Oregon Ballet Theatre

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Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) is a ballet company in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Contents 1 History 2 Current 2.1 Artistic Staff 2.1.1 Artistic Director 2.1.2 Music Director & Conductor 2.1.3 Resident Lighting Designer 2.1.4 Ballet Master 2.1.5 Principal Pianist 2.1.6 Principal Accompanist 2.2 Dancers 2.2.1 Principal Dancers 2.2.2 Soloists 2.2.3 Company Artists 2.2.4 Apprentices 3 Reviews 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] History

The company is the result of the 1989 merger of Ballet Oregon and Pacific Ballet Theater. James Canfield, a former dancer with Joffrey Ballet and principal dancer with Pacific Ballet Theater, served as Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theater from its inception until 2003. Under his leadership the company repertoire grew to comprise over 80 ballets, from evening-length works to contemporary pieces.

[edit] Current

Christopher Stowell is the current artistic director. Prior to joining Oregon Ballet Theatre in 2003, he was a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet for 16 years. During Christopher Stowell's tenure, the company has added the work of Sir Frederick Ashton, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Lar Lubovitch and Christopher Wheeldon to its repertoire. New works have been created on the company by James Kudelka, Trey McIntyre, Yuri Possokhov, Julia Adam and Nicolo Fonte. In addition, Christopher Stowell has choreographed nine new ballets with Oregon Ballet Theatre's dancers.

The company performs an annual five-program season at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts and conducts regional and national tours. Oregon Ballet Theatre has garnered national recognition:

• The company was featured in Pointe with principal dancer Kathi Martuza on the cover
• In June 2008, the company made its Kennedy Center debut with a critically acclaimed performance of RUSH by Christopher Wheeldon.^{[citation needed]}
• Dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre have also performed at several New York and Chicago dance festivals including Ballet Builders, Chicago Dancing Festival and Fall for Dance.

Oregon Ballet Theatre also has a school, the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. Damara Bennett, a former dancer with San Francisco Ballet and founder of City Ballet School in San Francisco is the director.

[edit] Artistic Staff

[edit] Artistic Director

• Christopher Stowell

[edit] Music Director & Conductor

• Niel DePonte

[edit] Resident Lighting Designer

• Michael Mazzola

[edit] Ballet Master

• Lisa Kipp

[edit] Principal Pianist

• Carol Rich

[edit] Principal Accompanist

• Irina Golberg

[edit] Dancers

[edit] Principal Dancers

[edit] Soloists

[edit] Company Artists

[edit] Apprentices

[edit] Reviews

Oregonian review of "France" program by Catherine Thomas, December 13, 2008 Ballet Dance Magazine review of "Swan Lake" by Dean Speer, October 11, 2008 Oregonian review of the OBT at Festival of Ballet Across America by Martha Ullman West, June 20, 2008 Oregonian review of "A Grand Tour" season by Marty Hughley, June 7, 2008 Ballet Dance Magazine review of "Raymonda" by Dean Speer, June 7, 2008

Oregonian review of "A Grand Tour" season by Catherine Thomas, April 21, 2008 Oregonian review of "France" program by Martha Ullman West, February 25, 2008 Ballet Dance Magazine review of "The Four Temperaments" by Dean Speer, October 21, 2006 Ballet Dance Magazine review of "The Nutcracker" by Dean Speer, December 10, 2005 Ballet Dance Monthly review of "The Nutcracker" by Dean Speer, December 13, 2003

[edit] See also

• Dance in Oregon

[edit] External links

• Oregon Ballet Theatre's Official Site

Coordinates: 45°31′01″N 122°39′35″W / 45.517051°N 122.659619°W / 45.517051; -122.659619

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