Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist Joshua Grant Announces Retirement at End of Season
Pacific Northwest Ballet soloist Joshua Grant has announced that after a 21-year dancing career, the majority spent at PNB, he has decided to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 season. Joshua attended Pacific Northwest Ballet School, joined PNB as an apprentice in 2001, and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2002. In 2004 he joined National Ballet of Canada followed, in 2006, by a move to Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. He rejoined PNB’s corps in 2011 and was promoted to soloist in 2015.
“Words do not come easily in describing what I am feeling at this moment,” said Joshua in his announcement. “I feel like my career has flashed by in an instant. It seems like yesterday that I came to my first PNB School summer course and saw the dancers in the company who I had admired from afar for years…
“I have been blessed by working with some of the foremost choreographers and stagers of the world, some of whom have become my good friends and colleagues. I have had the opportunity to dance some of the most incredible ballets created and have been able to stretch myself artistically in a larger capacity than I ever imagined. And then there are my colleagues. My time shared on that stage with the incredible dancers of PNB is what I will miss most…
“Retiring from a ballet dancer’s career is, in a word, onerous. They say that dancers die twice, and this could not be more true. But I will forever remember the words of Wendy Whelan (former New York City Ballet principal and current Associate Artistic Director) who said ‘I may stop being a performer, but I will never stop being a dancer.’”
Joshua will devote his post-PNB career to running his school, Dance Conservatory Seattle, which he launched in 2021 with his husband and co-artistic director Christopher E. Montoya and managing director Sierra Keith. Located in the South Park neighborhood, Dance Conservatory Seattle provides a safe-space and inclusive access to dance, embracing all bodies, identities, and cultures. Said Joshua, “I speak for both Chris and myself in saying that we are thrilled to throw ourselves fully into this new endeavor.” For more information, visit DanceConservatorySeattle.com
“Josh Grant has been an invaluable and steadfast part of Pacific Northwest Ballet,” said Artistic Director Peter Boal. “I was both pleased and proud to welcome Josh back as a guest artist for PNB’s Laugh Out Loud Festival as the Dying Swan in his size-17 pointe shoes. Comedy was just one facet of his many talents: Josh is an individual and artist of great depth. His partnering is a lesson in skill, selflessness, and generosity…A gifted choreographer, committed teacher, and emotional rock to many around him, we remain grateful to Josh for his strengths and his humanity.”
Added Josh’s friend and colleague, Leta Biasucci: “Charismatic, whip smart, and hilarious, Josh and I became fast friends when I joined and he returned to PNB in 2011. Since then, we’ve shared holidays, birthdays, two adjoining barre spots, and a beautiful friendship. Josh’s effortless partnering, elegant presence, and brilliant comedic chops will be missed in so many roles he’s danced in his remarkable career…”
Early support funding for Dance Conservatory Seattle was provided, in part, by Second Stage, PNB’s career transition program for its company dancers. Conceived in 1999, Second Stage supports PNB dancers in achieving their goals following a career in dance. Its resources allow dancers to take classes, access mentors and vocation counseling, and receive grants. At its inception, only a handful of dancers actively planned for their career after dance. Since that time, Second Stage has provided over $1.1 million in grants to over 200 dancers.
Joshua’s career will be celebrated at PNB’s annual Season Encore Performance on Sunday, June 12, 2022. For tickets and information, visit PNB.org.