Portland Ballet Presents "Current/Classic 2025"
- Hillsdale News
- May 5
- 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.
"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.
