It's been a few weeks now, but I'm still reflecting on my final performances with @oregon.ballet.theatre . It was an incredibly special weekend and I feel eternally grateful to everyone who was a part of it. I struggle a bit with the word retirement because I think that dance will continue to be an important part of my life in one way or another for as long as my legs have strength, but I couldn't have asked for a better celebration of my life onstage. Excited for the new chapters of choreography, education, and healing to come.
Photos in 2 by Jingzi Zhao @jingziphotography of Quartet for Five by @bobbijenesmith & @or_schraiber 🤍
Our dance film got selected for release at the CineVox film festival at @bodyvox ! Portland friends, come see Circularity next Friday (Jan 30) as a part of Night 1's short film selection! Ticket link in bio! Very proud of this film, adapted from my piece choreographed for last summer's Ten Tiny Dances festival. Many thanks to our incredible team for making this happen! @dillonvibes@frances_hannah@gabrielgaffneysmith@pale_violet_band
summer explorations - so glad to have been able to choreograph for ten tiny dances in beaverton again this year! and to have gotten out from portland for a bit. first photos by Samuel Hobbes @push.fold
Portland friends! Come see our new piece! Free performance at the Round Amphitheater in Beaverton, July 19 at 7pm, alongside 9 other fantastic local dance-makers. This year I've been lucky to work with @gabrielgaffneysmith & @frances_hannah and to use music by Portland's own @pale_violet_band
Hope to see you there!
After four impactful years with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Company Artist Ben Youngstone will retire at the conclusion of the 24/25 season.
“The roles I’ve gotten the opportunity to perform at OBT have been some of the most challenging in my career, and to meet those expectations I’ve had to grow significantly in my technique, movement quality, and acting skills,” says Ben. “I have so many people to thank here for believing in me and pushing me to grow past what I had once seen as my own limitations into a stronger and more fully rounded artist.”
If you attended our latest performance, OBT BY DESIGN, you’ll know that Ben also has a strong choreographic voice that he’s shared and further developed throughout his time with OBT, “I’ve loved making dances since I first choreographed a solo for myself in 8th grade to audition for the local performing arts high school. At OBT, Dani has fostered an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration in our company rehearsals that I was inspired to try to bring into the studio during my own creations for OBT2. Getting seen as an individual with contributions to bring to the work is a great feeling that I hope I can bring to the front of the room in the future.”
Ben shared “I’m most going to miss seeing all of my wonderful coworkers on a daily basis. OBT has a really special collection of personalities as well as artists who I’ve been fortunate to call my friends these for these past four years. Their talent, work ethic, and dedication to the craft inspires me every day.”
Looking towards his future, Ben says “I’m currently about 3/4ths of the way through an Agricultural Science degree at Oregon State University that I’m excited to complete and enter into that industry. I also hope to continue pursuing choreography and I am excited to find new ways to incorporate all kinds of dance into my life outside the bounds of company work.”
Thank you, Ben, for sharing your infectious energy and incredible talents with us over these past four years! We can’t wait to see what you create in the future! ❤️
📸: Photo credits continued in caption.
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