The Portland Ballet Showcases 100 Years of Ballet History
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
[April 8, 2026]
Submitted by The Portland Ballet
A Mixed-Repertoire Program of Classical and Contemporary Ballet
May 16–17, 2026 | The Portland Ballet Studio Theatre
The Portland Ballet is proud to present Current/Classic, a mixed-repertoire program showcasing the academy’s Youth Company and curriculum dancers in work spanning more than a century of ballet history. Performances take place May 16–17, 2026, at The Portland Ballet's Studio Theatre. Tickets will go on sale April 16.
Current/Classic explores ballet through three works that highlight both tradition and innovation. The program includes excerpts from Marius Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty, Dennis Spaight’s Gloria, and a new work by choreographer Nick Le-Jurica created for The Portland Ballet’s dancers.
“Programs like Current/Classic allow us to see ballet’s past and present side by side,” said Nancy Davis, Artistic Director of The Portland Ballet. “They offer a deep understanding of classical technique while also exploring the freshness of contemporary choreography. It’s a chance to connect with the traditions of ballet while continuing to move it forward.”
Sleeping Beauty (excerpts)
Choreography by Marius Petipa I Staged by Elizabeth Guerin and Lauren Lane I Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreographed by Marius Petipa to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, Sleeping Beauty premiered at the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg in 1890 and stands as one of the defining works of the classical ballet repertoire. Its grand classical vocabulary continues to shape ballet training and performance.
Gloria (excerpts)
Choreography by Dennis Spaight I Staged by Carol Shults and Lauren Lane I Music by Antonio Vivaldi
Gloria is a neoclassical work set to Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major. Known for his keen musicality and expressive choreography, Spaight played a significant role in shaping the region’s ballet community. He served as Artistic Director of Ballet Oregon—now Oregon Ballet Theatre—and later as Resident Choreographer at Oregon Ballet Theatre from 1989 to 1993.
For Those Who Wait (world premiere)
Choreography by Nick Le-Jurica I Music by Max Richter
The program also includes a new work by choreographer Nick Le-Jurica, in collaboration with The Portland Ballet’s advanced dancers. The piece brings a contemporary perspective to the evening and seeks to illuminate how commonality emerges when we turn our attention to what makes us the same, inviting audiences to recognize the shared humanity that unites us.
TICKET AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
When: May 16 & 17 at 2 and 5 p.m.
Where: The Portland Ballet, 6250 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR
To Purchase Regular Tickets: Tickets will go on sale April 16.
- Prices are $25 for adults, $10 for youth and students.
- Tickets may be purchased at theportlandballet.org, by emailing tickets@theportlandballet.org, or by calling 503-452-8448.
Ticket Specials: Discounts are available for Arts for All program members
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, 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.
When was the last time you saw ballet in your neighborhood? Let us know.
