After a successful 24-year career with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Principal Ariana Lallone will be leaving the company at the end of the 2010-2011 season.

Ariana Lallone is dancing in her final season at PNB. (Photo by Angela Sterling)

“Ariana is an extraordinary dancer, an earnest PNB advocate, and a true friend,” Aya Hamilton, chairman of the board of trustees, says. “We hope all of her many admirers will be with us throughout the season as we look for ways to honor Ariana’s glorious career and celebrate her truly unique imprint on PNB.”

After one year on scholarship at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Lallone joined the company in 1987 and quickly made her mark as a dancer with a “singular style.” At 5-foot-11, Lallone was noted for her long lines, as well as her intensity, dramatic temperament, and individuality. During her final season, Lallone is scheduled to dance roles that she defined for PNB, in works by Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Christopher Stowell, and George Balanchine.

A native of Woodland Hills, California, Lallone trained at the Rozann-Zimmerman Ballet Center (now known as California Dance Academy) in Chatsworth, CA. After joining PNB as an apprentice in 1987, she was promoted to corps de ballet in 1988, to soloist in 1993, and principal in 1994.

Kent Stowell created the title role in Carmen for Lallone in 2002 and roles for her in Carmina Burana, Cinderella, Fauré Requiem, and Silver Lining. Lallone also originated leading roles in Stephen Baynes’ El Tango, Donald Byrd’s Capricious Night and Subtext Rage, Val Caniparoli’s The Bridge, The Seasons, and Torque, Dominique Dumais’ Scripted in the Body and Time and other Matter, Nicolo Fonte’s Within/Without, Kevin O’Day’s [soundaroun(d)dance], Ton Simons’ The Tenderness of Patient Minds, and Twyla Tharp’s Afternoon Ball and Opus 111.

In 1997, Ms. Lallone performed the solo from Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena at the Benois de la Danse Gala in Warsaw. She also performed the role of Hippolyta in the BBC’s 1999 film version of PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, filmed at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London. In 2005, she performed with Peter Boal and Company.

2 Responses to “Pacific Northwest Ballet Says Farewell to Long-Time Principal Lallone”