Eva Burton Headshot
Back to Dancers

Eva Burton

Joined OBT in 2010 | Principal Since 2020

Eva Burton was born in Los Angeles, California, where she received training from Patrick Frantz, followed by two years at the San Francisco Ballet School, including a year in the trainee program there.

In 2010, she joined OBT as a dancer in the corps de ballet, was promoted to soloist in 2016, and became principal at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season. Her repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Trey McIntyre, Nicolo Fonte, James Kudelka, Nacho Duato, Helen Pickett, Yuri Possokhov, August Bournonville, and Jiří Kylián. In 2015 and 2019, she performed the title role in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella. In February of 2020, she made her debut as Princess Aurora in Christopher Stowell’s production of The Sleeping Beauty.

Favorite Roles
Sugarplum in Balanchine’s Nutcracker, William Forsythe’s “In the Middle Somewhat Elevated”, the role of the mother in Christopher Bruce’s “Hush”, Trey McIntyre’s “Robust American Love” and “In Dreams”, Giselle and Myrtha in “Giselle”, and the Sylph in Bournonville’s “La Sylphide” and Aurora in Christopher Stowell’s “Sleeping Beauty” (It’s very hard to pick and I just keep thinking of more! I can edit this down if needed!)

Dancing at OBT
OBT has been an environment that has really nurtured me as an artist.  I’ve been pushed outside of my comfort zone many times and have surprised myself by what I’ve been capable of! I also feel so grateful to have been encouraged to develop my skills as a teacher which has only given me a new lens to look through and has reinvigorated my technique as a dancer. It also reminds me that this art form is so challenging and that it’s okay to give myself grace when things don’t go perfectly (which honestly is always the case)!

 

I like to tell people who ask about OBT that I came here because it was the only job that I got, but I’ve stayed for (wellllllll) over a decade because I found my home at OBT and in Portland.

Outside of Dance

I love to get cozy inside (when the weather is moody) by cooking, reading, snuggling up to watch a movie or watch (more likely rewatch) a show. When the sun is out I’ll try to spend time outside hiking, enjoying the beautiful PNW views. I also always have a little hobby- sewing, crochet, embroidery, watercolor, that I enjoy being perfectly mediocre at. I enjoy being a homebody with my husband, cat, and dog.

Experience Ballet

EXPLORE OBT SCHOOL

Give Now