Zsilas Michael Hughes

Last updated
Zsilas Michael Hughes
Born2002or2003(age 22–23)
Career
Current group Pacific Northwest Ballet
DancesBallet

Zsilas Michael Hughes (born 2002 or 2003) [1] is an American ballet dancer and choreographer. They are a member of the corps de ballet at Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Contents

Career

Hughes is African-American [2] and from Little Rock, Arkansas. [3] They danced at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. [4] Hughes joined PNB as an apprentice in 2021, and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2022. [3]

Hughes began dancing en pointe in 2020, with the support of PNB artistic director Peter Boal. Hughes has said that working en pointe has made them a better dancer when performing the supportive roles in pas de deux, as they now better understand how the ankle and foot of their partner should be aligned. [5]

Hughes has also performed with Ballet22, a company based in Oakland, California which "presents straight and queer male, trans, and nonbinary dancers on pointe, in their true gender identities". [5] [6] [7]

In 2023, Hughes choreographed the new piece Piano Concerto Appasionata in B Minor for 13 dancers. NW Theatre said of the work, "Hughes’ work is complex but not confusing, intricate but not busy". [8] Hughes has also choreographed work that has combined more classical ballet technique with ballroom and voguing. [9]

Hughes has been noted for their stage presence [9] and "lovely rubato quality". [7]

Personal life

Hughes is non-binary, [1] and uses they/them, he/him, and she/her pronouns. [3] They moved to Seattle in January 2021. [10]

In addition to ballet, Hughes is active in the region's ballroom scene. [10]

Repertoire

Awards and recognition

References

  1. 1 2 Tyler, Dana (2022-06-24). "Nonbinary dancers blur lines of gender and classical roles in Pacific Northwest Ballet". CBS New York . Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  2. ↑ Macdonald, Moira (2023-01-26). "5 of Pacific Northwest Ballet's Black dancers on changes in the ballet world". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zsilas Michael Hughes | Corps de Ballet". Pacific Northwest Ballet . Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  4. ↑ "Pacific Northwest Ballet Noelani Pantastico". Dance Informa Magazine. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  5. 1 2 Bauer, Claudia (2024-06-03). "Meet Three Nonbinary Ballet Dancers Performing On Pointe". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  6. ↑ Bauer, Claudia (2023-07-26). "Ballet22 Transcends the Ballet Binary in Momentum". Pointe Magazine . Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  7. 1 2 Howard, Rachel. "Ballet22 proves rigid gender norms have no place in dance with electrifying S.F. show". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  8. ↑ Hansen, Melody Datz (2023-06-15). "On to the 'Next' One: PNB Dancers Choreograph, and Students Take the Big Stage". NWTheatre. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  9. 1 2 Smith, Rich. "'Here Because' Made the Future of Seattle Dance Look Bright". The Stranger. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  10. 1 2 "SPOTLIGHT: Zsilas Michael Hughes". SeattleDances. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  11. ↑ "Balanchine's Nutcracker at PNB brings pure joy this holiday season". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  12. ↑ "12 Standout Performances of 2024". Pointe Magazine. 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  13. ↑ "Pacific Northwest Ballet "Directors Choice" Presents Two Stunning Works". L.A. Dance Chronicle. 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  14. ↑ Warner, Tam (2024-10-10). "Review: Pacific Northwest Ballet's "The Times Are Racing"". L.A. Dance Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
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