Art in Motion: Ballet in Central Oregon

Arts & Culture

Art in Motion: Ballet in Central Oregon

By Casey Hatfield-Chiotti, October 21, 2025

Tentacle Tribe performs “Prism.”

The goal of classical ballet is to appear effortless, but it requires decades of consistent practice and the ability to push the body to its limits. Classical ballet can also be the foundation for innovative contemporary choreography that expresses a dancer’s athleticism. [Photo above: Tentacle Tribe performs “Prism.” By: Elias Djemil]

Presenting Innovation in Ballet

Certain choreographers—think work by Portland-Indiana born Twyla Tharp or French-Algerian choreographer Hervé Koubi—showcase more physicality and intentionally, according to Peter Franc, a principal dancer at several prestigious ballet companies and the former artistic director of Oregon Ballet Theatre. “A dancer’s body is as much athlete as artist. Making dance exciting and changing what people think they know about dance, that’s something that I think I’m good at,” said Franc. He believes Central Oregon is ready for more boundary-pushing dance.

Franc’s new presenting dance company, Ballet Bend, will debut in 2026 and showcase contemporary, classical and traditional dance from around the world that advances the art form through thought-provoking choreography. HUMANHOOD, a contemporary dance company out of Birmingham, England, and led by internationally known choreographers Julia Robert and Rudi Cole, will headline performances at the Tower Theatre in early fall 2026. Their immersive soundscapes and lighting enhance movement that is fluid, precise and rhythmic.

Peter Franc, founder of Ballet Bend | Photo by Trey McIntyre

“Certain combinations of work are relevant, exciting and more modern than people think,” said Franc, who has a background in both classical and contemporary ballet.

“There’s a culture-share component,” added Franc. The dancers and choreographers will stay in Bend for a week or two, offering classes and demonstrations in addition to performances. Franc has seen firsthand how dance can flourish in a mountain community—he and his wife met while living and dancing in Aspen, Colorado. Performances brought to town by Ballet Bend will always be bold and innovative, something Franc believes will work well in a similarly active community.

“That combination of athlete and artist doesn’t just get me excited, but gets audiences excited,” said Franc.

Central Oregon School of Ballet. Photo by Timothy Park Dance Photography

Longstanding Dance Traditions in Central Oregon

Home to several ballet schools and on the circuit of many professional touring companies, Central Oregon hosts ballet performances throughout the year, from “Swan Lake” at the Tower Theatre this fall, to multiple productions of “The Nutcracker.” Bend’s proud ballet tradition dates to the early 1980s when Sarah and Zygmunt Sawiel, professional dancers who met in Germany, moved to Bend and founded Central Oregon School of Ballet in 1981. Joshua D. Deininger and Elizabeth Voiles, a husband and wife team, took over the school in 2018—Voiles grew up in Bend and trained at Central Oregon School of Ballet. The school’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” is celebrating its 39th year this winter and includes community volunteers, professionals and young dancers who fill out other roles, including a festive party scene.

At Académie de Ballet Classique, dancers progress through ballet levels in a sequence adhering to standards for dance set by UK-based Royal Academy of Dance. Founder Valerie Holgers has devoted her life to instructing ballet which, she said, teaches children accountability and mental endurance. Académie de Ballet Classique’s annual production, “The Nutcracker: A Child’s Tale,” composed entirely of students, will return to the Tower Theatre with four performances on November 29 and 30.

While viewers might notice new costumes and updated choreography to highlight dancers’ abilities, both Central Oregon School of Ballet and Académie de Ballet Classique said the Nutcracker’s magic lies largely in giving audiences what they’ve come to expect. Still, these local performances demonstrate why it’s important not to outsource arts and culture to bigger cities.

“It’s an identifying cultural mark of who we are and the values that we have,” said Deininger. “We want to continue to produce high-caliber performances that are unique to the area.” See more at @balletbend, centraloregonschoolofballet.com, and abcbend.com.