Welcome to the abundant month of April! This month features a whopping 27 dance performances or dance-related events. Can you believe it? In my 13 years at Oregon ArtsWatch, I can’t recall a DanceWatch that included this many events. Due to the large number of shows, I will be splitting this month’s DanceWatch into two articles: one now and another in two weeks. This way, the performances in the second half of the month won’t get lost in the shuffle.
This month, Oregon’s dance landscape explodes into a kaleidoscope of full-spectrum artistry, from the raw, urban energy of RUBBERBAND and Step Afrika! to profoundly personal narratives woven by Rakesh Sukesh and Olga Kravtsova.
Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Marilyn emerges as a monumental work, a full-length ballet by OBT artistic director Dani Rowe that delves into the duality of an icon, inspired by Andy Warhol’s paintings of Marilyn Monroe. Simultaneously, the Portland Butoh Festival invites us to a different kind of immersion, a four-night journey into the raw, elemental world of Butoh, with international and national artists exploring this vital post-World War II Japanese art form.
Adding to April’s richness, Tiffany Mills Dance Company presents Viola Trilogy, a West Coast premiere that weaves together the haunting resonance of seven violas with the nuanced movement of six company dancers and ten Lewis & Clark dance students. This three-part work, exploring themes of exile, refuge, and perception, showcases Mills’ signature blend of set choreography and improvisation, responding to the shifting textures of the viola score. Beyond the performances, Mills’ company offers a series of free and open-to-the-public workshops, inviting movers of all backgrounds to delve into improvisation, partnering, and repertory. These workshops offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with Mills’ creative process, which I highly recommend!
Eugene Ballet’s The Toni’s offers a deeply personal celebration, a retrospective honoring Toni Pimble’s 46-year legacy with the company and a testament to her enduring impact on the region’s dance landscape.
Closing out the first two weeks of April will be an intimate conversation with Portland dance artist Linda K. Johnson and Patricia Wong as part of Johnson’s ongoing Mycelium Dreams series that honors the city’s dance history. Wong co-founded Portland Dance Theater and was a longtime professor at Reed College, among many other contributions. This sweet gathering includes all kinds of nourishment, from dance talk to bagels, coffee, snacks, and kind people.
Through workshops, premieres, and immersive performances, this month invites us to explore the vast spectrum of dance, from its historical roots to its contemporary evolutions and the profoundly human stories it tells. I hope to see you somewhere out there amongst it all!
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Dance Performances in the first two weeks of April
- RUBBERBAND (Rubberband Dance Company) directed by Victor Quijada
- Presented by White Bird
- April 3-5
- Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton
- 6 p.m. April 2, Advanced Workshop, Open Space, 8371 N. Interstate Ave, Portland. Pay-what-you-can; Advance signup is suggested at whitebird.org.
Montreal’s Rubberband Dance Company or RUBBERBAND makes its White Bird debut with Vic’s Mix, a fusion of hip-hop, ballet, and contemporary dance choreographed by artistic director Victor Quijada. Raised in Los Angeles by Mexican parents, Quijada brings his b-boy roots into structured choreography, deconstructing dance conventions while adding raw improvisation. Set to a score that ranges from Bach and Vivaldi to beats by Jasper Gahunia, Vic’s Mix bridges street and concert dance in a uniquely electrifying performance.
RUBBERBAND will also offer a pay-what-you-can advanced workshop introducing dancers to the RUBBERBAND Method, a movement approach developed by Quijada and comprised of a unique choreographic vocabulary. Blending urban and contemporary dance, the method emphasizes seamless transitions between vertical and horizontal movement, rhythmic variations, dynamic partnering, and improvisation. It’s designed for dancers with classical or contemporary background, and builds the athleticism and fluidity needed for floor work.
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- Tiffany Mills Company, directed by Tiffany Mills
- Presented by Lewis & Clark College Theater and Dance Department
- April 4-5
- Fir Acres Theatre, Lewis & Clark College, 615 S. Palatine Hill Road, Portland
- A post-performance Q&A will follow each performance.
Tiffany Mills Dance Company presents the West Coast premiere of Viola Trilogy, three works featuring the rare pairing of seven violas with six company dancers and ten Lewis & Clark dancers. Poem from Exile, with music by Stephanie Griffin, draws from Ovid’s account of exile, and Doa Persembunyian—A Prayer for Refuge, composed by Tony Prabowo and arranged by Griffin, reflects on a woman’s suffering in civil war-torn Romania. Both pieces merge set choreography and improvisation, responding to the music’s shifting textures.
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The trilogy culminates in Vapor/Blood, a collaboration among composer Max Giteck Duykers, choreographer Tiffany Mills, dramaturg Peter Salvatore Petralia, and the performers. This work interrogates sight — both literal and metaphorical — exploring visibility, perception, and identity through layered movement, text, and MIDI viola samples. The viola threads through all three works, shaping a meditation on presence, absence, and how we are seen and felt.
Tiffany Mills Company Workshops – Free & Open to the Public
The company will also offer a series of free and open-to-the-public dance workshops exploring improvisation, partnering, and repertory. These workshops are perfect for movers of all backgrounds. Register here or contact theatre@lclark.edu.
At Lewis & Clark College Black Box
- Tuesday, April 1: 9:40-11:10am (Improvisation)
- Friday, April 4: 2-4pm (Partnering)
- Saturday, April 5: 2-4pm (Improvisation/Repertory)
At Reed College Performing Arts Building 240
- Thursday, April 3: Noon-1:20pm (Improvisation)
- Thursday, April 3: 1:40-3 p.m. (Partnering)
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- Featuring choreography by claire barrera, Jess Zoller, and Alana Rae
- Presented by Chapel Theatre
- April 4-6
- Chapel Theatre, 4107 S.E. Harrison St., Milwaukie
The inaugural Chapel Theatre Dance Residency Showcase presents three Oregon choreographers exploring memory, identity, and transformation through movement. claire barrera dissects shifts in perception with Came Back Different, Jess Zoller examines desire and illusion in Full, and Alana Rae reflects on resilience in I Remember the Sky.
The Dance Residency is a creative incubator for movement artists, providing dedicated studio time and support to develop new work. Selected choreographers explore, experiment, and refine their ideas over several months, culminating in a public showcase. This residency fosters innovation, collaboration, and artistic growth, strengthening the dance community by giving artists the space to push boundaries and bring fresh perspectives to the stage.
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Leviathan
- Presented by The Holding Project, artistic director Amy Leona Havin
- April 4 and 11
- after / time collective gallery, 735 S.W. Ninth Ave. #110, Portland
Choreographer Amy Leona Havin (who is also a writer and a regular contributor to Oregon ArtsWatch) and visual artist Ahuva Zaslavsky present Leviathan, a 15-minute, in-the-round performance exploring creature mythos and group dynamics within Zaslavsky’s sculptural world. Dancers Nailah Cunningham, Adrian Davy, Heather Hindes, and Marli Hughes perform solos, duets, and group work, showcasing Havin’s visceral, effort-based movement style, drawing from Gaga, post-modern dance, ballet, and contemporary partnering.
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Marilyn (World Premiere)
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- A World Premiere by Dani Rowe, Oregon Ballet Theatre artistic director
- Performed by Oregon Ballet Theater
- April 4-13
- Newmark Theatre 1111 S.W. Broadway, Portland
Oregon Ballet Theatre presents Marilyn, a new full-length ballet choreographed by Artistic Director Dani Rowe. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe series, the ballet explores the duality of an icon — the radiant star and the woman behind the image. Monroe’s rise to fame, glamour, and struggles unfold in a world that both adored and consumed her, reflecting the contrast Warhol captured: dazzling yet ephemeral, intimate yet distant.
The idea for Marilyn emerged after Rowe viewed Warhol’s prints in The Schnitzer Collection, owned by Portland philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer. “Seeing Warhol’s Marilyns up close deepened my understanding of his work and its resonance with Marilyn’s story,” she stated in a press release. “The vibrant prints captured her public image, while the imperfections hinted at the vulnerability beneath. This duality inspired the emotional core of the ballet: the tension between performance and authenticity, between image and reality.”
From her research Rowe crafted a libretto that explores different versions of Marilyn — the ingénue, the star, the wife, and the lost soul.
With an original score by Shannon Rugani and designs by Emma Kingsbury and David Finn, Marilyn is OBT’s first co-production (with BalletMet and Tulsa Ballet) and was created in association with the Estate of Marilyn Monroe, LLC. It also marks a milestone as a female-led artistic team brings this vision to life, capturing Monroe’s complexity through movement, music, and cinematic staging.
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- 7 p.m. April 10
- Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 N.E. Hwy 101, Lincoln City
The multi-instrumental trio Bon Débarras, which translates to “good riddance” in French, seamlessly fuses traditional Québécois music with storytelling, spoken word, slam poetry, and percussive step-dancing. The group, which consists of Dominique Desrochers, Jean-François Dumas, and Véronique Plasse, will take audiences on a high-energy journey through history, culture, and rhythm, celebrating the rich musical heritage of French Canada while incorporating contemporary global influences. Their dynamic performance will include selections from their critically acclaimed, Félix Award-winning album Repères and other original compositions that showcase their innovative approach to folk music.
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In addition to the concert at the Cultural Center, the band will also perform and speak at Lincoln City’s Taft High School on the morning of April 10, followed by a concert at Taft Elementary on April 11.
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Portland International Butoh Festival
- Presented by Portland Arts Collective
- April 10-13
- Portland Arts Collective Gallery, 122 N.W. Couch St., Portland
The Portland International Butoh Festival features workshops and four performances each night over four nights, showcasing both national and international Butoh artists. Originating in Japan after World War II, Butoh offers a distinct perspective that contrasts with Western dance traditions. Rather than striving for weightless grace, Butoh emphasizes grounded, earthy movements that encompass the full range of human experience. With its focus on nature-based movement and a rejection of conventional dance aesthetics, Butoh invites participation from people of all body types and ages. This art form stands in sharp contrast to the ethereal elegance found in Western styles such as ballet.
The performances will feature Carlos Cruz (Mexico), Vicky Filippa (Greece), Minja Mertanen (Finland), and Vanessa Skantze (Seattle), as well as West Coast dancers Amapola, Ash Pillar Butoh, Rachel Goldman, Nicole Walters, Paula Rupert, Katrina Wolfe, Emily Hagemen, Xi Jie Ng, Crystal J Sasaki, Hank Peterson, Hellen Thorsen, Piper Josephine, and Carl Annala.
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Harvest of Woman – Work in Progress
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- Created by movement director and performer Olga Kravtsova
- Fertile Ground Festival
- April 10-13
- CoHo Theater, 2257 N.W. Raleigh St., Portland
In her first full independent production since earning her MFA in Acting from the University of Washington, Olga Kravtsova presents Harvest of Woman, an immersive movement experience that explores the endurance of women’s labor — both seen and unseen. By fusing visceral movement, sound, and immersive design, Harvest of Woman offers an unfiltered look at the unrecognized and often unspoken labor of women. It reveals bodies pushed to their limits and voices lost and reclaimed; and portrays endurance as both a means of survival and an act of defiance.
The piece was created collaboratively with Jason Okamoto, who served as the co-creator and sound/video designer shaping the sonic and visual elements; Duma Du, the scenic and costume designer responsible for developing a dynamic performance space; and K.C. Renee, a pottery artist who partnered with Duma Du to craft clay installations that act as a physical archive of labor and erosion.
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Sarada Kala Nilayam & Sankara Drumming Group: Jam to Our Beats
- 7:30 p.m. April 11
- Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 E. Main St, Hillsboro
Join the musicians of Sarada Kala Nilayam, directed by Sweta Ravishankar and Sankara Drumming Group, directed by Murali Krishna and Ganesh Kumar, for an interactive evening of South Indian rhythms. This call-and-response session features the nattuvangam (cymbals), mridangams (double-sided drums), and konnakkol (recitation of rhythmic syllables), offering an immersive experience of traditional percussion and vocal rhythms. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with the music and the artists.
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- Presented by Oregon Symphony
- 7:30 p.m. April 11
- Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway, Portland
Based in Washington, D.C., and founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is a professional dance company dedicated to celebrating and preserving stepping, a percussive dance form that has deep roots in African American fraternity and sorority culture. The company’s choreography blends stepping with traditional African dances and various contemporary dance forms, and incorporates songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation, creating an immersive experience for all.
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The Toni’s with Orchestra Next
- Eugene Ballet, artistic director Toni Pimble
- 7:30 p.m. April 12
- Hult Center for the Performing Arts, One Eugene Center, Eugene
Eugene Ballet proudly presents The Toni’s, a special one-night tribute to Toni Pimble as she steps down from her role as artistic director after 46 years of co-founding and leading the company. As one of the few women to head a major professional dance company, Toni has transformed Eugene Ballet into a beacon of cultural excellence through her visionary leadership and artistic brilliance. This retrospective performance highlights five of her most defining works, showcasing the impact that has shaped the company and the arts community. In addition to building a nationally recognized ballet company, Toni has spearheaded the creation of Eugene’s Midtown Arts Center and fostered decades of artistic collaborations.
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- Northwest Dance Theatre and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony
- 2 pm and 6:30 p.m. April 12
- Portland Community College, Sylvania Performing Arts Center, 12000 Southeast, S.W. 49th Ave., Portland
Northwest Dance Theatre, directed by June Taylor-Dixon, presents Peter and the Wolf, along with additional works set to the music of Astor Piazzolla, performed to live music by the Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s MYSfits. Through the choreography of guest choreographers Makino Hayashi (Oregon Ballet Theatre) and M’Liss Stephenson, the dancers bring Peter’s adventure with his animal friends and the wolf to life.
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- Presented by The Reser
- 3 p.m. April 12
- Patricia Reser Center For The Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton
This family matinee transports you 1,000 years back to indigenous Mexico and invites you into the vibrant world of Aztec traditions, where music, ritual dance, and colorful regalia weave ancient stories passed down through generations.
Led by Aztec Dance Captain Jose Carlos, the danza azteca group Huitilocphtli — translating to “Hummingbird to the Left” or “Strength of Your Will” — shares the rich heritage of their indigenous Mexican ancestors. With the beat of huehuetl drums setting the rhythm, dancers spin, jump, and shake their ayoyote rattles, their towering feathers swaying with each movement as they point toward the Creator in the sky.
Each danza tells a story of gratitude, reminding us that we are made of water, earth, air, and fire, while also representing a battle — a test of discipline and courage. The dances embody the teachings of Tezcatlipoca, who reveals the story of your worst enemy: your own fears and self.
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because i love the diversity (this micro-attitude, we all have it)
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- Rakesh Sukesh
- Co-Presented by Portland Institute for Contemporay Art and Boom Arts
- April 12-19
- Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, 15 N.E. Hancock St., Portland
A random encounter with a camera on the streets of Tallinn, Estonia, made choreographer and dancer Rakesh Sukesh a momentary poster boy for a right-wing news channel’s campaign against immigration from Asia and Africa. because i love the diversity (this micro-attitude, we all have it) is a personal dance theater work that explores Sukesh’s experience as an immigrant in Europe.
Sukesh tells the story of his journey through semi-improvisational, trance-like movement technique, which he has taught worldwide. What happens to his body when it is rendered into a viral, racist symbol? How does it affect him and his relationship to the mostly white, deeply loving artists and students he works with? Both hilarious and thought-provoking, the performance examines immigration, art, and racial bias through dynamic movement and vibrant storytelling. The show includes brief, full nudity.
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The Princess and The Wind (world premiere)
- The Salem Symphonic Winds and Dancers Rainbow Dance Theatre
- 4 p.m. April 13
- Rose Auditorium, South Salem High School, 700 Howard St., Salem
The Salem Symphonic Winds and Rainbow Dance Theatre present the world premiere of Leroy Osmon’s The Princess and The Wind, a three-act ballet inspired by a Yucatan folk tale. Osmon’s score, conceived in 1998 and revived for the ensemble’s 50th anniversary, offers a diverse musical palette. Rainbow Dance Theatre’s eight dancers, under the direction of Valerie Bergman and Darryl Thomas, weave a narrative of inner beauty and transformation, blending modern, ballet, Afro-Haitian, and African dance styles with LED costuming and aerial choreography. April 13, Rose Auditorium, South Salem High School.
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The Mycelium Dreams Project presents Patricia Wong
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- PASTfuture LongForm Archival Conversation series with Pat Wong
- 11 a.m. April 13
- Performance Works NW, 4625 S.E. 67th Ave., Portland
- Bagels+coffee+snacks+kind people
Join Portland dance artist Linda K. Johnson for the next session of Mycelium Dreams: the PASTfuture Long-Form Archival Conversation Series. This ongoing project documents the histories of veteran Portland dancers and dance-adjacent artists. This month, Johnson will have a one-on-one conversation with Patricia Wong, who co-founded Portland Dance Theater in 1971 and was a longtime professor at Reed College. For 35 years, Wong shaped the Reed College dance department and contributed significantly to the Portland State University dance program, creating a legacy program at Reed and mentoring numerous artists throughout her 50 years in the Portland dance community.
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Conversation