Pacific Northwest Ballet Announces Retirement of Corps de Ballet Dance

With more than two decades of experience in real estate, Afshan Lakha serves as the principal partner at Lakha Investment Company, LLC, based out of Bellevue, Washington. Among the numerous Seattle-area organizations that Afshan Lakha supports is the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), where she is a trustee.

Located in Seattle, the PNB began in 1972 and has evolved into one of the most highly regarded ballet companies in the country. With almost 50 dancers, the ballet offers more than 100 annual full-length and mixed repertory ballet performances. The group also tours across the globe and has performed in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, and Australia.

In April 2016, the PNB announced that ballet dancer and Bellevue resident Jessika Anspach would retire at the end of the season. After growing up through the PNB School, she spent a total of 26 years performing for the ballet. In 2004, she joined the company as an apprentice and received a promotion to corps de ballet the following year. She had leading roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mark Morris’ Kammermusick No. 3, and Susan Stroman’s TAKE FIVE…More or Less, among others. Upon retirement, she plans to pursue an English degree with a concentration on creative writing.

What to Know before Attending Your First Art Auction

Afshan Lakha co-owns an investment firm focused on commercial real estate. In her free time, Afshan Lakha enjoys collecting contemporary art and attending art auctions. Attending an auction is a great way to gain access to rare pieces, but it can also feel overwhelming to people who have never before experienced one. Before attending your first art auction, you should:

1. Investigate the registration process beforehand. All auction houses work slightly differently. Some houses allow online registration while others will require bidders to fill out forms in-house, complete with banking information.

2. Ask about the buyer’s premium. An additional percentage charge is always added to the hammer price, and this fee goes directly to the auction house. Knowing the percentage prior to an auction helps buyers determine how high they can bid on a piece of art.

3. Always request condition reports. While auction houses sell items as is, individuals have the opportunity prior to an auction to review condition reports, which detail any damage or imperfections to artwork. Potential buyers can typically request condition reports over the phone or online.

Bellevue LifeSpring Provides Meals During School Breaks

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Afshan Lakha co-founded and continues to co-own Lakha Investments Company LLC, which invests in commercial real estate. Active in her Bellevue, Washington, community, Afshan Lakha engages charitably with Bellevue LifeSpring, an organization that maintains a number of services for children and families.

Bellevue LifeSpring offers programs to ensure children do not go hungry. One key program addresses the need for food during school breaks. While children eligible for free and reduced-price lunches receive two meals on school days, they can sometimes go hungry during breaks. Through a partnership with local schools, Bellevue LifeSpring provides food to eat when school is not meeting.

Each child receives a box of nonperishable breakfast and lunch items that are easy to prepare. Recipients also get a voucher to purchase fresh foods, such as milk, as well as menu suggestions based on the items included. Bellevue LifeSpring includes an application for the program in the back-to-school packet that each eligible family receives, although families can register throughout the year.

Registered families pick up the boxes directly from the school in the week leading up to school breaks in the winter, mid-winter, and spring.

Tips for Proper Auction Etiquette

Upon graduating from University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Afshan Lakha worked for Coldwell Banker Commercial in Torrance, California, until 1989. She now serves as the principal for Lakha Investments, LLC, which focuses its activity on commercial real estate. An art collector whose travels in search of great pieces have taken her all over the world, Afshan Lakha enjoys attending auctions to find contemporary art. Proper etiquette is expected at an auction at all times, so keep these tips in mind when you attend one.

1. Understand your limits at the beginning of the auction, and don’t get caught up in the excitement of any items that move at a fast pace. Keep track of what’s happening so you don’t accidentally bid more than you can afford. 

2. When making a bid, you should catch the auctioneer’s eye by raising your hand or card. Keep it held aloft until the auctioneer recognizes the bid by pointing to you. Be aware of your movements during the auction process, particularly your arms, as they can be mistaken for bids during fast-paced auctions.

3. Don’t place pressure on auctioneers to start the bidding on items you want before they are ready. They will politely ignore the request, and persistence may result in you being asked to leave.