Pacific Northwest Ballet Choreographers Discuss Their New Sci-Fi Ballet ‘Aftertime’

On a recent episode of The Day with Trae, host Trae Holiday sat down with Pacific Northwest Ballet choreographers Amanda Morgan and Christopher D'Ariano to discuss their innovative new production Aftertime. The duo, who met years before collaborating professionally, shared the unique journey of their partnership and the creative process behind their groundbreaking sci-fi-inspired ballet.

D'Ariano recounted the beginnings of their collaboration. "Amanda and I, we joined PNB one year apart, and as soon as we joined, we knew we wanted to choreograph,” he said. Their individual endeavors eventually merged when they decided to apply for a position together. Their director recognized their synergy and offered them the opportunity to work with the company, he said. 

Morgan added that she first met D'Ariano at a summer ballet program in 2013 and was impressed by his talent. "I remember just being like, 'Who is this kid?'” she said. This long-standing friendship and mutual respect formed the foundation of their collaborative strength.

D'Ariano elaborated on the storytelling aspect of their work, explaining that Aftertime began with the music, developed with composers in New York. He described the process as "peeling an onion," continually refining their artistic language until the audience can grasp the core essence of their artistic statement. The title Aftertime emerged from their conversations with the composers, who cleverly embedded the phrase into the musical score to create a multi-layered interpretation for the audience.

Both Morgan and D'Ariano are passionate about pushing the boundaries of ballet. D'Ariano emphasized the dynamic between the two protagonists and the ensemble, inviting audiences to see it as a reflection of all times past, present, and future. 

Morgan articulated their mission to innovate the art form. "What I hope that audiences get from watching our work is the range to which dance can expand and grow and not do the same tropes or the same things that it's always done,” she said. "We're going to continue to do that." 

Before leaving the Black Media Matters studio, Morgan shouted out their collaborative team, including composers Thomas Nickell and Fiona Stocks-Lyon, filmmaker Henry Wurtz, and costume designer Janelle Abbott, all of whom have long-standing relationships with the choreographers. 

Aftertime will be performed at McCaw Hall starting Friday, November 7. Get your tickets at pnb.org/repertory/aftertime/ 

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