Francia Russell

Russell was born in Los Angeles, CA to Frank Russell and Marion (Whitney) Russell. She began her ballet training at San Francisco Ballet and in 1948, the Russells moved to Europe where she continued her ballet training in Paris, Nice and finally in London with the renowned ballet instructor, Vera Volkova. She has a younger sister, Marilyn Russell.[2][1][3]

Russell's professional dance career began in 1956 when George Balanchine offered her a contract with the New York City Ballet, and she was promoted to soloist in 1959. She retired from NYCB in 1961, danced for a year with Jerome Robbins's Ballets USA and taught at the School of American Ballet. She attended New York University, and in 1964, Balanchine convinced Russell to return to NYCB as Ballet Master, where she was responsible for rehearsing and teaching the Company in addition to staging Balanchine ballets worldwide.[4][5]

In 1975, Russell became Co-Artistic Director of the Frankfurt Ballet in Germany with husband, Kent Stowell. In 1977, Russell and Stowell accepted the position of Artistic Directors of Pacific Northwest Ballet with Russell becoming the Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet School.[2][6]

As Director of the School from 1977-2005, Russell created a curriculum that included other dance forms and a written syllabus focused on the critical early years of classical ballet training. Educational Outreach programs, in cooperation with local community organizations and schools, became part of the school’s mission. In 1994, she formed DanceChance, aimed at finding and training future artists that reflect diversity within the ballet community. Hand-selected from local public schools, the program has provided the opportunity for young children to train on full scholarship at PNBS.[6][7][8]

While at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Russell and Stowell oversaw construction of the Phelps Center, The Francia Russell Center, and renovation of McCaw Hall, venues which allowed for the expansion of PNB Company and School. Over 28 years, Stowell and Russell brought 168 ballets to the PNB repertoire, including 10 full-length works, 90 world premieres by 68 choreographers, and on-going choreography workshops.[2]

Russell, a Balanchine Trust repetiteur, has staged over 240 productions over a span of 55 years. In addition to staging Balanchine ballets at Pacific Northwest Ballet, she has staged his works both in the United States and abroad at Paris Opera Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballet, Joffrey Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Ballet West, Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Oregon Ballet Theatre. In 1987, she staged the first Balanchine ballet in the People’s Republic of China at Shanghai Ballet and in 1988 she staged the first authorized performance of Balanchine’s work at the Kirov Ballet in his birthplace. Her stagings include some of Balanchine's most notable works: Serenade, Four Temperaments, Allegro Brilliante, Concerto Barocco, Symphony in C, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stars and Stripes, Western Symphony, Theme and Variations and Agon.[2][5][9][10][11][12]

Russell lives in Seattle with her husband, Kent Stowell, whom she met while both were working at New York City Ballet. They have three sons, Christopher, Darren and Ethan Stowell. She has continued to stage Balanchine ballets for Pacific Northwest Ballet.[13]

• 1987: Women in Communications[1]
• 1989: Governor's Arts Awards[2]
• 1996: Dance Magazine Awards[14]
• 2003: BRAVA Award[15]
• 2003: Seattle University Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters[2]
• 2004: ArtsFund Lifetime Achievement
• 2004: Mayor's Arts Awards[16]
• 2010: University of Washington Honorary Doctorate of Arts[17]

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