Lucien Postlewaite is a a 2008 recipient of a Princess Grace Award and a principal dancer at Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Lucien Postlewaite is a principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Courtesy of Lucien Postlewaite

Remember the ocean? Remember simple pleasures like gathering with friends on the beach? Or even just standing by yourself near the edge of the water and feeling small compared to the enormity of the universe?

We barely do either. But thankfully Lucien Postlewaite, the award-winning dancer, has chosen to share with you this morning an absolutely breathing work he performed at the edge of the ocean last summer.

"I hope you're all staying happy and healthy while we're sheltered in place," Lucien says in his message, before introducing the piece, which is called "Continuum" and was choreographed by Garrett Smith.

"It's filmed outside, on a beautiful stage facing the sea," Lucien says, "and I just cannot wait until we can dance outside again."

The dancers in this piece are Lucien Postlewaite and Christoper D'Ariano. The music is by Peter Gregson. The piece was commissioned by the Fire Island Dance Festival.

You can find out more about Lucien—and watch more of his performances—here and here.

Want to see him in the rehearsal hall at PNB working on Don Quixote? Of course you do. The other principal dancer here is Kaori Nakamura.

Lucien is from Santa Cruz, California. He trained on scholarship at the School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2003, was promoted to corps de ballet in 2004, soloist in 2007, and principal in 2008. He was a 2008 recipient of a Princess Grace Award. In 2012, Lucien joined Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, and in 2017, he re-joined to PNB as a principal dancer.

He has been a member of Olivier Wevers’ ensemble, Whim W’Him. As a guest artist, he also has performed Petipa’s Paquita and Wevers’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Reiko Yamamoto Ballet Company in Japan, and Balanchine’s Tarantella with Los Angeles Ballet.

You can follow him on Twitter or Facebook, but his best pictures and videos are on Instagram.

Thank you so much for sharing your work with us, Lucien.

And for reminding us of the expansiveness of the ocean.

Have a good Friday, everyone.


* *

Previously in this series:


Amanda Morgans message to the city on April 8.
Amanda Morgan's message to the city on April 8.

Nancy Guppys message to the city on April 7.
Nancy Guppy's message to the city on April 7.

Jonathan Bisss message to the city on April 6.
Jonathan Biss's message to the city on April 6.

Chris Jeffriess message to the city on April 5.
Chris Jeffries's message to the city on April 5.

Lesley Hazletons message to the city on April 4.
Lesley Hazleton's message to the city on April 4.

John Rodericks message to the city on April 3.
John Roderick's message to the city on April 3.

Bill Cartys message to the city on April 2.
Bill Carty's message to the city on April 2.

Price Suddarths message to the city on April 1.
Price Suddarth's message to the city on April 1.

Kary Waysons message to the city on March 31.
Kary Wayson's message to the city on March 31.

Ellen Forneys message to the city on March 30.
Ellen Forney's message to the city on March 30.

Major Scaless message to the city on March 29.
Major Scales's message to the city on March 29.

E. J. Kohs message to the city on March 28.
E. J. Koh's message to the city on March 28.

Ken Jenningss message to the city on March 27.
Ken Jennings's message to the city on March 27.

Demarre McGills message to the city on March 26.
Demarre McGill's message to the city on March 26.

Lynn Sheltons Message to the City on March 25th.
Lynn Shelton's Message to the City on March 25th.

Timothy White Eagles message to the city on March 24.
Timothy White Eagle's message to the city on March 24.

Cookie Coutures message to the city on March 23.
Cookie Couture's message to the city on March 23.

Sarah Rudinoffs message to the city on March 22.
Sarah Rudinoff's message to the city on March 22.

John Osebolds message to the city on March 21.
John Osebold's message to the city on March 21.


Ben Gibbards message to the city on March 21.
Ben Gibbard's message to the city on March 20.

Nathan Chans message to the city on March 19.
Nathan Chan's message to the city on March 19.