About Me
EUGENE BALLET COMPANY, based in Eugene, Oregon, was founded in 1978. Since its inception, it has grown to become the West's busiest and most versatile dance company. Originally the vision of Toni Pimble and Riley Grannan, EBC started as an ensemble that presented regular performing seasons at local high schools. While striving to become a first-class performing arts group, EBC participated in Artist-In-Education residency programs presented in a four county area. Educational Outreach Programs quickly became one of the Company's strong points. When the Hult Center For The Performing Arts Center Ticket Office was due to open in 1981, EBC hired professional management. Now able to focus strictly on artistic direction, Pimble and Grannan combined their talents with classic ballets resulting in more professional ballet productions. In the next few years, EBC incurred cost overruns due to the expense of competing favorably with touring dance companies at the newly opened Performing Arts Center. In 1985, Eugene Ballet Company initiated an austerity program that included recycling repertoire and limited touring activity. Riley Grannan became the full-time Managing Director and with the help of community involvement, the following seven out of eight years resulted in budget surpluses.Under the Artistic Direction of Toni Pimble, this 20-member ensemble performs a blend of classical and contemporary works, along with educational programs seen by an audience of 75,000+ in travels covering an average of 25,000 road miles annually. EBC is one of only two northwest companies on the roster of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) touring program which has, for the past six years, been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Company Program.An active touring program, recognized by the UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY (USIA) International "Arts America" touring roster, included a tour to Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Syria, Tunisia and Jordan in the summer of 1995. Other international tours have included two tours to Taiwan, sponsored by Arts Formosa, the first undertaken by a northwest arts organization. This tour was highlighted by sold-out performances at the 2,500-seat National Theatre in Taipei, one of the world's finest new theaters. Additionally, EBC performed in six other cities in the Republic of China.The EBC presented over 100 performances and educational services in 36 states and Canada during the 1995/96 performing Season. That same year, the EBC was honored with the Oregon Governor's Arts Award, the first ever for a dance company.Educational programs are also a focus of EBC activities, including affiliations with Young Audiences Inc. (over 50 performances annually), the Lincoln Center Project, the Washington State Cultural Enrichment Program and Artist-In-Education programs promoted through local and regional arts councils.The EBC repertoire consists of many full length ballets ranging from classical ballets from the Romantic period, such as Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty , to more contemporary pieces, such as Pimble's Alice In Wonderland, Children of the Raven and Charles Bennett's Dracula . EBC presents many half-program pieces choreographed by Pimble and other well-known choreographers including Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Lynda Martha, Bruce Marks, Charles Bennett and Vasilli Sulich.The Eugene Ballet Company continues to provide quality professional dance performances and innovative educational services to a broad-based audience in Oregon and throughout the U.S. Eugene Ballet Company has gained a loyal following from dance fans everywhere. EBC has set a high standard in the performing arts, differentiating itself among dance companies in the west and nationwide with its ability to present its outstanding work and educational services in both rural and urban communities.Information from www.eugeneballet.org
