Rena Butler on Breaking Boundaries, Staying Curious, and Creating “Cracks” at Pacific Northwest Ballet
When choreographer and dancer Rena Butler flew into Seattle fresh off a birthday trip to France, she came with more than just jet lag—she arrived with purpose, power, and a new production in the works for Pacific Northwest Ballet's Director’s Choice series. Besa Gordon sat down with Rena for an intimate conversation about life, legacy, and her upcoming piece titled Cracks.
Known for blending bold vision with intentional vulnerability, Rena opened up about what it means to stay grounded in the whirlwind of creativity. “Restoration is a new concept for me,” she shared. “I live in Harlem, and there’s no quiet… I have to choreograph rest.” Whether it’s surfing in the Dominican Republic or finding stillness under a tree in Central Park, Rena emphasized the importance of carving out space to simply be.
Her latest work, Cracks, draws from her Catholic school upbringing, touching on themes of reverence, identity, queerness, and the internal fractures caused by rigid systems. “I’m trying to examine different aspects of identity… What’s truly holy is the love I have for myself and maybe for other people, and that looks different than it does next to Bobby or Jane.”
Throughout the interview, Rena didn’t shy away from discussing the systemic barriers she’s faced as a Black woman in ballet. “At the Joffrey Ballet School, I was just the only one for years… I was looked at as a brute because I was taller and more muscular.” But those experiences fueled her drive to create inclusive, affirming spaces. “So much of our work as emerging artists is to dial down—to code switch… when our differences could be the most beautiful part of the work.”
One of the most poignant moments came when Besa asked what advice she’d give to her younger self growing up in Chicago. Without hesitation, Rena said: “Stay curious. My curiosity has led me to places I could have never imagined… As long as I remind that little Rena to stay curious, she’ll always look at current Rena with marvel and wonder.”
With Cracks premiering May 30 at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Rena Butler invites audiences to explore their own cracks—those unseen, unspoken spaces shaped by love, conformity, and resistance. As she continues to push artistic boundaries and empower others to do the same, her message is clear: “We’re not monoliths. We do everything under the sun. And we can hold a lot.”
Photos by Victor Jones
