Pacific Northwest Ballet announces the passing of former Principal Dancer Deborah Hadley (1951 – 2023). SEATTLE, WA — With great sadness and on behalf of her family, Pacific Northwest Ballet announces the sudden passing of Deborah Hadley, PNB’s original prima ballerina. Hadley joined PNB in 1979 and reigned as a Principal Dancer for 13 years. In reporting on her retirement, Carole Beers of The Seattle Times described Hadley as “the ballerina who shaped PNB’s look.” And PNB Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell, at that time, commented that “What was wonderful about Debby, a message I would send to all dancers, is that she was a true collaborator, a partner in choreography. She had trust and belief, was a willing instrument. When a choreographer finds that, it’s like striking gold.” Upon her retirement from PNB, Ms. Hadley founded the Washington Academy of Performing Arts in Redmond, WA, and subsequently became the Ballet Mistress of the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet. Hadley’s accomplishments cannot be overstated, even though she often underplayed them herself. She did, however, acknowledge - on occasion - the level of her achievements: “I’ve broken almost every rule in the book,” she told a Los Angeles Times reporter in 1988. “I wasn’t trained at a large ballet school. I didn’t train with the intention of becoming a professional dancer. I stopped dancing at a critical time. I have two children and I’m a single parent. That makes me very unique.” “Debby was our star, adored by our audiences and her colleagues, and the inspiration for the young dancers who followed her,” said PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell. “Memories of her in a host of ballets will be in all our heads and hearts forever. For Kent and me she was also a beloved friend.” “To everyone whose lives were touched by our amazing Mom, it was reciprocal and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said her sons Brandon and Brian Kickbush. “When Mom retired from dancing, she continued to soar by learning to fly and getting a pilot’s license to accompany her husband. “The cause nearest and dearest to Mom’s heart was bringing art to all children. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts to organizations in support of arts for children would be meaningful and appreciated.”