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Portland Ballet Presents "Current/Classic 2025"

  • Hillsdale News
  • 4 hours ago
  • 3 min read

[May 5, 2025]


Submitted by The Portland Ballet


The Portland Ballet‬‭ presents a program of classical and‬ contemporary choreography with‬‭ "Current/Classic 2025"‬‭ on May 24, 2025, at Portland State‬ University’s Lincoln Performance Hall. The performance features works choreographed by‬ George Balanchine, John Clifford, Dennis Spaight, and Nick Le-Jurica. Tickets are on sale now.‬


The Portland Ballet's "Current/Classic 2025." Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert.
The Portland Ballet's "Current/Classic 2025." Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert.

"Current/Classic 2025‬‭ is a celebration of ballet’s evolution—honoring the brilliance of‬ Balanchine while embracing fresh, contemporary voices,” said Artistic Director Nancy Davis.‬

“We’re thrilled to bring‬‭ Concerto Barocco‬‭ to Portland‬‭ audiences, alongside Spaight’s colorful‬ Crayola‬‭ , and two dynamic world premieres that push‬‭ the boundaries of classical ballet‬ technique."

‭"Concerto Barocco"‬

‭Choreography by George Balanchine | Music by Johann Sebastian Bach.

‭Balanchine’s‬‭ "Concerto Barocco"‬‭ pairs precise choreography‬‭ with Bach’s "Double Violin Concerto,"‬ emphasizing clarity and musicality. Two lead ballerinas mirror the violin solos, while the corps‬ de ballet moves in harmony with the music. Premiered in 1941, it remains a cornerstone of‬ neoclassical ballet. Balanchine’s works are rarely performed in Portland today, making this a‬ special opportunity for audiences to experience his influential choreography live.‬

"The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra"‬‭ (World Premiere)‬

‭Choreography by John Clifford. Music by Benjamin Britten‬.

Through playful and vibrant movements, the 30 dancers represent each section of the orchestra‬—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion—each instrument taking center stage in a‬ colorful display of classical music. This piece combines classical technique with a touch of‬

‭whimsy, making it a perfect introduction to the world of orchestral music for audiences of all‬

‭ages. Clifford,‬‭ TPB artist-in-residence for the 2024-2025‬‭ season, is‬‭ a former principal dancer and‬ choreographer with New York City Ballet. He was mentored by George Balanchine and‬‭ is widely‬ considered to be Balanchine's choreographic protégé.‬

"Crayola‬"

‭ Choreography by Dennis Spaight‬.

Colorful and captivating, "Crayola" celebrates the power of self-expression. Created by Dennis‬ Spaight, former artistic director of Ballet Oregon (now Oregon Ballet Theatre), the piece is‬ performed in silence, accompanied only by the rhythmic tapping of pointe shoes and American‬ Sign Language. It invites audiences into an intimate world where movement becomes voice.‬ Through this quiet intensity,‬‭ "Crayola"‬‭ explores the breadth of human emotion and‬ individual artistry.‬

"Like Water (My Friend)‬‭ (World Premiere)‬

‭ Choreography by Nick Le-Jurica. Music by‬‭ Laufey‬.


In his new work, Nick Le-Jurica explores the fluidity of time and perspective through movement.‬ Revisiting past ideas and reinterpreting them, Le-Jurica creates a piece that blends the familiar‬ with the unexpected. This piece is a striking and personal exploration of how the past‬ continually reshapes itself in the present.‬


‭Ticket and Performance Information

‭When:‬‭ Saturday, May 24 at 1 and 5 p.m.‬

‭Where:‬‭ Lincoln Hall at Portland State University,‬‭ 1620 SW Park, Portland, OR‬

‭To Purchase Regular Tickets:‬‭ Prices are $16-$40‬

‭Tickets may be purchased at‬‭ theportlandballet.org‬‭,‬‭ by emailing‬‭ tickets@theportlandballet.org‬‭,‬ or by calling 503-452-8448.‬

‭Ticket Specials:‬

Discounts are available for Groups of 10+ and Arts for All program members‬

‭Student Tickets: $10–$18‬

‭Family Package: When purchasing two adult and two or more youth tickets, all youth tickets‬

will be discounted – $7 off in Tier 1, $6 off in Tier 2, and $5 off in Tier 3.‬

Please Note:‬‭ The show is for all ages.‬


‭The Portland Ballet

‭The Portland Ballet, a world-class dance academy in Portland, Oregon, is committed to fostering‬ the future of ballet by building the next generation of dancers and audiences. Founded in 2001,‬ TPB is shaped by the vision, artistic experience, and family-centered sensibility of the founding‬ directors. Artistic Director Nancy Davis and Executive Director Jim Lane trained at the School of‬ American Ballet and enjoyed distinguished professional careers in companies throughout the‬ U.S. After retiring as principal dancers of the Los Angeles Ballet—where their partnership‬ onstage led to marriage and family off the stage—they moved to Portland, Oregon, and founded‬ The Portland Ballet. Graduates have carried TPB’s reputation for excellence into major‬ professional companies and conservatory programs throughout the U.S. and abroad.‬

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