Peter Boal
Encyclopedia
Peter Boal is artistic director of Pacific Northwest Ballet
and director of its affiliated school in Seattle, Washington. He was born in Bedford, New York
, in 1965 and began studies at the School of American Ballet
(SAB) at age nine.
Mr. Boal assumed the directorship of Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2005 (from Kent Stowell and Francia Russell) following a successful career with the New York City Ballet
(NYCB) which he joined in 1983 and where he was promoted to soloist
in 1987, principal dancer
in 1989, and from which he retired in 2005. He received his dance training from SAB under the directorship of George Balanchine
.
In 2002, he founded Peter Boal and Company, a critically acclaimed chamber ensemble. Boal joined the faculty of SAB in 1997, teaching technique, variations, men’s and women’s classes, and partnering. He was a guest teacher at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet
's school.
Peter Boal gave his final performance at City Ballet on Sunday, June 5, 2005. On a program that also included Robbins’ West Side Story Suite
and Balanchine’s Agon
, he chose to dance Jerome Robbins
’ Opus 19/The Dreamer
and an excerpt from Apollo
, a role for which he was particularly noted.
While at SAB, he danced in several ballets with NYCB, including Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
, in which he performed the role of the Nutcracker Prince. At City Ballet he has featured roles in over 40 ballets and had over 20 additional roles created on him by choreographers including Jerome Robbins
, Peter Martins
, Christopher Wheeldon
, Christopher d'Amboise
, Ulysses Dove
and Twyla Tharp
.
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Pacific Northwest Ballet is a ballet company based in Seattle, Washington in the United States. Founded in 1972 as part of the Seattle Opera and named the Pacific Northwest Dance Association, it broke away from the Opera in 1977 and took its current name in 1978. It is said to have the highest per...
and director of its affiliated school in Seattle, Washington. He was born in Bedford, New York
Bedford (town), New York
Bedford is a town in Westchester County, New York, USA. The population was 17,335 at the 2010 census.The Town of Bedford is located in the northeastern part of Westchester County, and contains the three hamlets of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, and Katonah...
, in 1965 and began studies at the School of American Ballet
School of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the...
(SAB) at age nine.
Mr. Boal assumed the directorship of Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2005 (from Kent Stowell and Francia Russell) following a successful career with the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
(NYCB) which he joined in 1983 and where he was promoted to soloist
Soloist (ballet)
In ballet, a soloist is a dancer in a ballet company above the corps de ballet but below principal dancer....
in 1987, principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
in 1989, and from which he retired in 2005. He received his dance training from SAB under the directorship of George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
.
In 2002, he founded Peter Boal and Company, a critically acclaimed chamber ensemble. Boal joined the faculty of SAB in 1997, teaching technique, variations, men’s and women’s classes, and partnering. He was a guest teacher at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet
Royal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
's school.
Peter Boal gave his final performance at City Ballet on Sunday, June 5, 2005. On a program that also included Robbins’ West Side Story Suite
West Side Story Suite
West Side Story Suite is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster Jerome Robbins to the 1957 music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim and extracted from the eponymous musical which he had choreographed, with scenery by Oliver Smith, costumes by Irene Sharaff and lighting...
and Balanchine’s Agon
Agon (ballet)
Agon is a ballet for twelve dancers, with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by George Balanchine. Composition began in December 1953 and concluded in April 1957; the music was first performed on June 17, 1957 in Los Angeles conducted by Robert Craft, while the first stage performance was...
, he chose to dance Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
’ Opus 19/The Dreamer
Opus 19/The Dreamer
Opus 19/The Dreamer is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster Jerome Robbins to Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1, in D major with costumes by and lighting by Ronald Bates. The premiere took place on June 14, 1979, at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center...
and an excerpt from Apollo
Apollo (ballet)
Apollo is a ballet in two tableaux composed between 1927 and 1928 by Igor Stravinsky. It was choreographed by balletmaster George Balanchine in 1928, the composer contributing the libretto...
, a role for which he was particularly noted.
While at SAB, he danced in several ballets with NYCB, including Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker (Balanchine)
Choreographer George Balanchine's production of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker has become the most famous stage production of the ballet performed in the U.S. The Balanchine Nutcracker uses the plot of the Alexandre Dumas, père version of E.T.A...
, in which he performed the role of the Nutcracker Prince. At City Ballet he has featured roles in over 40 ballets and had over 20 additional roles created on him by choreographers including Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
, Peter Martins
Peter Martins
Peter Martins is a Danish ballet dancer and choreographer. Martins was named man of the year by Danish American Society, 1980...
, Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon is an international choreographer of contemporary ballet. Born in Somerset, England, to an engineer and a physical therapist, Wheeldon began training to be a ballet dancer at the age of 8. He attended the Royal Ballet School between the ages of 11 and 18...
, Christopher d'Amboise
Christopher d'Amboise
Christopher d'Amboise is an American dancer, choreographer, writer, and theatre director.Born and raised in New York City, the son of dancers Jacques d'Amboise and Carolyn George, d'Amboise became a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, where he worked closely with George Balanchine and...
, Ulysses Dove
Ulysses Dove
Ulysses Dove was one of the most innovative contemporary choreographers of the past half-century.Dove began his dance training at Boggs Academy in Georgia...
and Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer, who lives and works in New York City.-Early years:Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, and was named after Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana.she spend hours working on it to help her...
.
Personal life
Peter Boal married Kelly Cass (also a dancer with NYCB) on August 15, 1992, in Balletin Colwall, England.External links
- biography, PNBPacific Northwest BalletPacific Northwest Ballet is a ballet company based in Seattle, Washington in the United States. Founded in 1972 as part of the Seattle Opera and named the Pacific Northwest Dance Association, it broke away from the Opera in 1977 and took its current name in 1978. It is said to have the highest per...
website - Ballet-Dance, Dean Speer and Francis Timlin, July 2005
- Village Voice, Deborah JowittDeborah JowittDeborah Jowitt is an American dance critic, author, and choreographer. Her career in dance began as a performer and choreographer. Jowitt has received several awards for her work, including a Bessie for her work in dance criticism.Beginning in 1967, she wrote a weekly dance column for the Village...
, March 1, 2005 - NY Times, Gia Kourlas, December 25, 2005
- Archive film of Peter Boal performing Herman Schmerman in 2004 at Jacob's Pillow
- NY Times, Jack AndersonJack Anderson (dance critic)Jack Anderson is an American dance critic and author. Since 1978, he has been a contributor of dance reviews and other articles in The New York Times...
, January 9, 1987