LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

BASED ON ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED AND WELL-KNOWN OF FAIRY TALES, The Sleeping Beauty epitomizes the highest ideals of classical ballet, and after an absence of an entire decade, Oregon Ballet Theatre is thrilled to return this spectacular production to our repertory.

It is no exaggeration to say that this ballet also became emblematic of the aspirations of my predecessor, Christopher Stowell, who injected into this work all the wit, nobility, and purity of classical ballet necessary to rediscover the endless genius embedded in its structure. Celebrated as a pinnacle of artistic achievement, the collaboration between Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa in Tsarist Russia lives on because of the skill of choreographers like Stowell who succeed in making the historical come alive, and in this — our 30 th Anniversary Season — we cherish and celebrate that success.

Classical ballet lovers know The Sleeping Beauty for its many highlights — the Rose Adagio, the Bluebird’s variation, and the extraordinary Wedding Pas de Deux. But what may not be obvious is the incredible strength required.

The role of Aurora is truly one of the most demanding in the entire classical ballet canon, more so because of the delicacy demanded of its interpreters. Every jump, pirouette, and balance you will see in this performance is the product of years of intense training — training that often begins in childhood. As you watch this performance, perhaps you will also notice the children of OBT School and ponder whether one or more of them could be an Aurora, or a Bluebird, in years to come.

We joyfully celebrate the 30 th Anniversary of Oregon Ballet Theatre with a new generation of artists and a new generation of fans in this production of The Sleeping Beauty. We thank all of the artists who helped us create the company you see before you today, and we look forward to many more amazing and transcendent performances ahead of us for at least another 30 years.

Our celebrations continue in April, with Resident Choreographer Nicolo Fonte’s luminous Beautiful Decay, and in June with The Americans 2.0, which includes works by icons Agnes de Mille and Twyla Tharp alongside a creation by OBT Founding Artistic Director James Canfield. We hope you follow us into these equally rich and exciting worlds and thank you, as always, for your support. Enjoy! Oregon Ballet Theatre would like to express our sincere thanks to our most generous sponsors.

SEASON SUPPORT PROVIDED IN PART BY

including support from the City of Portland, Multnomah County, the Arts Education & Access Fund. Oregon Ballet Theatre is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

a state agency

ELIZABETH POWNALL SWINDELLS Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR INNOVATION FUND

BOB SWEENEY AND CATE MILLAR Funding special initiatives to elevate OBT’s future

CORPORATE SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS