The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre

DAMARA BENNETT, SCHOOL DIRECTOR

Ms. Bennett received her formal ballet training under the direction of Lila Zali in Laguna Beach, California, where her early dedication and talent afforded her a Ford Foundation Scholarship from the School of American Ballet. In 1971, Ms. Bennett joined San Francisco Ballet, dancing under the direction of Lew Christensen and Michael Smuin. During her tenure at SFB, she studied under Erik Bruhn, Tatiana Grantzeva, and Terry Westmoreland and performed the works of such distinguished choreographers as Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Maurice Bejart, Lew Christensen, Willam Christensen, Jerome Robbins, and Michael Smuin. In 1987, Ms. Bennett founded City Ballet School in San Francisco, where she served as artistic director and offered a comprehensive curriculum that incorporated the Vaganova syllabus. Many of Ms. Bennett’s students have gone on to dance with professional companies (American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Fordham University/The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet), have gained acceptance to prestigious schools (Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, North Carolina School of the Arts, The Juilliard School) and have been cast in Broadway productions (Cats, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story) and feature films (Center Stage).

STAFF