Arthur Mitchell Balanchine’s Puck Protégé In the mid 1960s I was fresh out of graduate school and a young faculty member at Reed College. Reed treated me exceedingly well and in 1966, thanks to a young faculty development grant, I was on a research leave at the Rockefeller University in New York. The leave proved… Read More
George Washington Smith A dancer of mixed race and considered the first male American ballet star Considered one of the first male American ballet stars, George Washington Smith maintained a relationship with dance and teaching that spanned a lifetime. Before him, there is no mention of a male ballet dancer in 19th century America. He… Read More
Black History Month Spotlight: Janet Collins Written by Stephen Karakashain Her talent was prodigious. When she was about sixteen, the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo came to Los Angles, and Janet decided to audition. She was the only person of color and she lacked an accompanist, bringing instead a portable phonograph. When she finished her audition,… Read More
Pieces of Eight Choreographer Highlight: Samuel Hobbs Given the safety protocols put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, our junior company, OBT2, has adapted to the prevailing challenges by adding new projects and programming. These young dancers are approaching their work with a determination and commitment to dance and train no matter the… Read More
Damara Bennett Tribute We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Damara Bennett. To say she had an impact on OBT and our community of dancers and teachers would be an understatement. Damara helped shape the Oregon Ballet Theatre School, grow the community of ballet dancers and teachers within Oregon, and nationwide, and… Read More
