Three generations of my family attended Pacific Northwest Ballet School’s performance
of “Snow White” opening day – my daughter, granddaughter and myself. My three-year-
old granddaughter, Kita, seemed mesmerized and never took her eyes off the dancers.
If you have a budding ballerina or want to introduce your child to dance, “Snow White”
gives you the perfect chance. Everything about this production is kid-friendly. In the
lobby you can pick up a booster seat, which is a cushion that rests on the seat and
elevates the child to a position where they can see the stage easily.
The costumes are bright and colorful from the apricot tutus of the butterflies to the
differently-colored tights each of the Seven Dwarfs wears. Snow White is easily
recognizable because her white skirt sparkles and the evil Queen is draped in black to
emphasize her evilness.
I wondered if Kita might get restless if there was only dancing. Then a few minutes into
the ballet, a narrator began explaining the story. Kita barely moved, and she’s normally
quite squirmy.
As you’ll recall, the story centers around the evil Queen, Snow White’s stepmother,
wanting to be the “fairest of all.” Because the mirror keeps telling her Snow White is the
fairest, she tries to harm her stepdaughter in a variety of ways.
To disguise herself as a beggar woman, the Queen dons a rubber mask, and then offers
the young maiden a poison apple. Snow White takes a bite and falls into a deep slumber.
As in most fairy tales, the Prince comes along, falls in love and wakes Snow White.
All this is done in one hour, which is what makes the ballet the ultimate in kid-
friendliness. They hardly have time to get bored and fidget. Be assured that adults will
enjoy the show just as much as children. I know I did.
Pacific Northwest Ballet School is recognized as one of the top three ballet training
institutions in the United States. It shows as these dancers demonstrated crisp, clear
footwork, graceful movements and appeared lighter than air when being lifted.
The 70+ students performing in “Snow White” range in age from 13-18.
The next and last performances are at noon and 3:30 p.m. on March 25 at Seattle Center’s
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. For tickets, visit pnb.org or call (206) 441-2424.
