Search Dance in Portland
Portland's remarkably active dance scene ranges from ballet to contemporary work.
For a city its size, Portland has a remarkably active dance scene that fills the city’s dance card with everything from ballet concerts of “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker” to studio productions of the freshest and grittiest contemporary work by local choreographers. If a theme runs through all of this movement, it’s innovation — Portland dance has a restless, inventive spirit that welcomes collaborations with other art forms and often spills beyond the generally accepted boundaries of “dance.” Read on to learn more about the city’s expansive dance scene, then head to our events calendar to discover even more things to do on your next trip to Portland.
International Talent
The primary presenter of dance artists from outside the city is White Bird, which has brought mostly modern dance to the city since incorporating in 1997. White Bird’s tastes generally run to the more experimental and contemporary part of the dance spectrum, especially in its Uncaged programs at Lincoln Hall at Portland State University, but even its larger shows at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, or just next door on one of the stages at Antoinette Hatfield Hall, often feature advanced European and Asian choreographers, alongside their American peers.
Ballet
The largest ballet company in the city is Oregon Ballet Theatre, which has managed to operate at a quality level far above its budget, thanks to its artistic directors James Canfield and Christopher Stowell since its emergence in 1989 from a merger of two smaller companies. Under Stowell, the company focused on sharpening its Balanchine core and adding lots of neo-classical and story ballets to its repertoire. Its new artistic director Kevin Irving has worked with many of the most interesting dance choreographers in the world and is expected to bring a more modern feel to the company. Catch OBT’s Nutcracker every December at the Keller Auditorium.
Choreographer Sarah Slipper founded Northwest Dance Project in 2004 with the idea of developing a core of athletic dancers flexible and creative enough to work with a variety of choreographers on brand new work, usually ballet-based but contemporary in look. That’s exactly what she’s done as the company has bent itself around dozens of new dances made by choreographers from around the world, attacking each with enthusiasm and skill.
Modern Acrobatics
BodyVox leans to the more modern part of the dance world, and its work has a theatrical often humorous side, if not downright antic. Founders Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland bring the acrobatics of their work with Pilobolus, Momix and Iso to BodyVox, and they’ve developed a company of dancers able to meet the movement demands without neglecting the connection to the audience.
Portland has several companies that have acrobatic or aerial tendencies; A-WOL Dance Collective, Polaris Dance, Night Flight, each with a different emphasis. And these venerable companies, Do Jump!, Afterglow Aerial Arts, and Imago, aim their acrobatic theatrics at the younger set.
New Modern
Linda Austin’s Performance Works NorthWest plays a similar role, gathering new dancers and choreographers and combining them with experienced hands — such as Austin herself. Providing a place for new dance for over twenty years, PWNW hosts an annual artist residency that showcases experiments in dance and performance at this Foster-Powell neighborhood studio and venue.
Providing a stage for multi-cultural, multi-genre, and multi-disciplinary performance-based works in Central Eastside, New Expressive Works, founded in 2012 by Subashini Ganesan Portland’s first Creative Laureate, has become a space for conversation and innovation in the performance art scene in Portland.
Where to See Dance in Portland
Head to these local performing arts companies to witness some of Portland's and the world's best dancing.
Hit the Dance Floor
When the mood for dancing strikes, locals head to these local bars and dance nights.
Dance Clubs
Portland may be best known for its indie music, but with a wide variety of dance clubs, the city has a rhythm that'll get just about anyone moving.
Young, Gifted and Brown Fosters Community Through Dance in Portland
Y.G.B. aims to create healing spaces for Black and Brown Portlanders through music, dance and collaborative experiences.
Live Music Venues in Portland
From gritty rock to velvety jazz, Portland’s live music scene offers tunes for all types.
Upcoming Dance Performances
Check out our editor's top picks for upcoming dance performances.
Flamenco Fridays
Bar Vivant welcomes back Espacio Flamenco for a vibrant evening of live flamenco guitar, singing and dance in the outdoor courtyard. Beverages and tapas will be available for purchase. All ages. Tickets include: A complimentary glass of wine or NA beverage at the door.Advanced reserved seating (no need to come early to save your seat)One…
Portland Hip Hop Week
Portland Hip Hop Day was founded in 2015 as a result of a collaborative effort to address concerns and conflicts between the Portland Hip Hop scene and various agencies representing the City of Portland. As the result of continued relationship building and successful annual events between the city and the Hip Hop community, in 2019…
Swan Lake
Experience the legendary love story. A part of the World Ballet Series, Swan Lake will be performed live by a multinational cast of 50 professional ballet dancers, gathered to bring the most famous love story to life. See the iconic “Dance of the Little Swans,” count the 32 fouettés performed by Odile, and immerse yourself…
Parsons Dance
Artistic Director: David Parsons Fiery energy, dynamic movement, vibrantly alive dancing. These are the hallmarks of Parsons Dance, which made a triumphant long-awaited return to White Bird in Spring 2019. This gifted company of highly athletic dancers will perform an intensely musical program featuring classic Parsons work like “Caught” and “The Envelope.”
Portland Dance Film Fest
Portland, OR – Portland Dance Film Fest is a multi-day festival running October 7-9, 2022. Join for 29 spectacular PDFF Picks, curated from 12 different countries. Each screening is a crafted evening of original and diverse dance film.
FOOLISH MORTALS: A Haunted Mansion Burlesque Cabaret
When hinges creak in a doorless theatre, and strange and frightening sounds echo from the stage — that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their bump and grind with ghoulish delight, in search of foolish mortals like YOU to join their ninety-nine happy haunts at a cabaret like no other! . Welcome to…
Midsummer Night's Dream
Magic and merriment abound in our joyful fall program. As the curtain rises, we meet a family of circus performers in the OBT premiere of Christopher Bruce’s Hush. This lighthearted and affectionate celebration of family life is imbued with Bruce’s unique physicality and warm humanity. Intensely musical and athletic, Hush will lift your spirits high….
Shen Yun
Shen Yun invites you to travel back to the magical world of ancient China. Experience a lost culture through the incredible art of classical Chinese dance, and see legends come to life. Shen Yun makes this possible by pushing the boundaries of the performing arts, with a unique blend of stunning costuming, high-tech backdrops, and…
Ronald K. Brown/Evidence
One of White Bird’s most cherished choreographers, Ronald K. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the striking beauty of traditional African dance forms and rhythms. His company EVIDENCE will perform an exhilarating program that features Brown’s newest work, “Equality of Night and Day,”…
La Sylphide
August Bournonville’s La Sylphide is a beguiling blend of storytelling and dance, complete with vengeful witches and magical forest spirits that will win your heart. On the morning of his wedding to his sweet fiancée Effie, James awakens from a dream to see a mysterious and tantalizing Sylphide before him. Bewitched and mesmerized by her…
A.I.M by Kyle Abraham
Led by award-winning choreographer Kyle Abraham, A.I.M brings together dancers of diverse backgrounds and disciplines to delve deeply into personal history and identity. They will perform Kyle Abraham’s new evening-length work, An Untitled Love, co-commissioned by White Bird. Drawing from the catalogue of Grammy Award-winning R&B legend D’Angelo, this creative exaltation pays homage to the…
Ballet Hispánico
Artistic Director: Eduardo Vilaro Since 1970, Ballet Hispánico has explored Latino cultures through innovative dance by today’s outstanding choreographers from Spain and Latin America. One of the most popular companies White Bird has presented, Ballet Hispánico, returns with a full-evening work by Colombian-Belgian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, who will pay tribute to Eva Perón better…
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Artistic Director: Michael Novak Now under the vibrant artistic leadership of Michael Novak, for over 65 years, the Paul Taylor Dance Company has been an American treasure. The first dance company to launch White Bird in October 1997, there is no more fitting company to help celebrate our 25th anniversary. The program will include classic…
Firebird
After 15 years, OBT is thrilled to return its highly acclaimed commission of Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird to the stage. Based on the treasured Russian folktale of young Prince Ivan, his two loves, and a sorcerer whose evil spell must be undone, Possokhov’s Firebird is visually and musically arresting — a delight for audiences of all…
MOMIX
Artistic Director: Moses Pendleton ALICE Travel down the rabbit hole with Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, Alice. MOMIX is internationally renowned for performing works of astounding inventiveness and physical beauty. With Alice, based on Lewis Carroll’s masterwork, Pendleton states, “I want to take this show into places we haven’t been before in terms of dancing, lighting,…
Made in Portland
In a season of stories told through dance, we finish by creating our own. For this program we ask, “What have you heard about Portland, and how does it make you feel?” To explore this theme, we have commissioned renowned choreographers from near and far to share their vision of our city: Princess Grace Award…
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