Patti Payne gets the scoop on what’s going on behind the scenes at Pacific Northwest Ballet with 8 out of 48 dancers departing at the end of the season, or earlier in the case of Olivier Wevers, Principal Dancer whose last performance is Sunday’s matinee of Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In her column Friday, Patti notes that departing dancers include much-lauded principals Ariana Lallone, Jeffrey Stanton, Stanko Milov and Olivier Wevers, soloists Chalnessa Eames and corps de ballet members Stacy Lowenberg, Josh Spell and Barry Kerollis, making this one of the biggest exits of dancers in the history of the company.
“Wevers, who now directs his own Seattle-based dance company, Whim W’Him, says, “I simply wasn’t cast as much as I used to be and some roles have been humiliating for me to do. I didn’t want to be the dancer on the bench. When roles started disappearing on me, I jumped and started my own company. I’m taking a huge pay cut to do this.”
Whim W’Him, which blends modern and ballet dance, has been getting rave reviews from critics and sold-out crowds. As Intiman’s new resident dance company and with such donors as James and Sherry Raisbeck, and Jolene McCaw, it will launch on the international scene later this month.
The end of a season and the end of careers is full of emotion, that’s for sure. Good luck to each and every one of the retiring dancers and congrats Olivier for exiting with honesty and grace.
Thanks Patti for covering the story. To read the full column click here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/print-edition/2011/04/15/behind-the-scenes-with-patti-payne.html
photo by Angela Sterling.
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