Oct. 8 – 15, 2016 | Keller Auditorium
Serenade
George Balanchine | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
featuring the OBT Orchestra for all performances
Underwritten by Sue Horn-Caskey and Rick Caskey
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (Company Premiere)
William Forsythe | Thom Willems
Giants Before Us (World Premiere)
Nicolo Fonte | Franz Liszt
Featuring pianist Hunter Noack
Underwritten by The Boeing Company
Sat., Oct. 8 at 7:30pm
Sun., Oct. 9 at 2pm
Thurs., Oct. 13 at 7:30pm
Blue Ribbon Society Night
Fri., Oct. 14 at 7:30pm
Sat., Oct. 15 at 7:30pm
Week 2
Serenade
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2:00 SPS | Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 | Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 | Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30 |
Orchestra | Orchestra | Orchestra | Orchestra |
Eva Burton | Jacqueline Straughan | Eva Burton | Jacqueline Straughan |
Brian Simcoe | Colby Parsons | Brian Simcoe | |
Nobriga | Candace Bouchard | Ansa Deguchi | Candace Bouchard |
Martina Chavez | Kimberly Nobriga | Martina Chavez | |
Thomas Baker | Peter Franc | Thomas Baker |
In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Thursday, Oct. 13, 12:00 SPS | Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 | Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 | Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30 |
Recorded Music | Recorded Music | Recorded Music | Recorded Music |
Katherine Monogue | Xuan Cheng | Katherine Monogue | Xuan Cheng |
Jacqueline Straughan | Eva Burton | Jacqueline Straughan | Eva Burton |
Makino Hildestad | Kelsie Nobriga | Makino Hildestad | Kelsie Nobriga |
Ansa Deguchi | Emily Parker | Ansa Deguchi | Emily Parker |
Jessica Lind | Jessica Lind | Candace Bouchard | Jessica Lind |
Candace Bouchard | Candace Bouchard | Kimberly Nobriga | Kimberly Nobriga |
Adam Hartley | Peter Franc | Adam Hartley | Peter Franc |
Christopher Kaiser | Brian Simcoe | Christopher Kaiser | Brian Simcoe |
Avery Reiners | Thomas Baker | Avery Reiners | Thomas Baker |
Giants Before Us
Thursday, Oct. 13, 12:00 SPS | Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 | Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 | Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30 |
Xuan Cheng | Jacqueline Straughan | Xuan Cheng | Jacqueline Straughan |
Brian Simcoe | Peter Franc | Brian Simcoe | Peter Franc |
Chauncey Parsons | Chauncey Parsons | Chauncey Parsons | Chauncey Parsons |
Michael Linsmeier | Michael Linsmeier | Michael Linsmeier | Michael Linsmeier |
Avery Reiners | Avery Reiners | Avery Reiners | Avery Reiners |
Colby Parsons | Colby Parsons | Colby Parsons | Colby Parsons |
Christopher Kaiser | Christopher Kaiser | Christopher Kaiser | Christopher Kaiser |
Thomas Baker | Thomas Baker | Thomas Baker | Thomas Baker |
Adam Hartley | Adam Hartley | Adam Hartley | Adam Hartley |
Keenan English | Keenan English | Keenan English | Keenan English |
Paige Wilkey | Paige Wilkey | Paige Wilkey | Paige Wilkey |
Week 1
Serenade
Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 | Sunday, Oct. 9, 2:00 | |
Orchestra | Orchestra | |
Waltz Couple | Jacqueline Straughan | Eva Burton |
Brian Simcoe | Coby Parsons | |
Russian Woman | Candace Bouchard | Ansa Deguchi |
Dark Angel | Martina Chavez | Kimberly Nobriga |
Elegy | Thomas Baker | Peter Franc |
In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 | Sunday, Oct. 9, 2:00 |
Orch | Orch |
Xuan Cheng | Katherine Monogue |
Eva Burton | Jacqueline Straughan |
Kelsie Nobriga | Makino Hildestad |
Emily Parker | Ansa Deguchi |
Jessica Lind | Candace Bouchard |
Kimberly Nobriga | Kimberly Nobriga |
Peter Franc | Adam Hartley |
Brian Simcoe | Christopher Kaiser |
Thomas Baker | Avery Reiners |
Giants Before Us
Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 | Sunday, Oct. 9, 2:00 |
Noack | Noack |
Jacqueline Straughan | Xuan Cheng |
Peter Franc | Brian Simcoe |
Cha. Parsons | Cha. Parsons |
Michael Linsmeier | Michael Linsmeier |
Avery Reiners | Avery Reiners |
Coby Parsons | Coby Parsons |
Kelsie Nobriga | Kelsie Nobriga |
Thomas Baker | Thomas Baker |
Adam Hartley | Adam Hartley |
Keenan English | Keenan English |
Paige Wilkey | Paige Wilkey |
Fonte helps bend and shape OBT
Portland Tribune | Aug 31, 2016
Oregon Ballet Theatre gets ready to take some giant steps with 2016-’17 season
Oregonlive.com | Mar 10, 2016
Rehearsals for OBT’s GIANTS
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Jacqueline Straughan and Brian Simcoe in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30290035636_o.jpg?w=653&h=499&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Brian Simcoe with Kelsie Nobriga in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30290016726_o.jpg?w=653&h=1101&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Adam Hartley center with OBT dancers in Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere Giants Before Us one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30290016636_o.jpg?w=653&h=362&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Brian Simcoe in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30290016186_o.jpg?w=653&h=496&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS OBT dancers in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30239010441_o.jpg?w=653&h=404&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS OBT dancers in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30208974132_o.jpg?w=653&h=228&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS OBT dancers in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30208974002_o.jpg?w=653&h=336&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Christopher Kaiser and Makino Hildestad in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by James McGrew.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30198947145_o.jpg?w=653&h=499&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS From left Kimberly Nobriga, Eva Burton, Peter Franc, and Ansa Deguchi in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Jingzi Zhao.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30191142716_o.jpg?w=653&h=511&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Peter Franc in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi YIn](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30191129726_o.jpg?w=653&h=499&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Jaqueline Straughan and Peter Franc in Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere Giants Before Us one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30191129626_o.jpg?w=653&h=510&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Eva Burton and Adam Hartley with OBT dancers in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by JingziZhao.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30164620336_o.jpg?w=653&h=510&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Avery Reiners in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30157886891_o.jpg?w=653&h=1156&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS OBT dancers in Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere Giants Before Us one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Jingzi Zhao](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30128016162_o.jpg?w=653&h=499&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Pianist Hunter Noack with Brian Simcoe in the world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s Giants Before Us, one of three works presented Jingzi Zhao.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30084399012_o.jpg?w=653&h=499&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Eva Burton in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30084370552_o.jpg?w=491&h=276&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Pianist Hunter Noack with OBT dancers in the world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s Giants Before Us, one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by James McGrew.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30084370332_o.jpg?w=491&h=375&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS OBT dancers in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Emily Nash.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_30028227310_o.jpg?w=491&h=374&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Pianist Hunter Noack with OBT dancers in the world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s Giants Before Us, one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by JIngzi Zhao.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29903179240_o.jpg?w=491&h=383&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Eva Burton and Adam Hartley in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29613743163_o.jpg?w=491&h=406&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Eva Burton in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29612412424_o.jpg?w=491&h=760&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Michael Linsmeier (top) with OBT dancers in Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere Giants Before Us one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29612412074_o.jpg?w=491&h=809&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS From left Eva Burton, Kimberly Nobriga, and Peter Francin George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29612411654_o.jpg?w=491&h=508&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Pianist Hunter Noack with Christopher Kaiser in Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere Giants Before Us one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29612411524_o.jpg?w=491&h=380&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS From left Ansa Deguchi, Peter Franc, and Eva Burton in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29610494114_o.jpg?w=491&h=650&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Makino Hildestad and Christopher Kaiser in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by James McGrew.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29596712133_o.jpg?w=491&h=375&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Jacqueline Straughan and Martina Chavez in George Balanchine’s Serenade one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29596553293_o.jpg?w=491&h=375&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS From left Martina Chavez, Candace Bouchard, Thomas Baker, and Jacqueline Straughan in George Balanchine’s Serenade, one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29596553203_o.jpg?w=491&h=375&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Brian Simcoe and Kelsie Nobriga in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29596553113_o.jpg?w=491&h=375&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Peter Franc and Xuan Cheng in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29596553023_o.jpg?w=491&h=375&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre presents GIANTS Jaqueline Straughan with OBT dancers in Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere Giants Before Us one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production GIANTS, running Oct. 8-15, 2016 Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Yi Yin](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29596552823_o.jpg?w=491&h=383&ssl=1)
![Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants Brian Simcoe and Xuan Cheng in the world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s Giants Before Us, one of three works presented in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2016 fall production GIANTS at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. Photo by Jingzi Zhao.](https://i0.wp.com/www.obt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/oregon-ballet-theatre-presents-giants_29569817814_o.jpg?w=491&h=383&ssl=1)
In the art form of ballet, there are only a few acknowledged masters whose work we consider ‘iconic.’ In this program we trace the evolution of ballet in the 20th and 21st Centuries with two truly iconic masterworks and a creation by one of the ballet world’s most sought-after artists.
George Balanchine created his celebrated Serenade in 1935 – it was the very first work Balanchine created in America and this work, perhaps more than any other, is forever linked to his legacy of neo-classical dancing infused with the romance and rigor of old Russia. William Forsythe, the American wunderkind, took Balanchine’s legacy and updated its athletic musicality to reflect an even sharper, even bolder attack on the organization of movement in space. The reverberations of Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated (1989) continue to echo anywhere ballet is performed today, and it is an enormous delight to bring this ground-breaking work to Portland for the very first time. Continuing in the theme of our evolution – we have invited Oregon Ballet Theatre’s newly named resident choreographer, Nicolo Fonte, to create the title work on this program of giants. Fonte, well-known to Portland audiences for his previous works Bolero, Left Unsaid, Petrouchka, and most recently Never Stop Falling (In Love) – which featured the band Pink Martini on stage with OBT – is creating a work that will make it clear that ballet, and your local world-class ballet company, are forever moving forward, forever looking up.