#TheDayWithTrae - On a recent episode of The Day With Trae, ballet stager Shelley Washington joined host Trae Holiday to discuss her five-decade career and exciting work staging Twyla Tharp’s classic production In the Upper Room for the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). 

Washington explained that her job as a stager is to recreate the original choreography, music, costumes, and lighting, while also allowing the current generation of dancers to embody the steps with their own energy. She praised PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal for his commitment to representation, calling PNB one of the most diverse companies she has ever worked with.

Washington highlighted that In the Upper Room, a 40-year-old piece set to Philip Glass’s music, remains popular worldwide for its challenge and high energy, featuring a mix of dancers in tennis shoes and others in pointe shoes. She underscored the critical importance of art for providing a pause during difficult times and for supporting a thriving cultural ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. 

In The Upper Room opens Friday, November 7, will close Sunday, November 16. Get your tickets at ​​pnb.org/season/in-the-upper-room. 

#TDWT #WWConverge #BlackMediaMatters #PacificNorthwestBallet #InTheUpperRoom