“I love problems. Love them!” says Lauren Lovette. “The more the better. I’m kind of always in a state of curiosity. I love pushing my brain into new ideas. That’s just my personality and how I like to live.” Lauren’s emergence as a leading force in the dance world has been powered, in part, by… Read More
“There Is No ‘Fake’”: Presenting La Sylphide In The 21st Century
Frank Andersen estimates that he’s staged and produced La Sylphide more than 20 times around the globe, from Europe to North America and South America to Asia. And yet for him, the process is far from routine. “The steps are the same, the mime is the same, the story is the same. But the process… Read More
Celebrating Xuan Cheng
Oregon Ballet Theatre’s beloved principal dancer Xuan Cheng will make her farewell performances as Sylphide with long time partner Brian Simcoe in the role of James. After 10 years, she departs for Hong Kong Ballet where she will take the dual role of principal dancer and ballet mistress. Xuan joined OBT in 2011 under then… Read More
Many Paths Lead to Portland: Four Dancers’ Remarkable Tales
“I’m a firm believer in there being more than one path in the ballet world,” says Carly Wheaton. “And from what I’ve learned, there definitely is.” Carly, OBT’s newest soloist, learned early to tune into her instincts— and follow them. Captivated by a performance of The Nutcracker at age 7, Carly dove into ballet, first… Read More
At The Warehouse: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Prop Artist & Videographer Sumi Wu works tirelessly behind the scenes to bring Oregon Ballet Theatre’s set pieces to life. For Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sumi is working to rebuild and paint the original scrim from the world premiere in 2006. PART 1: PREPPING THE SCRIM You’re watching Sumi Wu re-create a scrim for A Midsummer… Read More