Ballet Northwest Presents "The Sleeping Beauty"

Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet is the most popular spring production in Ballet Northwest’s repertory, and features a cursed princess, faeries, the royal court, and a prince who awakens a sleeping kingdom. The ballet concludes with Princess Aurora’s wedding with special guests Red Riding Hood, Puss N’ Boots, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White and the seven dwarfs.

Ballet Northwest’s production includes professional sets, lavish costumes, and 100 local dancers (from Thurston, Lewis, Mason, and Pierce counties).

“We’re excited to have two BNW alumni returning this year – Natalie Allenton and Bina Anvari. Natalie will be dancing the role of Princess Aurora in two of the shows. She graduated from Pacific Northwest Ballet’s professional division and danced professionally with Spectrum Dance Theater.  Bina was an Aspirant with Eugene Ballet in Oregon and dances the male lead role, Prince Desire’. Grace Collins, a Junior at Olympia High School, will be dancing the role of Princess Aurora in the other two shows, and this summer will be studying at American Ballet Theatre and Pacific Northwest Ballet”, stated Co-Artistic Director Josie Johnson.

Ballet Northwest continues its rich tradition of outreach into the community with its Free School Matinee in conjunction with The Sleeping Beauty. Co-Artistic Director Ken Johnson explained, “We’re thrilled that 900 elementary school children (at no charge to the schools) will be attending a free student matinee at the Washington Center. For most kids, this will be their first exposure to ballet. The matinee will feature an abbreviated version of the show followed up with a question and answer session.”

The Sleeping Beauty is sponsored by Capital Heating*Cooling*Plumbing*Electric, Timberland Bank, and Fieldstone. Further support is provided by Oly Fed, Dr. Andrew J. Kapust, Olympic Dermatology, and South Sound Solar. Thank you to our season funders Inspire Olympia, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and Nisqually Indian Tribe.

Ballet Northwest will present The Sleeping Beauty at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Olympia May 8 through 11, Mother’s Day Weekend 2025. Curtain time is 7pm on Thursday and Friday, and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range from $22 to $45, with discounts available to students, seniors, and youth. Student Rush tickets are available one hour before curtain. Tickets are available through the Washington Center Box Office at 512 Washington Street SE in Olympia or by calling 360-753-8566. Visit www.balletnorthwest.org for more information or buy tickets online at www.washingtoncenter.org/bnw.

WHO: Ballet Northwest

WHAT: The Sleeping Beauty  

WHEN: 7pm on May 8 and 9

2pm on May 10 and 11

WHERE: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts

 512 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98501

HOW: Ticket Office - 360-753-8566 or order online at www.olytix.org

PRICES: Tickets are $22 to $45, including Washington Center service fee. Student, senior, and youth discounts available.

Student Rush tickets go on sale one hour before curtain.

High Resolution Images available upon request.

Biographies:

Josie Johnson, Co-Artistic Director

Josie and her husband Ken are the Directors of Johansen Olympia Dance Center. She trained at Orange County Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where she received a B.F.A. in Dance Pedagogy. Josie danced professionally with Dance Connecticut/Hartford Ballet, Connecticut Opera, Roxey Ballet, and ARC Dance Productions. Guest credits include Eliot Feld's Mr. XYZ with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Kirk Peterson’s The Nutcracker with the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Josie has taught and choreographed extensively throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington.

Ken Johnson, Co-Artistic Director

Ken and his wife Josie are the Directors of Johansen Olympia Dance Center. He trained at Johansen School of Ballet, Evergreen City Ballet, and the School of Hartford Ballet. He attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet on scholarship. Ken danced professionally with Hartford Ballet, Dance Connecticut, and Connecticut Opera, as well as at the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Ken received a bachelor's from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.  Ken has worked at American Repertory Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dance Connecticut, ACT Theatre, and Tacoma Art Museum.

Since 1970, Ballet Northwest has been a community-based group dedicated to promoting, teaching, and preserving the art of dance in Southwestern Washington. The company offers educational opportunities for local dancers as well as outreach throughout the community.