In Seattle, there are countless opportunities for adult dancers of any level to find space in their lives for ballet. To name a few: Exit Space, Dance Fremont, VAM Studios, Seattle Dance Conservatory, ARC Dance, ATD Studios, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School offer open classes aimed at various levels of dancers. What I have found at some of these studios, is that while they have created a beautiful space where anybody can go to dance, there is often a lack of actual instruction and correction. The mindset seems to be “good enough” both in terms of how much the teacher puts into class, and how much the students are expected to give. Perhaps this should be anticipated in an open class where over time people come and go, and the teacher gives class to whoever is present that day, but there is one place where the expectation is significantly different.
The first time that I took an open class at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, I was blown away by how incomparable the atmosphere was. It’s so different to step into a place that’s dedicated to ballet. At many studios, ballet seems like an underdog, and they may offer only a handful of classes a week. At PNB, you can feel how richly ballet lives and breathes there. Bits of classical ballet scores drift from preschool dance classes, children wait eagerly in the hall and peer in to watch classes, the walls are adorned in iconic photos from PNB’s history, and if you’re lucky, you might walk right past a studio where company dancers are working on the newest repertory. It is so refreshing to be in a place where ballet is so celebrated, where ballet is the focus, and where you can see ballet thriving.
At PNB, they take you seriously even as an adult, which was both a shock and a delightful discovery. The level of attention and care is not comparable to any other open class I’ve taken. It is expected that every single person is there not just to dance, but to improve. There is an expectation that everybody wants to, can, and will improve, and that we should be taken seriously in our journey to become better dancers. It is so beautiful to see that anyone can go there, and receive the highest quality of instruction. This opportunity to learn from the most incredible, certified teachers is unparalleled in Seattle. As someone who grew up watching many of these teachers at the height of their careers at PNB, it is surreal to take class from them, and to see the quality of instruction that the school gives to their Open Program dancers.
Just to be invited into that space, and to be seen as worthy is a huge gift from PNB to the dancers of Seattle. It would be so easy for a school like Pacific Northwest Ballet to see their classes full of pre-professional students, and think that there is no point in bringing adult dancers into the school because they aren’t heading for dance careers. It would be so easy to see these adults who are not at the professional level and think that they aren’t worthy of their space, time, or attention from their teachers.
Not since my childhood in the Cornish Preparatory Dance Program have I had teachers who see so much, or who watch with such care and an eye for detail. I don’t think the teachers watch their adult students any differently than they do their other students, we are seen as being deserving of the same kind of attention. No small detail is ignored. At many studios, you can tell that you’re not really being watched. When I take class at PNB, I feel seen in a way that I haven’t since the classes of my childhood. The teachers at PNB are committed to each dancer’s growth, every dancer from 2 until 82, and they have created an atmosphere that expects dedicated, focused hard work, while still inviting joy and a sense of community.
You will really be pushed at PNB, and that is such a wonderful thing. We’re there because we love to dance, and it’s so beautiful to see that the teachers are willing to really help you improve in your passion. They help you surprise yourself, help you bring out the best, show you that dance can always be part of your life, and that you belong there. They care so much and the love for what they do is evident. They teach at a multitude of different levels, and yet they give the same level of care to their adults. It’s a great gift as an adult dancer to have a place where people have high expectations of you.
Deserving attention is such a huge thing and it’s a lot for such a respected ballet school to invite adult dancers into that space, to allow them to take class in the studio right next to where company class is going on, and to be welcomed into that space of excellence. During weekday morning classes, the only other classes in the building are company class and the professional division classes, and then there's a beautiful studio waiting for a group of adult dancers to fill. No, we’re not heading for careers in dance, but this is what brings us joy, this is our passion, this is what makes us feel alive, this is our happy place. For most of us, we’ve danced longer than we can remember, and still work so hard to make time for dance in our lives. PNB rewards you for making time in your life, they see the effort to be there, and you are rewarded with live accompaniment and the most wonderful teachers who care and nourish deeply.
Currently, between the two locations, PNB offers 24 open classes a week, which includes a fundamentals of ballet course, and four different levels. Here’s how PNB compares to other top company-affiliated schools in the country in terms of access to open ballet classes:
American Ballet Theatre– 3 virtual classes a week
School of American Ballet– none, only occasional workshops for beginners
San Francisco Ballet– 9 classes in person, 4 virtual classes per week
Boston Ballet– 8 classes per week, beginner level only
Houston Ballet– 7 in person, 3 virtual per week
Joffrey Ballet– 14 classes per week
Miami City Ballet– 7 per week
Philadelphia Ballet– 5 per week
Pacific Northwest Ballet- 24 classes per week
A huge thank you to Pacific Northwest Ballet School for creating such a beautiful space where dancers of all ages can be taken seriously, and where anyone can find and nurture a love of dance. You can learn more about PNB’s Open Program by visiting Open Program Ballet Classes | Classes & Programs | PNB School
Thank you to Elizabeth Ricketson for the gorgeous artwork that provokes the beauty and hard work of ballet class! You can learn more about her work here: elizabethricketson.net and follow her @elizabeth_ricketson
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