OIBA kicks off Sugarplum Season

The dancers of Oregon International Ballet Academy, fresh from a tour of China and Japan, return to The Reser with their version of "The Nutcracker" Nov. 23 and 24.

November 21, 2024

Oregon ArtsWatch

Dance

Oregon International Ballet Academy's "The Nutcracker" will play Nov. 23 and 24 at The Reaser in Beaverton. Photo courtesy OIBA. — Oregon International Ballet Academy’s “The Nutcracker” will play Nov. 23 and 24 at The Reaser in Beaverton. Photo courtesy OIBA.

If it’s late November, it must be Nutcracker time. And Oregon International Ballet Academy kicks off the sugarplum season with the return of its version of the holiday ballet classic, which will run for two performances at Beaverton’s Patricia Reser Center for the Arts — at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nove. 24. Ticket information is here.

OIBA was founded by former Oregon Ballet Theatre principal dancers Xuan Cheng, who is artistic director, and Ye Li, who is executive director. Cheng is also ballet master at Hong Kong Ballet. The company had a highly successful tour of China and Japan this summer, during which it took first prize overall among 140 competitors in China’s Rising Star Dance Competition.

OIBA’s version of The Nutcracker runs about 90 minutes, with one intermission.