IDEA Newsletter - March 2021 |  View in browser

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Pacific Northwest Ballet's IDEA Newsetter!

 Each month the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Newsletter will give you updates from PNB's EDI Committee and Board EDI Task Force, along with PNB events, resources like workshop opportunities and book recommendations. 


We want your submissions to include in future issues! 


Kiyon Ross and Naomi Glass

PNB's EDI Committee is excited to announce 
Kiyon Ross (Director of Company Operations) and
Naomi Glass (DanceChance Manager, PNB School Faculty)
as our new committee co-leads! The two have been hard at work on the EDI Committee's new charter, and will oversee the equity-related projects of the various sub-committees. 

Thank you Kiyon and Naomi for your ongoing work!

PNB is Listening: Asian and Asian-American Heritage

Asians and Asian-Americans at PNB 

In our January edition of PNB is Listening, Final Bow for Yellowface co-founder Phil Chan interviews PNB dancers Christopher D’Ariano and Yuki Takahashi about their experiences as dancers of Asian and Asian-American heritage.

Hollaback Bystander Intervention Training

Bystander Training

Hollaback is an organization committed to end harassment in all forms by "transforming the culture that perpetuates hate and harassment." Hollaback is currently hosting free online Bystander Trainings focused on stopping Anti-Asian Harassment and Xenophobia throughout April.

Reading List

Reading List

As a part of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s celebration of Black History Month 2021, we have compiled a list for anyone looking to add to their "To Be Read" pile. This list includes recommended books for adults and kids, and podcast episodes about Black ballet dancers and history from some PNB staffers. Click here to read all the recommendations.

Ballet Open House

Ballet Open House

Pacific Northwest Ballet School hosted the first of two Ballet Open Houses on March 13, and the second sold-out event is coming up in April. Participants were welcomed to PNB by Sarah Gabrielle-Ryan and participated in a ballet class taught by Peter Boal, with Ikolo Griffin providing corrections. A lively Q&A was hosted by Kiyon Ross with current BIPOC PNBS students, and the event concluded with a choreography seminar led by Eva Stone and Amanda Morgan.

These free two-hour events are a part of PNB's relationship with The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) and are intended to provide a welcome and overview of PNB School for pre-professional Black dancers and dancers of color. 

PNB is Listening

PNB is Listening is a collaboration between PNB artists and staff, highlighting diverse voices in our community. 
Since its start in June of 2020, the series has featured panel discussions covering women who choreograph, a reflection on the life of dancer and choreographer Albert Evans, LGBTQIA+ voices in ballet, and more! 

Click here to explore the series and watch each episode.

Did you know?

In June, PNB stopped using the term "Ballet Master" and replaced it with "Rehearsal Director." The word "master" has roots in the United States' history of chattel slavery. Thinking carefully about the language we use in order to be more inclusive is just one aspect of racial equity work. 

Click here to learn more about common words and phrases that have roots in racism.