After more than a decade as a principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Olivier Wevers will pack up his tights on April 17, turning his full attention to his new dance company Whim W’Him.

From a press release: In making the announcement to close friends and supporters Monday, Wevers said: "I have wonderful news to share with you about Whim W’Him, but first I want to tell you about a major transition in my life. I have spent the last 22 years as a professional ballet dancer. I have had a dream career and have relished every opportunity to grow and learn as an artist. My time as a dancer has been inspiring, challenging, at times painful, but above all, filled with passion. I’ve always known that this career has a very short time span, which is why I was so excited to discover a few years ago that there is something I am possibly even more passionate about than being a dancer—my choreography. These last few years I have grown and developed as a choreographer as well as becoming the Artist [sic] Director of my own company. With this promising new direction ahead, I am announcing that this month will be my last with PNB. While this may come as a surprise to some, I feel blessed that I have Whim W’Him as this amazing vehicle for my creative voice, and am happy to retire from being a dancer with confidence, dignity and grace. Many of you have been supporters and fans of my dancing for years and I ask that you now support me as I move forward as a choreographer with Whim W’Him."

Since joining the PNB in 1997, Wevers has been one of their most reliable "princes"—though of late, he’s played more character roles (he was a great hag/Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty). Meanwhile, Whim W’Him has really taken off since it debuted in 2009; they recently signed on as Intiman Theatre’s resident dance company, and Wevers’s Monster was selected as a finalist in the Copenhagen Choreography Competition on April 24.

Wevers, who turns 40 on June 25, will celebrate with a new Whim W’Him performance at Intiman that weekend (June 24 & 25). ReSet will feature a reworked 3Seasons, the return of Monster, and a new work by Wevers; tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.