Portland Festival Ballet’s goal is to enrich the community by providing top quality training and performing opportunities for dancers of all ages, varied skill and commitment levels.

This is an exciting time for the staff and Board of Trustees who want to continue in the tradition of Portland Dance Academy and Pacific Festival Ballet. We honor John Gardner, Founding Artistic Director Emeritus, who is stepping down from his administrative duties but will continue teaching at the school. The newly formed academy will have a structured curriculum for all levels of students and will feed both a junior and senior company.

Many of the staff members will remain the same: Elise Ericksen will focus her attention on the lower division; Heather Unruh will work mainly with the intermediate levels and also direct the junior company; Lisa Sundstrom will oversee all levels, but concentrate on advanced levels and direct the senior company.

Quarterly progress reports and monthly individual meetings with students at the end of a class will be important tools to help students progress more rapidly. We are privileged to have Lavinia Magliocco and ex-OBT member Kester Cotton who will teach upper levels. Danny Black will direct our jazz and tap program, teaching along with Gail Black and Kate Jahnson. In addition, we will be inviting professional dancers and guest teachers to teach master classes in ballet, jazz and modern for upper levels throughout the year. The staff believes it is important for all students have a place to study regardless of their individual goals; some enjoy a recreational interest while others are more serious. All dancers regardless of personal goals will perform.

Four weekly ballet classes and one jazz class will be required for dancers who want to be in the junior company (levels 4A/B) and five ballet classes and one jazz class for those who want to be in the senior company (levels 5/6). PFB company members will represent the school at Regional Dance America festivals. Most ballet companies perform contemporary work, therefore we require jazz for dancers to learn to move in different ways.

Dancers will be invited to join the companies based on commitment. Classes missed by company members must be made up unless a dancer has a serious or ongoing injury or illness. Non-company members are not required to make up missed classes though it is suggested in order to keep up with the rest of the class. Classes must be made up at the dancer’s level or below. Taking a lower level class allows the dancer to work at a slower pace to focus on clean technique. It also provides an opportunity for dancers of different levels to learn from one another. PFB is committed to seeing dancers progress and the more classes a dancer takes the faster this can happen.

We look forward to a year of new experiences with a fresh approach!