Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

More photos at The Seattle Times gallery.

All images copyright Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers watch a practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers practice for “Carmina Burana” at McCaw Hall in Seattle Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Carmina Burana, a theatrical event with dancers, solo singers, a choir and largest PNB orchestra of the 2012 season, will debut with the George Balanchine’s classic masterpiece ballet “Apollo.”

Michael Huber, 8, left, Lily Huber, 6, and North Sparks, 8, roast marshmallows Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011 at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle. The kids came with North’s mother, Marcia Wiley, to celebrate the winter solstice a day early because they were leaving town. Wiley said they were celebrating good friends and sugary treats on one of the darkest days of the year. The solstice occured at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times – Lynda Mapes provides more information about the solstice in The Seattle Times’ nature blog Field Notes.

Swimmers practice before competing in the 16-17 team semi-finals during the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The competition, which hosts more than 900 athletes from around the country, is the largest synchronized swim meet in the world, said Toby Smith, vice president of competitive operations for USA Synchro.

A swimmer peaks behind the curtains at the eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Swimmers warm up in the 16-19 age group figure competition on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships.

A swimmer on the Buffalo Swimkins warms up for the figure competition Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships.

Westfield Y Aquaducks, celebrate after competing in the 16-17 team semi-finals on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Teams compete in the 16-17 team semi-finals on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships.

Swimmers warm up for the figure competition Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships.

Sydney Sprinkle, of the Seattle Synchro Swim Team, competes in the 18-19 solo semifinals Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Swimmers in the 16-19 age group warm up for the figure competition on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The competition, which hosts more than 900 athletes from around the country, is the largest synchronized swim meet in the world, said Toby Smith, vice president of competitive operations for USA Synchro. The finals for the 16-19 age groups will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission fee for adults is $7 and $5 for seniors and children. Ages 5 and under are free.

Swimmers look at their draw numbers before the figures competition Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Swimmers warm up for the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Swimmers in the 16-19 age group warm up for the figure competition on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The competition, which hosts more than 900 athletes from around the country, is the largest synchronized swim meet in the world, said Toby Smith, vice president of competitive operations for USA Synchro. The finals for the 16-19 age groups will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission fee for adults is $7 and $5 for seniors and children. Ages 5 and under are free.

Menomonee Falls Dolphinettes prepare before competing in the 16-17 team semi-finals on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Swimmers practice before competing in the 16-17 team semi-finals during the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The competition, which hosts more than 900 athletes from around the country, is the largest synchronized swim meet in the world, said Toby Smith, vice president of competitive operations for USA Synchro. The finals for the 16-19 age groups will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission fee for adults is $7 and $5 for seniors and children. Ages 5 and under are free.

Swimmers in the 16-19 age group warm up for the figure competition on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The competition, which hosts more than 900 athletes from around the country, is the largest synchronized swim meet in the world, said Toby Smith, vice president of competitive operations for USA Synchro. The finals for the 16-19 age groups will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission fee for adults is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. Ages 5 and under are free.

The Sacramento Synchronized Swim Team practices Friday, July 1, 2011 at the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships held June 24-July 2 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

The last day of the 2011 eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships will be Saturday, July 2, 2011 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Admission fee for adults is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. Ages 5 and under are free.

Dressed in armor, warriors spar with shields, wooden weapons and crossbows during a bridge battle at Camano Island State Park.

Dressed in armor, warriors spar with shields, wooden weapons and crossbows during a bridge battle at Camano Island State Park.

Sterling Henson, of Anacortes, Wash., rests after the “boat battle” that was held in an open field Saturday during Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park.

Members of the Empire of Medieval Pursuits have branches mostly around the Pacific Northwest, including Seattle (called al-Madeena), Bothell (Astaroth), Abbotsford, B.C. (Viadrina Outpost) and others.

Heather Emde, of Olympia, and daughter Trinity Emde, 4, left, watch the battles from a grassy vantage point Saturday at Camano Island State Park. Trinity, who loves watching the action, celebrated her birthday at Ragnaroc.

Warriors combat during a “boat battle” Saturday at Ragnaroc on Camano Island State Park, near Stanwood, Wash.

Kacey “Inky” Mann distributes water to the warriors after the “boat battle” Saturday during Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park. Around 125 people attended Ragnaroc, with most members from the Vancouver and Seattle area, but some traveling as far as Florida.

Warriors catch a lift up to camp after fighting in multiple battles near the beach during Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park.

Alfred Williams, 17, walks into the single soldier barrack to dress for evening festivities. Many of the Ragnaroc CQ participants stay in period pavilion tents.

Morgan Lake, 17, secures his belt while dressing for the ring of fire during Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park. It was his first time fighting in the event.

Warriors prepare for battle in the ring of fire during Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park.

Tayissa Chadwick, a Burien resident, wears a yashmak for drumming and belly dancing at the ring of fire during Ragnaroc Saturday at Camano Island State Park. Attendees wear costumes from different periods and places— as long as it falls before 1750 and focuses on Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Steven Osgood, 27, of Seattle, prepares to fight in a 20-foot ring of fire during Ragnaroc Saturday at Camano Island State Park. More than a dozen warriors took turns fighting one-on-one with wooden weapons within the flames for about an hour.

Since Wednesday, members of the Empire of Medieval Pursuits have been battling with full armor and wooden weapons in to earn a spot to spar in Saturday’s culmination battle arena, a 20-foot ring of fire.

Along the ring of fire, women and men held damp towels to help extinguish warriors whose clothing caught flame during Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park.

Harvey Palmer, known as “Aveloc Twice Born,” center, wins his battle in the ring of fire during Ragnaroc Saturday at Camano Island State Park.

Tayissa Chadwick, left, and Chandelle “Ziare” Rivera bring torches into the ring of fire judging, which closed the evening festivities at Ragnaroc at Camano Island State Park.

Tootsy Rollers line up for drills during a recent practice in Ballard.

Elizabeth Lyke (DisLykeHer) watches the Seattle Derby Brats in action. There are more than 200 junior roller derby leagues around the United States, including teams in Portland, Eugene, Port Orchard, Walla Walla, Olympia and Spokane.

Destiny Draag (Zoom QT), front from left, and Evyn Mar (Snow Fright) perform drills at Tootsy Rollers practice in Ballard.

Much like their older counterparts, junior roller derby players accessorize with bright tights, tutus, laces and socks.

Samantha White (Panda-dorable), 9, secures her helmet during a friends and family bout with the Tootsy Rollers CQ in Ballard.

One of the Tootsy Rollers teams, the Turquoise Terrors, huddle during a friends and family bout in Ballard. The Seattle Derby Brats CQ were one of the first leagues to host an elementary division, ages 8-11, where the girls can learn the game and how to skate.

Aurora McCarter (Tick Tock), 11, second from right, and her Orange Crush teammates prepare for the Tootsy Rollers’ friends and family bout. McCarter said she doesn’t like other sports, but has taken to roller derby. “I like how I can show off my talent,” she said.

Seattle Derby Brats practice around traffic cones in a facility in Ballard. Seattle and Tucson formed two of the first junior roller derby leagues in the country in 2007.

Makena Kerns (Ruby Twister) CQ, 9, prepares for one of the Tootsy Rollers’ monthly friends and family bouts in Ballard.

A couple of teammates hold hands while one of their helmets is adjusted by an adult during Tootsy Rollers practice in Ballard.

Members of the Tootsy Rollers’ Orange Crush team, including Aurora McCarter (Tick Tock), 11, center with mouth guard, huddle before competing against the Turquoise Terrors in Ballard.

Sophie Maskill (Brady O’Flyer), 9, left, and Audrey Dietz (Pop Roxx), 10, kid around after Tootsy Rollers practice.

Lahela Kalawa CQ, (Flyin’ Hawaiian), 13, springs up in a huddle with the Juniors Division II teams at a Seattle Derby Brats practice in Ballard.