ANNE MUELLER ACCEPTS POSITION AS INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF OREGON BALLET THEATRE

Retired Principal Dancer and Director of Artistic Operations steps up to guide OBT through transition

On December 21, 2012, the Board of Trustees announced that Anne Mueller would assume the role of Interim Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre, beginning December 24th.

"We on the board first came to know Anne as a dancer with extraordinary talent and determination who, from the stage, could at turns make us smile, laugh and cry – as appropriate! Her talent always has made us proud to be associated with OBT.

In the past 2 years we have not been surprised to see Anne combine her knowledge of artistry with her talent for production and staging as she advanced to Director of Artistic Operations. What has continued to thrill us, however, is the true depth of her passion and creativity.

Now we are fortunate that she has chosen to bring her talents to the position of Interim Artistic Director of OBT. For some of us working closely with Anne over the past few weeks has been a delight. She is dedicated to the institution of OBT and assuring the continued success of ballet in our community". - The OBT Board of Trustees

Mueller has been with OBT since 1996. She retired from dancing in 2011 following a stellar career as a Principal Dancer. She has worked in artistic administration for the company since the 2008/2009 season, advancing to Director of Artistic Operations, where she spends 50% of her time in the studio setting repertoire and working with dancers and 50% working with production-related contracts, budgeting and communications.

Read Anne's full bio

“The OBT family is not only excited but also very fortunate to have such an artistic visionary as Anne to step into the role of Interim Artistic Director,” says OBT Board Chair Ken Hick. “We congratulate Anne in her new assignment. Her extensive knowledge of our body of work combined with her creative abilities will ensure the artistic values we have all come to expect from Oregon Ballet Theatre. We all look forward to working with her.”

Want to know more about what make's Anne tick, how she got started as a dancer and even why she has pet goats? - read her Who's Your Dancer? interview from 2006

Mueller will serve as Interim Artistic director through June 30, 2013, to oversee performance of the remainder of OBT’s 2012-13 season beginning with Stowell’s Swan Lake in February. “I am deeply sad to see Christopher moving on towards other endeavors,” says Mueller, “but I have a long history with and profound love for this organization and am committed to doing all I can to continue carrying out its mission. Christopher is my mentor and I have the deepest respect for the work he has done here at OBT in bringing the company to its current state of excellence. The dancers, staff and I will do our utmost to sustain his high standards.” Stowell will return to fine-tune his Swan Lake in late January and February.

OBT’s Board of Trustees has formed a search committee to begin the process of finding the company’s next Artistic and Executive Directors. Niel DePonte, OBT’s Music Director and Conductor, and Principal Percussionist of the Oregon Symphony will facilitate the committee. Committee members include OBT dancers Alison Roper and Candace Bouchard; Trustees Harold Goldstein, Cary Jackson, Brad Miller and Dean Richardson; community leaders Henry Hillman, Stephen Kafoury, and Catherine Levi; and BodyVox Co-Artistic Director Jamey Hampton. Walter Jaffe and Paul King of White Bird Dance and additional community leaders will advise the committee.

MORE PHOTOS OF ANNE