Ballet Fantastique is an American contemporary ballet company and nonprofit performing arts organization based in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 2000, the company creates and presents original narrative dance theater works blending ballet, live music, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Ballet Fantastique is a resident company at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts and presents annual seasons locally while touring throughout the Pacific Northwest and internationally.
History
Ballet Fantastique was established in 2000 by choreographer-producers and dancers, Donna and Hannah Bontrager. The organization became an Oregon nonprofit in the early 2000s and later achieved 501(c)(3) status. Its mission is to build new audiences for dance through original ballet works, provide professional training for emerging artists, and engage youth through arts education. Since its founding, Ballet Fantastique has presented more than 100 original works, including over 50 full-length narrative ballet premieres.
Based in downtown Eugene, Oregon, the company has received regional and national media attention. The Washington Post has featured Ballet Fantastique, while Eugene Weekly described it as a "bold, cross-disciplinary dance company. According to Portland Center Stage Reviews, Ballet Fantastique has "made a name for itself in out-of-the-box revisions of classic story ballets" and is "not your grandmother's Swan Lake." In recent years, Ballet Fantastique productions have been recognized with media attention and awards nominations, including regional Emmy nomination coverage in press releases.
Ballet Fantastique productions emphasize collaboration with live musicians, visual artists, and other cross-disciplinary performers. Notable collaborations include work with Michelle Ladd Williams (Lord of the Rings and Recognized Fight Director, Society of American Fight Directors) for the world premiere of Ballet Fantastique's Robin Hood & Maid Marian in 2023.
The company regularly holds auditions and attracts dancers from across the United States and internationally.
Outreach and education Ballet Fantastique's outreach initiatives are designed to increase access to dance education and performance for diverse communities throughout Lane County and the surrounding region. Programs include need-based scholarships for Academy students, integrated arts residencies in public and private schools, and community performances that bring professional dance to nontraditional venues. The organization also provides free or reduced-cost tickets for youth audiences and school groups, with the goal of introducing young people to live performing arts. Through these initiatives, Ballet Fantastique seeks to broaden participation in ballet and engage audiences beyond traditional concert-going communities.
Academy of Ballet Fantastique
The Academy of Ballet Fantastique is the official training school of Ballet Fantastique, offering year-round dance instruction for children, adults, and aspiring professional artists ages 12 months and up. The Academy provides structured programs focused on technical development, artistic growth, and performance experience.
In the Professional Training Division, dancers age 9 and up study the Vaganova Method of training in limited class sizes of 12 students or fewer. Students participate in professional performances with the company, and may audition for company positions and apprenticeships upon graduation. Academy of Ballet Fantastique coaches are experienced in the Vaganova method of training as well as in pedagogy and professional performance.
The Young Dancer Program at The Academy of Ballet Fantastique is for dancers ages 12 months and up, and follows a progressive training approach, introducing young children to creative movement, music education, and dance fundamentals.
Company repertoire
Ballet Fantastique performs all-original repertoire created in house in collaboration with a wide range of multi-disciplinary artistic collaborators. Selected list of new works created and premiered by Donna and Hannah Bontrager, Resident Choreographer-Producers for Ballet Fantastique:
TitleBasisDescription Music PremiereRefLittle Mermaid: The 80's Pop Ballet Two actsNeon Revival (LA): (JP Durand, Guitar, Tita Hutchison, Vocals, Liza Carbé, Bass, Tim Curle, PercussionFeb 28–Mar 1, 2026 Murder at the BalletTwo actsGrammy-winning Juan Luqui in his first-ever ballet scoreOct 24–27, 2024Robin Hood & Maid MarianTwo actsNottingham, composed by Liza Carbé for Ballet Fantastique (premiere)May 11–14, 2023Arrivals: RioTwo actsBossanaire and Juan Cruz Luqui (premiere), performing original music and music by Argentine composer Gustavo SantaolallaDec. 31, 2021, Jan. 2, 2022 Nevermore: Stories of Edgar Allan PoeTwo acts Liz Dorman, Dale Bradley, Sergei Teleshev play the music of YouTube celebrity composers Peter Gundry and Lucas King Oct. 25–27, 2019 Cleopatra: The BalletTwo acts Beats Antique May 9–12, 2019 Babes in ToylandBabes in Toyland (operetta)Two acts Swing Shift Jazz Orchestra play Duke Ellington's jazz Nutcracker score Dec. 10–12, 2018 Alice in WonderlandTwo acts High Step Society (electro-swing band, represented by Gravitas Recordings) May 11–13, 2018 The Legend of Sleepy HollowTwo acts Dreos + Gerry Rempel Ensemble Oct. 27–29, 2017 Aladdin: A Rock Opera BalletTwo acts Satin Love Orchestra May 12–14, 2017 Crouching Tiger Hidden DragonTwo acts DaXun Zhang + Oregon Mozart Players under Music Director Kelly Kuo Mar. 3–5, 2017 Scarlet Flower: Beauty and the Beast RetoldThe Scarlet FlowerTwo acts Trio Voronezh May 6–8, 2016 Dragon & the Night Queen: Celtic StoriesTwo acts Gerry Rempel Ensemble with Eliot Grasso Feb. 26–28, 2016 The Odyssey: The BalletThe OdysseyTwo acts Original live looping violin, Cullen Vance Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 2015 An American Christmas CarolA Christmas CarolTwo acts Halie Loren, singing original arrangements of 1940s holiday jazz standards Dec. 12–14, 2014 The Book of Esther: A Rock Gospel BalletBook of EstherTwo acts Gospel classics, arranged and performed live by Andiel Brown + the UO Gospel Singers May 9–11, 2014 Tales from the Floating WorldTwo acts Original music by Portland Taiko and Mitsuki Dazai Feb. 7–9, 2014 Zorro: The BalletTwo acts Original music by LA-based Latin world guitar fusion band Incendio and violinist Kim Angelis (premiere) Oct. 17–19, 2013 Pride and Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz BalletPride and PrejudiceTwo acts Gerry Rempel Jazz Syndicate May 4–5, 2013 (The Misadventures of) CasanovaTwo acts Antonio Vivaldi, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Jean-Baptiste de Lully, Johann Sebastian Bach Feb. 2–3, 2013 Cirque de la LuneTwo acts Original music, played live by Betty & the Boy, Troupe Carnivale, and Mood Area 52 Oct. 20–21, 2012 Cinderella: A Rock Opera BalletTwo acts 1960s Billboard hits, arranged and played live by Shelley & Cal James and the Agents of Unity Band May 12–13, 2012 Arabian NightsTwo acts Traditional, with narrations performed by Deepti Khedekar Jan. 28, 2012 "Tango Para Abel," "St. Margaret's Tears," "Illumination," "Misterioso," "Magie Noire," "Viheula," "Jaco y Paco" Two acts Original music, written and performed live by Incendio, the Latin world guitar fusion band from LA Oct. 22, 2011 Shakespeare's As You Like It: A Wild West BalletTwo acts with silent film prologue Aaron Copland, Hershy Kay, George Gershwin, Jacques Offenbach, Leroy Anderson, John Philip Sousa, Ferde Grofé, traditional saloon music, and original compositions for honkytonk piano by Jeremy DeKyle Schropp Apr. 16, 2011 "Sunday Table" Pink Martini Jan. 29, 2011 "Gaucho, De Ushuaia a la Quiaca, Pampa" Gustavo Santaolalla Jan. 29, 2011 "Jongo No. 3 Suite Brasileira" Lorenzo Fernandez Jan. 29, 2011 "Cinquenta Anos de Soledad" Original score by NW composer Charles Gurke (premiere) Jan. 29, 2011 "Dime Amor" Enrique Cardenas, arranged and performed live by Jessie Marquez Jan. 29, 2011 "Folk Suite" Traditional Irish and Celtic folk medleys Nov. 20–21, 2011 "Desperation, Obsession, Passion" John Corigliano, music from The Red Violin Nov. 20–21, 2011 "Bulgarska Tantsova Suita" Original score Jeremy DeKyle Schropp (premiere) Nov. 20–21, 2011 Tales of Beatrix PotterOne act John Lanchbery Apr. 30, 2010 Love at the Cafe TerraceOne act Original score (world premiere) by composer Jeremy DeKyle Schropp 2009"Pourquoi me Reveiller," "Je Crois Entendre Encore," "Song to the Moon," "Apres un Reve"Jules Massenet, from the opera Werther; Georges Bizet, from the opera The Pearl Fishers; Antonín Dvořák, from the opera Rusalka; Gabriel Fauré2009"Lagrima," "Adelita"Guitar meditations arranged and played live by classical guitarist John Jarvie2009"Argentinian Dance," "Besame Mucho," "Russian Ragtime," "Waltz for Nicky," "Strauss Polka," "NY Tango"Original arrangements and new work arranged and played live by Trio Voronezh2009Breakfast at Tiffany'sone-act suite of dancesHenry Mancini2009Carnival of the Animalsone-act suite of variationsCamille Saint-Saëns, played live by Eugene Symphony2008Four Novelettesone-act suiteSamuel Coleridge-Taylor, played live by Oregon Mozart Players2008Daphnis et Chloéone-act suiteMaurice Ravel2008 "La Soledad," "Brazil" Pink Martini 2008"La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30"Luigi Boccherini2007 Goldilocks & the Three Bears(suite of dances) Ferdinand Hérold, John Lanchbery 2005 Madama ButterflyMadama Butterfly Giacomo Puccini 2005 The Cakewalk BalletTwo acts Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Hershy Kay 2005 "Casta Diva" Vincenzo Bellini (from the opera Norma) 2003 "Water Music" George Frideric Handel 2003 "Chopin Waltzes"Suite Frédéric Chopin 2003
External links
Ballet Fantastique Ballet Fantastique Official Website
References