Oregon Ballet Theatre

Oregon Ballet Theatre OBT is the largest professional ballet company in Oregon.
2025/26 🩰 World Class Art, Locally Made. We serve over 500 students a year.
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Five incredible programs including Portland holiday favorite, George Balanchine's THE NUTCRACKER! ❄️ ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
Oregon Ballet Theatre's many programs reached over 145,000 members of the community last year. PERFORMANCES
We produce a four-program season at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, with three productions in the Keller Auditorium and one in the Newmark Theatre of the PCPA.

Last year OBT reached nearly 70,000 audience members from all walks of life - from low-income school students attending at $2 a ticket, to a loyal base of returning subscribers. Our primary base is the tri-county metro area (Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington) but our audiences and donors span many states and regions. Tickets prices start as low as $17, in an effort to keep productions affordable for our community. EDUCATION & OUTREACH
OBT's Education and Outreach (EdOut) programming focuses on student learning through experience: observation, participation, and reflection. We offer 11 programs that aim to illuminate dance and its relation to other arts and academic subjects. Last season we impacted over 27,000 people, including nearly 10,000 schoolchildren, in the Portland Metro area and beyond, in communities such as Bend, Eugene, Hood River, Camas, and Washougal. While we do not track specific demographics, the majority of our programs serve schools with over 50% participation in the free or reduced-rate lunch program, a common barometer of the socio-economic status of schools and districts. THE SCHOOL OF OBT
OBT’s award-winning ballet school is recognized as one of the best in the country, providing high-quality ballet education for students from age 4 to high school. Many OBT company members began their careers at the School of OBT. 23 SOBT students currently attend on need-based scholarships, at nearly every level of the school. Alumni of SOBT currently dance at OBT, American Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, Arizona Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Nevada Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo and Israeli Ballet. COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
OBT is committed to attracting new audiences through innovative off-campus programming; last year such efforts reached an estimated 15,000 Oregonians of all ages.

05/28/2026

Give your imagination a treat! 🖍️

OBT Artistic Director and Choreographer is bringing everyone’s inner child out with her newest work, A PLAY PRETEND.

“Children rarely ask, “Is this believable?” They simply decide the floor is lava and carry on. Adults, unfortunately, become obsessed with certainty. We like answers. We like knowing. And yet, every night in the theater, a group of people step onto a stage and ask us all to believe impossible things for an hour or two. Amazingly, we do,” Dani shared.

“A PLAY PRETEND celebrates that strange and beautiful act of collective imagination, and the artists who have somehow managed to turn “playing pretend” into a profession.”

Catch this exciting world premiere this June in THE OBT COLLECTION! Tickets are almost sold out— secure your seats now at obt.org.

THE OBT COLLECTION 🌟
June 11 - 13 | Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

📸: Principal Dancers Carly Wheaton and Brian Simcoe working with OBT Artistic Director and Choreographer Dani Rowe.

Our Education and Community Engagement team just finished up residencies for the 25/26 school year! 🤩We had a blast shar...
05/27/2026

Our Education and Community Engagement team just finished up residencies for the 25/26 school year! 🤩

We had a blast sharing the art of dance with local students and helping them develop coordination, musicality, self-confidence, and athleticism.

There’s still time to book us for Summer! Email us today for on-site dance classes, residencies, and workshops at [email protected]. 🧑‍🩰

📸: ECE Teaching Artist Benjamin Youngstone working with local students by Kelsey Hennessy

Rehearsal pics just dropped! 🤩Our season’s grand finale, THE OBT COLLECTION, is a collection of bold West Coast voices p...
05/23/2026

Rehearsal pics just dropped! 🤩

Our season’s grand finale, THE OBT COLLECTION, is a collection of bold West Coast voices pushing ballet into uncharted territory.

With world premieres from San Francisco Ballet’s Davide Occhipinti, OBT Artistic Director Dani Rowe, and OBT company artist Lauren Flower, along with the return of Ben Youngstone’s UNCERTAIN GROWTH, this show is a trove of discovery not to be missed! 👏

Tickets are almost gone! Secure your seats today: https://www.obt.org/event/the-obt-collection/

THE OBT COLLECTION 🌟
June 11 - 13 | Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

📸: Photography by Blaine Truitt Covert. 1. Sophia Guasco and Lauren Flower rehearsing Lauren’s new work 2. OBT Dancers rehearsing Davide Occhipinti‘s world premiere NOSTALGIA 3. Brian Simcoe and Carly Wheaton rehearsing Dani Rowe’s new work 4. Ben Youngstone rehearsing his piece UNCERTAIN GROWTH with Ruby Mae Lefebvre 5. Brian Simcoe in rehearsals for his final performance after 22 years with Oregon Ballet Theatre

Ahead of Principal Dancer Brian Simcoe’s final bow this June, we’re taking a look back through some of the highlights fr...
05/21/2026

Ahead of Principal Dancer Brian Simcoe’s final bow this June, we’re taking a look back through some of the highlights from his spectacular 22-year career with Oregon Ballet Theatre. ❤️

“Brian Simcoe is woven into the very DNA of OBT, his warmth, professionalism, graciousness, and impossibly pure technique elevating us all to a new plane of commitment and wonder. Our longest-serving dancer departs leaving a legacy of beauty, rigor and integrity that will guide generations, and we thank him deeply for that gift.” — OBT Artistic Director Dani Rowe

“I am deeply grateful to all of you who have been following me and my career since the very beginning,” said Brian. “It has been a privilege and an honor to share my joy and artistry with you over the last 22 years.”

Witness Brian’s final performances this June during THE OBT COLLECTION and OBT ENCORE at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts. Tickets at obt.org.

📸: 1. Brian Simcoe in Nicolo Fonte’s PETROUCHKA by Blaine Truitt Covert 2. Brian Simcoe in Dani Rowe’s MARILYN by 3. Brian Simcoe and OBT Dancers in Christopher Stowell’s THE SLEEPING BEAUTY by Blaine Truitt Covert 4. Brian Simcoe in DRIFTED IN A DEEPER LAND by James McGrew 5. Brian Simcoe and Carly Wheaton in Christopher Stowell’s SWAN LAKE by Yi Yin 6. Brian Simcoe and in Ansa Deguchi James Canfield’s ROMEO AND JULIET by 7. Brian Simcoe and Jessica Lind in George Balanchine’s STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO by 8. Brian Simcoe and OBT Dancers in Darrell Grand Moultrie’s FLUIDITY OF STEEL by 9. Brian Simcoe and Kelsie Nobriga in Nacho Duato’s JARDI TANCAT by Yi Yin 10. Brian Simcoe and Eva Burton in Christopher Bruce’s HUSH by Blaine Truitt Covert 11. Brian Simcoe and Kelsie Nobriga in William Forsythe’s IN THE MIDDLE, SOMEWHAT ELEVATED 12. Brian Simcoe and singer China Forbes in Nicolo Fonte’s NEVER STOP FALLING (IN LOVE) with Pink Martini by Yi Yin 13. Brian Simcoe and Martina Chavez in Nicolo Fonte’s PRESTO by Yi Yin 14. Brian Simcoe and Jessica Lind in Gioconda Barbuto’s BRINGING OUTSIDE IN by Michael Slobodian 15. Brian Simcoe and OBT Dancers in Michael Manzanales’s MIRROR, MIRROR by Blaine Truitt Covert 16. Brian Simcoe and Xuan Cheng in Nicolo Fonte’s NEVER STOP FALLING (IN LOVE) by James McGrew 17. Brian Simcoe in Ben Stevenson’s CINDERELLA by James McGrew 18. Brian Simcoe and OBT Dancers in August Bournonville’s NAPOLI by James McGrew 19. Brian Simcoe and Xuan Cheng in Ben Stevenson’s CINDERELLA by James McGrew 20. Brian Simcoe in Nicolo Fonte’s GIANTS BEFORE US by Blaine Truitt Covert

05/20/2026

Celebrate the finale of this unforgettable season! 🍾

Join us at the intimate Patricia Reser Center for the Arts for OBT ENCORE, a festive fundraising performance.

This one-day-only show features breathtaking selections from the season, paired with glittering pre-show and post-show receptions. Mingle with OBT Dancers while you enjoy unlimited drinks from and delicious bites from .

This celebratory performance will conclude with retiring Principal Dancer Brian Simcoe’s request for his final bow, renowned choreographer Yuri Possokhov’s poignant pas de deux, LA VALSE. ⁠

We hope you’ll join us for this inaugural end-of-season celebration! ❤️

Tickets at obt.org.

OBT ENCORE 🥂
June 14 | Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

📸: Videography by Matthew Tomac and Sumi Wu. Featuring John-Paul Simoens, Charlotte Nash, Carly Wheaton, Eva Burton, Zuzu Metzler, Cyrus Shaskan, Hannah Davis, OBT Dancers, and OBT Dancers. Cover photo of Eva Burton and John-Paul Simoens by .

 is back in the studio! 👏⁠⁠Benjamin Youngstone, choreographer and former OBT company dancer, has been busy setting his p...
05/14/2026

is back in the studio! 👏⁠
⁠
Benjamin Youngstone, choreographer and former OBT company dancer, has been busy setting his piece UNCERTAIN GROWTH on the OBT dancers. This electrifying work premiered as a part of OBT BY DESIGN in 2025, and was selected to be the final piece in THE OBT COLLECTION. ⁠
⁠
Experience Benjamin's "tightly wound ballet" alongside three thrilling world premieres by bold west coast voices this June at . ⁠
⁠
Get tickets at obt.org⁠
⁠
THE OBT COLLECTION 🌟⁠
June 11 - 13 | Patricia Reser Center for the Arts⁠
⁠
📸: Former OBT Company Artist Benjamin Youngstone by Christopher Peddecord. OBT2 Dancers by ⁠
⁠

OBT ENCORE 🍾⁠Looking Back, Giving Forward⁠⁠Join us at OBT ENCORE to celebrate the conclusion of an incredible season! Th...
05/12/2026

OBT ENCORE 🍾⁠
Looking Back, Giving Forward⁠
⁠
Join us at OBT ENCORE to celebrate the conclusion of an incredible season! This one-day-only event is a festive fundraiser that features glittering pre-show and post-show receptions paired with an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime performance. ⁠
⁠
The two-hour program features highlights from OBT's recent seasons:⁠
✨ A new work by Dani Rowe created for retiring OBT Principal Dancer Brian Simcoe⁠
✨ Ben Stevenson's love-struck DRACULA pas de deux⁠
✨ Nicolas Blanc's enthralling women's dance from AT NIGHT'S DELICIOUS CLOSE,⁠
✨ George Balanchine's lively TCHAIKOVSKY PAS DE DEUX⁠
✨ Christopher Stowell's enchanting pas de deux from THE SLEEPING BEAUTY⁠
✨ Dani Rowe's potent UNSAID⁠
✨ George Balanchine's jazzy RUBIES pas de deux⁠
✨ Kangmi Kim's intimate 바다 (BADA)⁠
✨ Charlotte Nash's vivid MIDNIGHT SUN⁠
✨ Dani Rowe's exuberant salad town dance from PRINCESS AND THE PEA⁠
⁠
The performance will conclude with Brian Simcoe's request for his final performance, renowned choreographer Yuri Possokhov’s poignant pas de deux, LA VALSE. ⁠
⁠
All proceeds from this fundraiser support OBT's educational programming. We hope you'll join us for this inaugural end-of-season celebration! ❤️⁠
⁠
Tickets: https://www.obt.org/event/the-obt-encore/
⁠
📸: 1. Brian Simcoe and Xuan Cheng by Yi Yin 2. Charlotte Nash and John-Paul Simoens by Blaine Truitt Covert 3. OBT Dancers by Blaine Truitt Covert 4. Carly Wheaton by 5. John-Paul Simoens and Charlotte Nash by Blaine Truitt Covert 6. Eva Burton and John-Paul Simoens by 7. Zuzu Metzler and Cyrus Shaskan by 8. OBT2 Dancers by 9. Sophia Guasco by 10. OBT Dancers by Sorel Johnson 11. Art Sultanov and Alison Roper by Blaine Truitt Covert⁠
⁠

OBT2 is headed to Klamath Falls, OR! 🩰Join Oregon Ballet Theatre's second company at The Ross Ragland Theater for a week...
05/08/2026

OBT2 is headed to Klamath Falls, OR! 🩰

Join Oregon Ballet Theatre's second company at The Ross Ragland Theater for a weekend of special dance workshops and thrilling performances.

OBT2 Director Dominic Walsh will be teaching ballet and contemporary dance workshops on Saturday, May 16th. Open to intermediate/advanced dancers ages 13 - 23.

OBT2 will be bringing you works by legendary dance makers that you don’t want to miss! Plus, meet the dancers and grab a photo after the show:

✨️ May 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM
✨️ May 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Buy one ticket, get one free by calling The Ross Ragland Theater box office at 541-887-8630 or stopping by the box office on the day of show.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

📸: Elliana Kluherz by Jingzi Photography

After four spectacular years with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Principal Dancer Carly Wheaton will retire at the conclusion of...
05/07/2026

After four spectacular years with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Principal Dancer Carly Wheaton will retire at the conclusion of the 25/26 Season.

Carly joined Oregon Ballet Theatre as a Soloist in 2022, before being promoted to Principal Dancer in 2023 following a transcendent performance as Odette/Odile in Christopher Stowell’s SWAN LAKE.

“Carly is truly one of a kind. Her range as an artist is vast— a firecracker one moment, soft and sinewy the next. Just as importantly, her kindness, sincerity, and warmth shine through in everything she does. She has been an extraordinary role model for our dancers and a deeply valued member of this community,” — OBT Artistic Director Dani Rowe

“Thank you to this incredible OBT community. This organization is something special, and it’s been a gift to be a part of it,” says Carly. “I’ll miss the daily inspiration I feel dancing alongside my amazing colleagues. My heart is full of gratitude for every moment and person who made my time here unforgettable.”

Thank you, Carly, for sharing your effervescence and thoughtful artistry with us over these past four years! ❤️

Witness Carly’s final performances this June during THE OBT COLLECTION and OBT ENCORE at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts. Tickets at obt.org.

📸: 1. Carly Wheaton and OBT Dancers in Tiit Helimets and Dani Rowe’s GISELLE by James McGrew 2. Carly Wheaton in George Balanchine’s TCHAIKOVSKY PAS DE DEUX by 3. Carly Wheaton in Tiit Helimets and Dani Rowe’s GISELLE by James McGrew 4. Carly Wheaton in August Bournonville’s LA SYLPHIDE by Blaine Truitt Covert 5. Carly Wheaton and Brian Simcoe in Christopher Stowell’s SWAN LAKE 6. Carly Wheaton with OBT Dancers in Dani Rowe’s WOODEN DIMES by Blaine Truitt Covert

05/07/2026

Finishing the Line 👏

Take a look into our men’s class with OBT2 Director Dominic Walsh. The OBT2 program features a full-day of classes and rehearsals with individual guidance to successfully facilitate the transition from student to professional dancer.

OBT2 is seeking additional flat dancers for the 26/27 season.

Learn more and submit your audition: https://www.obt.org/pre-professional-division/

P.S. Experience the talents of OBT2 on tour in your own community! See the remaining OBT2 Spring tour dates: https://www.obt.org/obt2-tour/

📸: OBT2 Director Dominic Walsh working with OBT2 Dancers

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720 S Bancroft Street
Portland, OR
97239

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