Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Oregon Ballet Theatre

Patch talks to The Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) about its mission to keep the ballet community connected and flourishing in Oregon.

Patch: Tell Patch a little bit about your organization!

OBT: OBT is the largest professional ballet company in Oregon, employing nearly 200 people and attracting artists from around the globe with our reputation for excellence. The company is rooted in the traditions of classical ballet, with a repertoire that ranges from the great classics to premieres from some of the most exciting choreographic voices in the field today. Recently, OBT launched Choreography XX to promote original works created by North American women choreographers.

The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre trains dancers from 4 years old to 80 years old through the professional and recreational classes at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. Many of our students go on to successful professional dance careers.

Patch: When did your organization open?

OBT: Oregon Ballet Theatre was founded in 1989 by James Canfield, a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. OBT quickly developed a distinctive style and unique repertoire that grew to comprise over 80 ballets, including evening-length classics, 20th-Century masterpieces and groundbreaking contemporary works. From 2003-2012, under the direction of Christopher Stowell, OBT presented nearly 350 performances and added 51 ballets, including 20 world premieres, to its diverse body of work.

In June 2013, we were delighted to name Kevin Irving as the company’s third Artistic Director. Irving brings over 25 years of experience performing with and managing world-renowned cultural organizations and dance companies, including The Göteborg Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and Compañia Nacional de Danza (Spain). His tenure has been marked by a commitment to collaborative partnerships with other Portland artists and organizations, including the Portland Art Museum, Multnomah County Library, Kenji Bunch, and Pink Martini.

He has expanded the company’s classical repertoire – with the premieres of Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella and August Bournonville’s Napoli – while preserving OBT’s legacy and restoring major works such as James Canfield’s Romeo & Juliet. At the same time, he continues to build a diverse body of work with world premieres from internationally acclaimed, contemporary choreographers such as Nicolo Fonte, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and James Kudelka. Under Irving’s leadership OBT seeks to develop a unique approach to American ballet in the 21st Century that promotes a greater affirmation of the art form’s connection to the world around us.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

OBT: We’re always looking to reach out to a broader audience, especially as more and more people are making Portland their home. One project we’ve launched is the Blue Ribbon Society, sponsored by Pabst. On Blue Ribbon performance nights guests can get affordable group ticket pricing, as well as a free intermission party. It’s a casual way for Portlanders to enjoy something fresh and get to know their local world class dance company. Our next Blue Ribbon performance night is Oct. 13th.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

OBT: We’re going to continue to produce stunning shows while growing Portland’s dance community. Our next show, Giants, features works by two giants in the ballet world – George Balanchine and William Forsythe – along with the brand new Giants Before Us by OBT resident choreographer Nicolo Fonte. Giants runs from Oct. 8th – 15th, and tickets are available now at obt.org!

Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert