Portland Ovations

Portland Ovations is partnering with Flynn Center for the Arts (VT), UMass Amherst (MA), and Global Live Arts (MA), to present Complexions Contemporary Ballet, now celebrating 30 years since its founding by Ailey alums Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. Each partner site will determine its performance program based on the needs of their respective dance audiences. With intentional collaboration across organizations, together we will “raise the barre” for dance in our communities. Our shared goal is to strengthen and expand audiences of contemporary dance in a unifying effort reflective of Complexions’ mission to “bring unity to the world one dance at a time.” Ovations’ intended engagement activities include a community dance masterclass; “mock auditions,” meet-the-artist reception, a pre-performance talk with the company’s Artistic Director(s) and a post-performance discussion centering “dance as activism” moderated by Bates College dance scholar and citizen artist, Brian J. Evans.