All's not the same in PNB's "All Balanchine"

Pacific Northwest Ballet's season opener, "All Balanchine," continues through this weekend and next, and when you go, you may notice that the company is structured just a little bit differently.

Mara Vinson, who joined PNB in 1999 and has been a soloist since 2004, has been promoted to principal dancer. Lucien Postlewaite, who joined in 2003 and has been a corps de ballet member since 2004, was promoted to soloist.

Miranda Weese, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, is a new addition to the company's roster. She appeared as a guest artist with PNB on several occasions last season, and joined the company as a principal dancer this past summer.

Seth Orza, Sarah Orza and Jerome Tisserand have also joined the company as members of the corps de ballet.

"All Balanchine" features three ballets choreographed by George Balanchine: "Square Dance," "Prodigal Son" and "Ballet Imperial."

Weese will dance the lead role in "Ballet Imperial" tonight and Saturday afternoon; Vinson will dance the second ballerina role Saturday night. Postlewaite will dance the lead role in "Square Dance" tonight and "Prodigal Son" Saturday night.

The program runs 7:30 p.m. today, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, through Sept. 30, at McCaw Hall; $20-$150 (www.pnb.org or call 206-441-2424).

— Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic