Les Watanabe
Les Watanabe received his B.F.A in dance from Calif. Institute of the Arts and his M.F.A from UC Irvine as a Chancellor Fellow.
His professional career spans 35 years. He began teaching in Portland from 1978-1980 giving master classes at the Reed College summer workshops and also as an Artist-in Residence at PSU and creative movement for the Vancouver School District.
After forming his own company in San Francisco, Mr. Watanabe received invitations to teach at European dance festivals in Vienna, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Paris. In the Northwest Les has taught at Univ. of Oregon (Artist-in Residence), Vancouver School District, PCC as well as numerous private studios (Northwest Conservatory of Dance, June Taylor Ballet School, Portland Festival Ballet). He taught at Arts & Communication Magnet Academy in Beaverton, OR for several years. In addition to his expansive career as a dance educator, Mr. Watanabe has had an illustrious career as a performer. He began performing with Eugene Loring’s Dance Players. He was a soloist in the dance companies of: Donald Mckayle, Burch Mann Folk Ballet, Lar Lubovitch, Joyce Trisler, Sachiyo Ito Japanese Dance Co., Alvin Ailey Repertory Co., the L.A. Jazz Company and Peter Goss and Molly Malloy in Paris, France. Performances in theatre and television include: The Who’s “Tommy”, Leonard Berstein’s “Mass”, Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim’s ”Pacific Overtures”(Broadway), the original Bill Cosby Shows, Academy and Emmy awards, Alvin Ailey Presents Duke Ellington CBS special, French Variety television, and a 1 year national tour with Rita Moreno’s “The Act”.
As a choreographer, Mr. Watanabe is known for his eclectic and stylistic dynamism. His theatrical credits include: “Pajama Game”, “journey” , “Blood Wedding” , ”Rhinoceros”, “Company” (PCPA); “Guys and Dolls”, “Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Beethoven n’ Pierott” (Denver Center); “Judy Garland” (Stadstheater-St. Polten, Austria); “Gift of the Magi” (Cleveland Playhouse). His concert work has been presented both nationally and in Europe to great acclaim. Mr. Watanabe was nominated for the American Choreographers Award for “Luna”. Most recently, his “Tablao Flamenco” and “Milonga” were presented at the National High School Dance Festivals. Last year, Les was invited by Donald McKayle to set his modern dance classic “Rainbow Round My Shoulder”for the 5th International Black Dance Festival in Paris, France. This year Les will reconstruct ‘Rainbow’ for the University of Arizona.