulting staff
in July to present health and wellness seminars for our 2020 Seattle Summer
Course students, and he will oversee student health and wellness programs and
initiatives moving forward. He will present and/or coordinate seminars
throughout the school year on topics based on “Creating the Holistic Dancer,”
including nutrition, mental health, and stress management; he will be available
to meet with students one-on-one as needed or requested; he will work with
Company dancers Cecilia Iliescu and Amanda Morgan to continue to develop the
mentorship programs that were established last spring for students in Levels
VII, VIII, and the Professional Division. More information on Josh’s background
can be found below. We are so excited to welcome Josh back into the PNB family,
and he is looking forward to working with our students.

Josh Spell
is a licensed social worker in the state of Washington. He has a master’s
degree in social work from the University of Washington and received his
undergrad from Seattle University. He began working with eating disorders in a
partial level of care setting in 2017 and has also worked in a generalized
partial hospitalization program for mood disorders. Josh offers a compassionate
and direct approach when working with clients in order to break down perceived problems
into manageable steps, remain in the present moment with curiosity, provide a
willingness to learn from distress and identify specific goals that are in line
with overarching values. He has been intensively trained in Radically
Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy and utilizes principles of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, among others. Josh danced
professionally with the Pacific Northwest Ballet for ten years and the Kansas
City Ballet for two years. He trained at School of American Ballet and attended
the summer program at PNB School. His former career as a professional ballet
dancer informs his current approach, and he is passionate about working with
dancers and athletes. Josh is currently a Primary Therapist with Opal Food +
Body Wisdom in Seattle, WA. He is excited to return to the dance world in a new
role consulting with professional and aspiring dancers from a holistic
perspective.

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Posted by PNB School
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Wednesday, August 26 2020

Dear School families,

Now that Fall Registration information has been sent, we
would like to update you with additional information regarding fall classes, online
instruction, and our re-opening plan.

The PNB School year will begin on September 14^th
with online instruction; HOWEVER, we are in the process of developing detailed protocols
and procedures for safely welcoming small groups of upper level students back
to the studios as soon as we possibly can for limited face-to-face instruction (starting
with Level VIII and Men’s Division).

Our goal is to begin offering limited face-to-face
instruction for upper levels (VI-VIII) this fall or later this year (meaning
upper level classes would shift to a hybrid mix of online and in-person
instruction). Our re-opening plans must remain in accordance with state and
local regulations and guidelines, which limit the number of people allowed in a
studio (small groups of no more than three to five students). Enrollment
numbers will determine how often students will be able to take class in the
studio each week. In addition to class sizes, we are reviewing studio space
availability for this limited in-person instruction. While the Company’s need
for studios present a challenge for us at the Phelps Center;  the Francia Russell Center, we are happy to
report, is full of school Zoom classes. Class times, studio space, faculty and pianist
schedules, health and wellness for everyone, approval from state and local
officials, and building occupancy are all contributing factors for us to
consider as we plan this next phase for our students.   

There is no way to fully express our excitement and sheer
anticipation over working with students in the studios again! We will continue
to communicate updates to you on our re-opening plan; on a monthly basis and/or
sooner, as developments occur.

Thank you for your commitment to our School.

Denise
Bolstad

Managing
Director

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Posted by PNB School
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Thursday, June 11 2020

Hello,

As you know, PNB has been greatly affected by the pandemic.  Our
offices will temporarily close from June 15^th until June 28^th
and all staff will be furloughed.  Our faculty and pianist are normally
off during this time and will return to work on July 6^th for our
virtual summer courses.  We are looking forward to being back to assist
you via phone and email starting June 29^th.   Please be
patient and we will respond as soon as possible upon our return to the office.

PNB School appreciates your support!

 Best regards,

PNB School

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Posted by PNB School
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