5 replies to this topic

[XTX]

If there are any Portland-area readers here, don't forget that OBT will be rehearsing under the big tent in the South park blocks starting tomorrow (Monday), August 29.

I think company class starts at 11:00; the OBT web site may have more details.

Edited on 8/29 to correct the start time.  Yes, I found out the hard way.

[lillianna]

Has there been a release of new company members and apprentices for 2005-2006.  The website shows last year's company members.

[Helene]

In the news release on the 2005-6 season, in the context of discussing Swan Lake, there was mention that the Company "will indeed add dancers to its roster," but no names, at least yet.

http://www.obt.org/d...son_Release.pdf

[XTX]

I know of a few promotions, but nothing official that I've seen, no.

[Helene]

I just received a copy of the most recent press release from OBT -- it will be posted to the site soon.

Here's the section about the roster:

This year, the OBT company will grow to 24 dancers from 21.  There are eight new dancers, four from outside OBT (*) as well as four apprentices who have been promoted (**) into the company.  In addition, there are 11 apprentices, four of whom were trained in the School (‡).  

The 2005-06 dancers:

Candace Bouchard
Brennan Boyer*
Kester Cotton
Ansa Deguchi
Daniela (Martin) DeLoe
Paul De Strooper
Damian Drake
Jon Drake*
Cameron Giese*
Steven Houser**
Yuka Iino
Gavin Larsen
Mia Leimkuhler
Valerie Limbrunner
Kathi Martuza
Anne Mueller
Alison Roper
Brian Simcoe**
Rachel Simons**
Artur Sultanov
Emily Tedesco**
Scott Trumbo
Ronnie Underwood*  
Holly Zimmerman

Apprentices:
Christopher Coffee
Carlos Cruz
James Fuller
Thomas Hirschy
Olga Krochik
Deirdre Lyons-Keefe‡
Shannon Maynor
Nancy Richer
Sam Rogers‡    
Amanda Simnitt‡
Natalie Wilson‡

-------------------------------

Here are the bios of the new dancers:

BRENNAN BOYER, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, began dancing at the age of five.  He received full scholarships to The Rock School, San Francisco Ballet School and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Upon completing his training, Brennan was invited to become an apprentice at PNB where he danced in many different ballets under the direction of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell.  His favorite works include Stowell's Carmina Burana and Glen Tetley's Rite of Spring.  This is his first season with OBT.

JON DRAKE began his training at the École de Danse in Hattiesburg, Missouri, and studied further at American Ballet Theatre, the Vienna State Opera Ballet School and the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany.  Prior to joining OBT this season, he performed as a principal dancer with Eugene Ballet/Ballet Idaho, dancing leading roles in Toni Pimble’s Peter Pan, Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Previously, Jon performed with Ballet Oklahoma, Atlantic Southeast Ballet and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf.

Born in Texas, CAMERON GIESE began her ballet training at the age of eleven in Boise, Idaho, with Lisa Moon and Jeff and Cathy Giese.  She studied for a year in Switzerland as an apprentice with Ballet Basel and attended summer programs at the National Ballet School of Canada and Houston Ballet Academy.  This is her first year with OBT

Originally from California, RONNIE UNDERWOOD received his training from Tulsa School of Ballet, Ballet Hispanico in New York City and American Ballet Theatre.  He danced as an apprentice with Tulsa Ballet Theatre and, at 19, joined Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet (now Texas Ballet Theater). Ronnie has danced principal roles in Giselle, Coppelia, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as leading roles in Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Four Last Songs, Dracula, Moonbeams, Who Cares?, Serenade and Rubies.  He also performed, courtesy of the United States Embassy, as a guest artist on tour with the critically acclaimed South African Ballet Theatre, dancing the role of the Prince in The Sleeping Beauty.  This is his first season with OBT.

[XTX]

Helene, on Aug 29 2005, 09:57 AM, said:

I just received a copy of the most recent press release from OBT

Yep, I just saw that, too, but you beat me to the forum.    Thanks for posting this, Helene!

   I was wrong about the time.  They're starting barre at 11:00 each day this week.