As we mentioned the other day, Seattlest was very excited for the PNB production of Carmina Burana, but we left a bit perplexed and frustrated. To start, we enjoyed Mark Morris' Pacific, a light and dreamy piece that found our thoughts wandering in a pleasant way about halfway through, befitting of a day spent listening to the ocean advance and retreat while pretending to read a book. It was a short and "limited" (to borrow from Seattlest Michael's summation) composition, but the perfect exemplar of Morris' work: seamless integration of ballet's technique and precision with the freedom and rule-free whimsy of modern dance. We love that he breaks ballet traditions by having group pieces with three men and one woman, all performing the same choreography (sure, later in Carmina Burana we have a woman with three men but stereotypically she's a harpy and they are pining for her), and the costumes were simple and perfectly suited to the choreography. more ›

Are you looking at that? It's the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of Carmina Burana, and that's an entire choir behind the giganto Illuminati-looking sculpture hanging from the ceiling. The sheer scale of this piece has us salivating, the chanting backdrop to Carl Orff's seminal composition coursing through our veins and pounding in our head. Choreographed by Kent Stowell, former PNB artistic co-director and epic brewer of ballet dramas, Burana kicks off the "Celebrate Seattle Festival" on Thursday evening, and we are giddy with anticipation. more ›