Press Releases
05-18-23 | Oregon Ballet Theatre Closes its 2022/23 Season with Made in Portland featuring four commissions by four dynamic dance makers – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, May 18, 2023) – This June Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) returns to the Newmark Theatre for its season finale Made in Portland, a program featuring four commissions by a dynamic group of choreographers.
02-13-23 | Oregon Ballet Theatre Appoints Danielle Rowe as New Artistic Director – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, February 13, 2023) – Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) today announced the appointment of Danielle Rowe as its new artistic director, and the first female to officially hold this title in the nearly 35-year-old company.
01-12-23 | OBT Presents Sylphide and Bids Farewell to Xuan Cheng Final – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, January 12, 2023) – This February Oregon Ballet Theatre premieres a timeless masterpiece, La Sylphide, bids farewell to a beloved ballerina, welcomes a new star, and throws a huge party!
11-14-22 | Shane Jewell Named Executive Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, November 14, 2022) – The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) Cate Sweeney has announced the appointment of Shane Jewell as the organization’s next executive director. His appointment will become effective January 9, 2023 when he will replace current Executive Director, Thomas Bruner, who has chosen to return to his private practice, Bruner Strategies.
11-04-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre welcomes Houston Ballet Principal Charles-Louis Yoshiyama to its roster this February with La Sylphide – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, November 4, 2022) – Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) is thrilled to announce that Houston Ballet star Charles-Louis Yoshiyama will be joining its roster as a principal dancer effective this February in August Bournonville’s romantic masterpiece, La Sylphide.
10-07-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre Emerges from COVID Artistically Vibrant, Financially Healthy and Organizationally Strong – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, October 7, 2022) – Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) has released its 2022 Annual Report, revealing an organization that is artistically vibrant, financially healthy, and organizationally strong.
08-08-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre lights up the stage next season with four incredible story ballets and eight premieres! It all begins this fall with Midsummer Night’s Dream – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, August 8, 2022) – Oregon Ballet Theatre returns to the stage this fall with a season that celebrates both traditional storytelling and contemporary dance narrative: from the OBT premiere of August Bournonville’s timeless classic La Sylphide; to the return of fan favorites A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Firebird; to an immersive program of new works called Made in Portland that explores the character of our city through the expressive and physical power of dance.
08-04-22 | Internationally Esteemed Dancer and Teacher Appointed Oregon Ballet Theatre School Director – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, August 4, 2022) – After a national search, Oregon Ballet Theatre’s (OBT) Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to appoint Katarina Svetlova to school director effective immediately. Svetlova has been serving as interim school director since May, and has deep roots in ballet across the region.
07-18-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre welcomes four dynamic dancers to its company and promotes two talented apprentices to launch its 2022/23 Season – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, July 18, 2022) – Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) Interim Artistic Director Peter Franc has announced exciting additions to the company’s dancer roster effective with the 2022/23 Season, which opens this fall with the return of Christopher Stowell’s beloved production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
06-10-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre launches international search for its next artistic and executive director – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, June 10, 2022) – Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) announced today it will initiate an international and national search for its next artistic and executive director to co-lead and move the organization into the future. The organization has retained Arts Consulting Group (ACG) to conduct the search. OBT intends to complete the search by the fall.
05-12-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre closes its 2021/22 Season with The Americans Take Two – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, May 12, 2022) – Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) concludes its 2021/22 season with The Americans Take Two. The long awaited second installment of its popular Americans series celebrating the unique voices of American choreographers features Mirror, Mirror an exciting commission from choreographer Michelle Manzanales paired with the return of two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel; and BodyVox founders Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes.
03-17-22 | Oregon Ballet Theatre presents Dreamland – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, March 17, 2022) – This spring Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) explores the mysteries of the subconscious mind with Dreamland, a program of three ballets presented at the Newmark Theatre. OBT’s Newmark performances are characterized by groundbreaking works highlighting innovative choreography in an intimate setting. In Dreamland the company presents the return of audience favorite Matjash Mrozewski’s The Lost Dance, and two OBT premieres: Trey McIntyres In Dreams featuring music by Roy Orbison, and the title work Dreamland from former Australian Ballet star turned choreographer, Danielle Rowe.
01-18-22 | OBT celebrates true love with the premiere of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula – PRESS RELEASE (PORTLAND, OR, January 18, 2022) – This February, Portland is in for a thrilling Valentine’s surprise as Oregon Ballet Theatre presents Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, February 19-26 at the Keller Auditorium. The full-length work was originally created by Stevenson to mark the 100th anniversary of Bram Stoker’s iconic 1897 novel. Franz Liszt’s gothic works, arranged by John Lanchbery, set the perfect haunting tone which the OBT Orchestra will perform live. To celebrate the Dracula premiere, OBT will host its annual gala as part of the opening night festivities.