Oregon Ballet Theatre Explained

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. It was featured in the October/November 2007 issue of Pointe magazine, with principal dancer Kathi Martuza on the cover.^[1]

History

The company is the result of the 1989 merger of Ballet Oregon and Pacific Ballet Theater.^[2] 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.^[3] Under his leadership the company repertoire grew to comprise over 80 ballets, from evening-length works to contemporary pieces.

Stowell

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.

Company

Artistic Directors

• 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

School Directors

• 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

• List of Oregon Ballet Theatre performers

Notes and References

1. Web site: October/November 2007 . . February 24, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110208083352/http://pointemagazine.com/issues/2009/november-12 . February 8, 2011.
2. News: Ballet Group Will Perform On Monday . . February 20, 1992 . February 24, 2012 .
3. Web site: About Us: History . Oregon Ballet Theater . February 24, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120229223432/http://www.obt.org/history.html . February 29, 2012 . dead .
4. Web site: Oregon Ballet Theatre Appoints Danielle Rowe as New Artistic Director .
5. Web site: 2021-06-25 . Peter Franc Named Interim Artistic Director, Kevin Irving Celebrated .
6. Web site: Oregon Ballet Theatre chooses Kevin Irving, former head of Goteborg Ballet, as new artistic director. Hughley. Marty. 2013-06-08. oregonlive. en. 2019-09-17.
7. Web site: OBT’S 2019/20 SEASON ANNOUNCED 30th Anniversary Season. 2019-03-11. Artslandia. en-US. 2019-09-17.
8. Web site: Artistic Staff. Oregon Ballet Theatre. en-US. 2019-09-17.
9. Web site: Christopher Stowell Leaves OBT. 2001-11-30. Pointe. en. 2019-09-17.
10. Web site: NW Dance Project James Canfield. NW Dance Project. en-US. 2019-09-17.
11. Web site: Internationally Esteemed Dancer and Teacher Appointed Oregon Ballet Theatre School Director .
12. Web site: OBT Names New School Director. Oregon Ballet Theatre. September 17, 2019.
13. Web site: Oregon Ballet Theatre School: Important Announcement from OBT School. 2017-12-12. Oregon Ballet Theatre School. 2019-09-17.
14. Web site: Anthony Jones Named Director for The School of Ballet Arizona. Trimble. Lynn. 2018-01-05. Phoenix New Times. 2019-09-17.
15. Web site: OBT School show: a serenade to the future. 2013-04-27. Oregon ArtsWatch. en-US. 2019-09-17.