University of Washington - Tyee Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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♦ ♦ majestic andserf.ne, not only docs Whistler ski area offer some of the best skiing, but it also affords Mime spectacular views. Steve fivant. photo 4 MO(.l I MOUSE Steve Evans forms himself into a human shock ab- sorber. while carving out the moguls in perfect form. M. Renee H.illfntan photo - IN HO I 1 1 RSI IT of her shadow. Jennifer Steiner tears up the serene slopes of sunny Whistler Mountain M Renee Halffftum photo '

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The Northwest is well known for the variety of sports it accommodates. Skiing is one of these sports, and probably the most popular. In the Seattle area, popular ski locations include Alpental, Crystal Mountain, and Ski Acres. All of these resorts compete highly for skiers by providing high-quality facili- ties to pamper skiers both on and off the slopes. Although the University docs not have a ski resort, it docs provide students with the Husky Winter Sports Club. Steve Evans, president of Husky Winter Sports, is very enthusiastic about skiing and recommends it highly. It’s anything you want it to be,” said Steve. To make this sport accessi- ble to both old and new ski fans, ski programs suitable for all ability levels were designed. These ranged in price from ap- proximately $ 120 for beginners to a mere S35 for intermediate to advanced levels. The programs took place two hours a week for five weeks, giving plenty of time to learn the basics, get advice from ski instructors, and prac- tice skiing. In addition to these ski pro- grams, ski trips and informal weekends were arranged from time to time to maintain the social atmosphere which skiing provides. Skiing is definitely a sport moving with the fun and fitness trend of the past few years. It enables people to meet and share common knowledge and experience in a free, easy-going atmosphere. Skiing conveys such antici- pation of fun that many stu- dents can bear the boredom or strain of the academic week because the relief of skiing is worth any torture. With its increasing popular- ity, one could define skiing as a downhill sport with great uphill momentum. by Maya Fleischman + STFVF. EVANS proves th.it filing really Is not for the birds. M. Renee Halffman photo ► TOUCH DOWN! Whistler proves lo be a challenge for even the best skiers like Erik Beck M Renee HtilfYnuin photo

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 ific Northwest Ballet Presents An Enchanting Performance Nu i - crack- er. a classic ballet in two acts, is based on E.T.A. Hoff- man's fairy talc, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The tale was written in 1816 and was first presented as a ballet in 1892 with a musical score by Tchaikovsky. In 1981, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Directors Kent Stowcll and Francia Russell felt that PNB’s six-year-old Nutcracker production needed a face-lift. Stowcll contacted children’s book author illus- trator Maurice Sendak to help recreate a ballet that “did hon- or to Hoffman. Tchaikovsky and ourselves.” Inspired by the original sto- ry, Sendak designed the sets and costumes for the winter fantasy. After two years of planning and design, the Stowell Scndak confection came into focus. The details were finalized and the monu- mental production was made possible, in part, by the support of the Seattle business commu- nity and private arts patrons. Sets, scenery, props, and costumes were constructed in San Francisco, New York. Portland and Montreal. The Seattle version of the Nutcracker premiered in the Seattle Opera House on De- cember 13. 1983 and mesmer- ized 78.000 people during its premiere run. Stowcll choreographed the dazzling production in the PNB studios using his com- pany of 35 dancers with 156 children completing the cast. The cast thoroughly capti- vated the audience in De- cember, 1986, the third annual run. The scene is set many years ago in a German town. It is Christmas Eve. Clara and her family arc entertaining their guests and Clara receives a wooden Nutrackcr doll as a gift. Later that evening, Clara returns to the drawing room, looking for her Nutcracker. Suddenly, familiar objects in the room begin to change. The Christmas tree lights up and grows to enormous propor- tions. Out of a huge jack-in- the-box pops a Nutcracker fol- lowed by toy soldiers who line up to oppose a band of house mice. At the climax of the bat- tle, Nutcracker fights a duel with the enormous King of the Mice. Clara runs to the aid of the Nutcracker and magically kills the Mouse King. Young Clara is magically turned into a beautiful young woman and the Nutcracker turns into a prince. Together, they leave for the handsome land of snow joined by twirling, fluttering snowflakes. Clara and her Prince board a golden boat and sail to a magi- cal land. They dock at an exot- ic port and meet the Grand Pa- sha of the Kingdom. The Pasha entertains them with his entou- rage of dancers. They see a peacock in a gilded cage, a Chinese tiger and a waltz danced by flowers. In return, Clara and the Prince dance a romantic pas dc deux. Then, all of the dancers join in the grand finale. The golden boat returns, the Prince leaves, and Clara wakens from her glorious dream. This production was ex- tremely well-received News- week magazine said, “Forget the Space Needle, forget Ml. Rainier, this Nutcracker alone is worth a trip to Seattle. The Pacific Northwest Bal- let’s production of Nutcracker has set the pace for the ballet community of the nation and perhaps the world. This year, a Nutcracker movie was re- leased during the holiday sea- son. This movie, starring the PNB. was also choreographed by Stowcll. The music was per- formed by the London Sym- phony Orchestra and focused on the Seattle version of Nut- cracker. In addition to the movie, a book published in 1984 fea- tures the original Hoffman sto- ry and illustrations by Sendak. The dedication to the book reads “To Francia Russell, who shaped it Kent Stowcll who shaped it and the dancers of PNB who made it happen. by Kirsten Laukkanen Photos courtesy Pacific Northwest Ballet MAI A ROSA I. ;is the Peacock, glides effortlessly through the ;iir :ifler being set free from tier gilded cage. NUTCRACKER