Contact:
Judy Kitzman, phone (206) 441-2426, email judy@pnb.org
Susan Callahan, phone (206) 794-4706, email scallahan@kncb.com

“When we came to Seattle we were young and naïve and believed nothing was impossible,” said Russell. “Now, more than 26 years later, an institution has been built, housed in three facilities ideal for dance, thousands of students have been trained and once unimaginably brilliant performances are on the stage.” Added Stowell, “There is still much to be accomplished and we feel it is time for new leadership for PNB, perhaps just as naïve as we were and just as determined to achieve the impossible.”

Stowell and Russell have planned to retire for nearly two years. A leadership task force has been in place for over a year to prepare for their departure, and to begin the search for a new Artistic Director.

“Though we have always known that Kent and Francia would want to retire someday, I am suffering a huge twinge of loss as we accept their retirement announcement,” said Cathi Hatch, chairman of the PNB Board of Trustees. “For nearly 27 gloriously creative years, through their passion, vision and uncompromising commitment to quality, PNB has grown into a world-class ballet company and school. And although we are sad about their departure, we are excited for them as they embark on the next chapter of their lives, and look forward to building on their inspired artistic legacy the next phase of the Company and PNB School.”

In 1977, at the beginning of Stowell and Russell’s tenure in Seattle, the company had 1,200 subscribers and an annual operating budget of $800,000. Today, PNB has nearly 11,000 subscribers and is a $16.3 million operation.

David Brown, executive director of PNB said, “Kent and Francia, a truly unique partnership in the performing arts, have together built an organization of the highest standards with attention not only to its performing artists and craft persons, but to several generations of artists to come through the Pacific Northwest Ballet School.”

Stowell, who is also the company’s Principal Choreographer, has created new works each year and has created more full-length ballets than any other American artistic director of a major company. In addition to her role as Co-Artistic Director, Russell serves as Director of PNB School. She has developed a curriculum that has made PNB School, with its two facilities — The Phelps Center in Seattle and Francia Russell Center in Bellevue — one of the foremost dance training institutions in the country.

Stowell began his notable career with the San Francisco Ballet in 1957 and later joined New York City Ballet, where he met his wife, Francia Russell. Stowell also spent time in Germany as a leading dancer and choreographer at the Munich Opera Ballet and, along with Russell, served as Co-Artistic Director for the Frankfurt Ballet.

Russell’s distinguished career began at New York City Ballet in 1956 where she was promoted to soloist in 1959 and appointed Ballet Master in 1964. One of the first Ballet Masters chosen by George Balanchine to stage his works for companies around the world, Russell continues to stage Balanchine works internationally. In 1977 Russell and Stowell were invited to join Pacific Northwest Ballet as Co-Artistic Directors.

A search committee has been organized to identify and hire a new artistic director and a new director for PNB School. The committee, chaired by longtime trustee Carl Behnke, is comprised of members of the PNB Board of Trustees. Stowell and Russell, along with two Advisory Panels of artistic and administrative staff members and other board leaders, will assist in providing input and advice during the process. It is expected that the PNB Board of Trustees will finalize the selection decision in early 2005.

Founded in 1972 and under the artistic guidance of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell since 1977, PNB is one of the largest and most highly regarded ballet companies in the United States. The Company of forty six dancers presents over ninety performances each year of full-length and mixed repertory ballets. Pacific Northwest Ballet School, under the direction of Ms. Russell, is nationally recognized as setting the standard for ballet training offering a complete professional curriculum to over 850 students. The School also provides comprehensive dance education to the greater Seattle area reaching more than 2,000 elementary school students each year through its DanceChance, Discover Dance, and BravoBallet! programs.