PNB gala: a fete for feet

Pacific Northwest Ballet kicks off its new season Saturday with a gala performance at McCaw Hall, providing a sampler of what audiences will be seeing from the company in the coming year.

The gala will include both the familiar (excerpts from Kent Stowell's lavish "Swan Lake" and George Balanchine's "Theme & Variations"); new-to-PNB (excerpts from Balanchine's sleepwalking ballet "La Sonnambula" and a performance of Jerome Robbins' "Circus Polka," featuring students from the PNB school); and brand-new (a world-premiere ballet from former PNB principal dancer Paul Gibson).

Also on the bill will be Robert Joffrey's pas de deux "Remembrances," accompanied by soprano Jane Eaglen's performance of Richard Wagner's "Traüme" and the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra.

PNB artistic director Peter Boal will address the audience. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the performance beginning at 6:30. Tickets ranging from $350 to $2,500 include pre-performance cocktails and a post-performance dinner and party; $120 tickets include the party and a light buffet; $55-$75 tickets include the performance only. (All ticket prices include a champagne intermission.) To purchase tickets at the $120 level and below, see www.pnb.org or call the box office at 206-441-2424; for higher-level tickets, contact events@pnb.org or call 206-441-3597.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com