Step into the world of ballet beyond the spotlight with our exclusive feature! Each edition offers a glimpse into the off-stage lives of your favorite dancers, showcasing their unique hobbies and passions. Discover the surprising and delightful activities that make these artists’ lives as captivating as their performances.
LUTHER DeMYER
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Soloist
Essential item in your dance bag?
Toe spacers and Quinn peanut butter pretzels.
Movie you can re-watch till the end of time?
In the Mood for Love, Vertigo, Parasite, Moonlight.
Dancer who’s inspired you?
Mathieu Ganio, Edward Watson, Karel Cruz, Jérôme Tisserand, Dylan Wald, Natalia Osipova, Noelani Pantastico, and so many others.
Song/artist/playlist you’ve been playing on repeat?
Been listening to a lot of ’60s and ’70s classics and also have been on the Chappell Roan bandwagon lately. Also love the Lofi Girl playlist to relax with always.
Least favorite dance step?
Double cabrioles.
How do you like to spend your time outside of dance?
I love watching movies both new and old, exploring Seattle and finding cool new restaurants/bars, and redecorating my apartment.
Best place to hang out in your company’s home city?
Caffe Vita at KEXP, Elliott Bay Book Company, or Volunteer Park Cafe.
Dream role?
Brown Boy in Dances at a Gathering.
Go-to coffee shop order?
Day-to-day it is usually a latte, but I do love a peppermint mocha sometimes.
Essential post-show ritual?
A nice big meal. And sometimes a good cry after performing an emotional piece.
ABOUT LUTHER
Luther DeMyer is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He studied at the Indianapolis School of Ballet, Miami City Ballet School, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and he attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2018 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2019.
Luther has performed leading roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Cavalier, Hot Chocolate, Mother Ginger, and Mouse King); Peter Boal’s Giselle (Wilfried); Alejandro Cerrudo’s One Thousand Pieces; Ulysses Dove’s Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven; Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo ét Juliette (Paris); Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing; Crystal Pite’s Plot Point; Eva Stone’s F O I L; and Kent Stowell’s Carmina Burana and Swan Lake (Spanish). He originated leading roles in Alejandro Cerrudo’s Black on Black on Black; Jessica Lang’s Let Me Mingle Tears With Thee; Vincent Michael Lopez’s Op.21; Miles Pertl’s Wash of Gray; Alexei Ratmansky’s Wartime Elegy; Dwight Rhoden’s Catching Feelings; and Price Suddarth’s The Intermission Project.
Featured Image by Noah Martzall.
Images 2 and 5 by Gary Tucker.Â
Image 4 © Angela Sterling.
