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

Oregon Ballet Theatre headquarters.

Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) is a ballet company in Portland, Oregon, United States. The company performs an annual five-program season at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts and conducts regional and national tours.[1] It was featured in the October/November 2007 issue of Pointe magazine, with principal dancer Kathi Martuza on the cover.[2]

History

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The company is the result of the 1989 merger of Ballet Oregon and Pacific Ballet Theater.[3] 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.[1] Under his leadership the company repertoire grew to comprise over 80 ballets, from evening-length works to contemporary pieces.[1]

Stowell

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Christopher Stowell was the artistic director from 2003 to the end of 2012. During Stowell's tenure, the company 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 choreographed eight new ballets with the company's dancers.[1]

Company

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Artistic Directors

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  • Danielle Rowe (2023-Present)[4]
  • Peter Franc (Interim 2021-2023)[5]
  • Kevin Irving (2013–2021)[6][7][8]
  • Anne Mueller (Interim 2012-2013)
  • Christopher Stowell (2003-2012)[9]
  • James Canfield (1989-2003)[10]

Oregon Ballet Theatre School

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School Directors

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  • Katarina Svetlova (Interim) (2022-present)[11]
  • Marion Tonner (2018–2022)[12]
  • Anthony Jones (2013-2018)[13][14]
  • Damara Bennett (2003-2013)[15]
  • Haydee Gutierrez (1990-2003)
  • Joseph Wyatt (1989)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "About Us: History". Oregon Ballet Theater. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  2. ^ "October/November 2007". Pointe. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  3. ^ "Ballet Group Will Perform On Monday". Kentucky New Era. February 20, 1992. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  4. ^ "Oregon Ballet Theatre Appoints Danielle Rowe as New Artistic Director" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Peter Franc Named Interim Artistic Director, Kevin Irving Celebrated" (PDF). 2021-06-25.
  6. ^ Hughley, Marty (2013-06-08). "Oregon Ballet Theatre chooses Kevin Irving, former head of Goteborg Ballet, as new artistic director". oregonlive. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  7. ^ "OBT'S 2019/20 SEASON ANNOUNCED 30th Anniversary Season". Artslandia. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  8. ^ "Artistic Staff". Oregon Ballet Theatre. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  9. ^ "Christopher Stowell Leaves OBT". Pointe. 2001-11-30. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  10. ^ "NW Dance Project | James Canfield". NW Dance Project. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  11. ^ "Internationally Esteemed Dancer and Teacher Appointed Oregon Ballet Theatre School Director" (PDF).
  12. ^ "OBT Names New School Director" (PDF). Oregon Ballet Theatre. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Oregon Ballet Theatre School: Important Announcement from OBT School". Oregon Ballet Theatre School. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  14. ^ Trimble, Lynn (2018-01-05). "Anthony Jones Named Director for The School of Ballet Arizona". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  15. ^ "OBT School show: a serenade to the future". Oregon ArtsWatch. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
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