Seattle Perspectives: PNB's principal dancer pays tribute to retiring directors

Ballet in Seattle began in 1966, with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Association, which announced its hope to create a permanent, professional company. In 1972, the Pacific Northwest Dance Association emerged, and in March 1975, its dancers appeared in Seattle Opera’s production of “Manon.” Kent Stowell and Francia Russell took over as artistic directors in 1977, and in 1978, the association’s name changed to Pacific Northwest Ballet. The company grew in size and stature over the years, and today it has 43 dancers and a ballet school with more than 900 students.


		Karen Ducey / P-I
	Neolani Pantastico warms up backstage during the tribute performance for Kent Stowell and Francia Russell on June 12, 2005.

After 28 years, Stowell and Russell are retiring. Principal dancer Noelani Pantastico, 25, was among those who participated in a tribute to the couple at McCaw Hall on Sunday night.

"My life changed from being a 16-year-old girl in a small town Carlisle, Pa., to becoming this city kid in Washington, living in my own apartment at 17. This was when I got my apprenticeship. My parents moved me out here in the '97-'98 season and ... I had to live and cook for myself and take care of myself. ... It was a wake-up call. It was scary. It was really frightening, and I remember some really lonely nights.

"But the great thing was when you join a ballet company, it's your family, you know? I mean, it took me a few years to definitely be liked by people and for people to get used to me. But Kent and Francia were like my Mom and Dad in a sense, even though the relationship wasn't exactly the same. I looked up to them like parents, and they were responsible for me in a sense.

"I'm scared of Kent and Francia leaving. I'm very scared of that. But I'm also excited for Peter Boal (their successor) to come in. A lot of the dancers are scared. They don't know what to expect. ... I think they have nothing to be worried about. Peter's a smart man and the company's going to go so far. ...

"We're used to a mother and father figure in front of the room and now it's just one person. And we don't even know that person very well. We know his past and how famous he is and what a star he is in our eyes, but then to work with him is scary and not know him is scary. 'Where did Mom and Dad go?' you know? (Laughs.) But I think that Kent and Francia still will be around and I'm still going to write them and let them know what's going on in my life. They're still going to be attending performances and giving me their two cents, I know they are!"

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