Interview With Miles and Sydney M. Pertl, Discussing Next Step, Modern Dance and Their Ballet "Ricochet"!

The 50th season at Pacific Northwest Ballet has come to an end and boy, did it conclude with a bang as ballet dancers and PNB students came together to create amazing dances that dazzled with nary a moment of misstep.  The event brought together by Next Step Program Coordinator Eva Stone, with lighting design by Reed Nakayama and the PNB costume shop is a chance for ballet dancers and advanced students to create new choreography and ultimately, to create magic!

And magic was in fact made at the June 16th event! Highlights include James Kirby Rogers dark trip into the deconstruction of the colonized female body in contemporary ballet, Miles Pertl's Ricochet that is a loving look at the history of the form, Traverse, which is just beautiful, but, ultimately, Zsilas Michael Hughes steals the show from everyone, with something that is personal, dynamic, full of style and a wonderfully queer, contemporary energy.  After the event, I noted to the choreographer that during their ballet, I actually felt hegemony crack--and I still believe that. I do not want to wait a year to see this artist's next work (nor, actually, any of the work by these amazing choreographers,) and if you missed the night, you missed something exciting, invigorating and above all else--something very important. But not just this piece--from a choreographer doing their first work, to others who are now veterans--there is a strong sense that this is an embryo of experimentation and growth--that we will see much more from each of these choreographers in the very near future. 

For me, however, the event began a full night before, when I was given the wonderful opportunity to discuss Miles and Sydney's powerful piece, Ricochet, with the artists responsible for this complex, magical piece!  I hope you enjoy this fun and insightful talk with these amazingly talented. eloquent, and vibrant artists!   See y'all next season! 

Interview with Miles and Sydney M. Pertl. Part 1.

Interview with Miles and Sydney M. Pertl. Part 2.

Thank you to Miles and Sydney M. Pertl, PNB and especially the always gracious, Gary Tucker!