Send us a note about what you've been up to since your time dancing with The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre!

GRACE SHIBLEY - October 20, 2008
Oregon Ballet Theatre

The October production of Swan Lake marked the beginning of my second season as a company member with Oregon Ballet Theatre. In 2006, when the company premiered its own version of this classical ballet, I was fortunate enough to participate as a School of Oregon Ballet Theatre student. At the time, I had no idea that two years later, I would be performing this beautiful ballet again, this time as a part of the company.

Last year was quite a busy season. It went by in a flash, although it is also hard to believe that it all fit into only ten months. The highlights of the season, for me, were performing in Jerome Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun, George Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, and touring to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in June to perform RUSH, a Christopher Wheeldon work.

Working on each of these ballets proved to be amazing opportunities that I never would have guessed would have been open to me. One of my favorite things about being involved in these pieces was meeting and learning from the repetiteurs OBT brought in to set the ballets. Rehearsing with people who were, in many cases, personally involved in the creation of the works is an extremely rewarding and irreplaceable experience…and one that is vital in the continuation and life of ballet as an art form.

I am very excited for the rest of the season. We have some great upcoming ballets, and I know the entire company is looking forward to tackling them. In the meantime, I fill my free time by taking correspondence and evening academic classes, experimenting in the kitchen and on the sewing machine (I made my own practice tutu this summer with the help of OBT's Wardrobe Department and am currently in the process of making myself a quilt), and reading.

Happy dancing!

ALEXANDRE WEST - July 8, 2008
Since leaving OBT, I have been challenged to re-assess the direction that I want to take in the dance world. After deferring from NYU's College of Arts and Science, I decided to audition for a transfer into the Tisch Dance program. During my year before college I had an opportunity to observe and learn with Lavinia Magliocco in her pilates
studio, and to observe Dr. Gellman both in clinic and the OR. These opportunities, spring boarded by my time at OBT, were some of the most valuable learning experiences in my life. I am now entering my third year in the Tisch Dance program at NYU. In addition to pursuing a BFA in dance, I am double majoring in psychology, and completing my pre-med requirements. As a dancer, health is a huge passion of mine. I have worked with the dance department to develop an advanced anatomy and kinesiology workshop, organize on-site physical therapy consultation, and develop an orientation program that better informs dancers about their health and injury resources. In New York, I am a physical therapy aide at a dancer-specific clinic and have worked at the education desk at the Bodies Exhibit. My goal is to attend medical school and continue to work in the field of dance medicine as an orthopedic surgeon.

NATALIE WILSON - June 17, 2008

Since last dancing with OBT, I've transitioned into becoming a full-time student at Portland State University. Just this last week, I finished my first year towards my undergraduate degree in biology. In the future I plan to attend medical school and possibly become involved in neurology.   

While being an apprentice was possibly the hardest thing I've ever accomplished, it was also one of the most rewarding. I will always remember performing the pas de quarte in Act II of Swan Lake as one of the most amazing moments of my life. I am very thankful that I met so many wonderful people and was able to be a part of OBT.

The transition from full-time apprentice to full-time college student was difficult but very exciting. Much of what was learned over 13 years in the School of OBT and 2 years as an apprentice with the company proved very helpful in the academic atmosphere. During my time as a ballet dancer, I learned to be attentive, focused, and incredibly self-disciplined. It's these qualities, along with my passion for both the arts and sciences, that helped me excel in my first year of college and will help me to succeed in whatever endeavor I pursue.

SAM ROGERS - April 3, 2008
Juilliard

I've been at Juilliard almost two years now, although it still feels like I just arrived. Life at school - while enmeshed in a routine class schedule – is continually changing, and the work I do constantly forces me to redefine who I am and what dance means to me. At OBT I was safe to learn in a stable environment; an environment that gave me sanity and a solid foundation. I don't know what I would have done without that, because my world has branched in so many directions that without it I would feel a little schizophrenic. Now that the school year is in it's final lap, Juilliard's main concert has passed - but I have more than enough work to keep me occupied. I'm collaborating with a composer at the school and one of my classmates to create a dance for six people that will hopefully be performed at the school's next studio workshop, as well as choreographing a duet with another of my peers on the side. One of my ballet teachers has very kindly offered to work on Bournenville solos with me in our free time - I can't wait to get started on that. I'm somehow managing to find time to dance outside of school as well; I went to an open call recently and was cast in a contemporary version of Giselle. Surprisingly enough, the choreographer, composer, and both leads (of which I am one) have all attended Juilliard. Every few months I find myself out at dinner with a family of dancers and friends who have all made their way to New York from OBT. The network OBT has cast extends across the country, and is beginning to cross generations as well. Now, with such opportunities as Giselle, I'm finding that Juilliard's web is just as extensive. I find myself equally comfortable now in both Juilliard and OBT's communities - and I'm learning, albeit slowly, to call them both my home.

MEGAN MCCONNELL - December 1, 2007
Los Angeles Ballet

I danced with Sacramento Ballet for 6 weeks, rehearsing and performing Balanchine's Serenade.  This was actually my fourth time performing Serenade. I had done it twice with OBT, and had just done it with Los Angeles Ballet in May.  I was worried I might be kind of tired of it. But the music is so beautiful and the choreography is such a pleasure to dance, it was just like the first time.
  
Literally the day after my last performance in Sacramento, I drove down to LA for my first day of rehearsing for Nutcracker with Los Angeles Ballet.  I was exhausted, but excited to get there. I've now been in LA for several weeks, and I'll be here until June when the season ends.  On top of rehearsing Nutcracker, we've also started on The Four Temperaments, that we're doing in the next rep. I'm dancing in Melancholic, and learning Phlegmatic, which is awesome, because I always wanted to learn Phlegmatic after OBT did it last year.
  
It's amazing to realize that I'm getting to do what I've always wanted to do since I was young. And it's great to feel like I'm really part of a company. I don't know what the future will bring, but I hope to be dancing for many years to come.

Email information and photo to
schoolofobt@obt.org