Cover Images, clockwise from upper left: Limón Dance Company photo by Christopher Jones; Complexions Contemporary Ballet photo by Rachel Neville; Ballets Jazz Montreal by Marc Montplaisir; Dance Theatre of Harlem by Nir Arieli
Calendar Images, clockwise from upper left: Complexions
Ballet photo by Taylor Craft, Limón Dance Company photo by Christopher Jones, Lalí Ayguadé Company photo by
Sternalski, Urban Bush Women photo by Hayim Heron, Gibney Company photo
Versa-Style Street Dance Company photo by Timothy Salaz, Dance Theatre of Harlem photo by Nir Arieli, Ballet Jazz Montréal photo by Marc Montplaisir
SEASON 28
INSPIRED BY YOU, DESIGNED FOR DISCOVERY
You spoke, and we listened! Our 2025-26 season has exciting improvements thanks to your valuable feedbackmatinees added to three shows, many returning favorites, and a blockbuster season-closing performance at the Keller Auditorium.
As we approach the United States’ 250th anniversary, we are highlighting American dance companies rich in history. Limón Dance Company (founded 1946), Dance Theatre of Harlem (founded 1969), and Urban Bush Women (founded 1984) all have compelling stories to share, just as they have fresh artistic direction ensuring the stories continue to be written.
America’s story is one of constant reinvention, especially in dance. This season we present extended four-performance runs of two more recent success stories - Gibney Company, with its constantly expanding network of international connections, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, blurring the lines between high art and popular culture in thrilling ways. Even more recently, Versa-Style Street Dance Company, returning to the Reser for a second time, represents continued discovery within the artistry of Hip Hop.
To sustain an international perspective, this year we are pleased to welcome Ballets Jazz Montréal (Canada) and Compagnie Hervé Koubi (France) back to Portland, both among the top dance companies in their home countries. New to White Bird this year is Lali Ayguadé Company (Spain), whose intimate and award-winning work Runa opens our Uncaged Series.
As the sole dance-only presenter on America’s west coast, we are elevating Portland as a destination for the world’s best dance. To each of you who supports us in this mission - thank you!
White Bird greatly appreciates the generous support of the following foundations & government arts agencies:
White Bird’s 2025-26 season is made possible with support from the Marie Lamfrom Foundation, Creative West, Trust Management Services, the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. White Bird receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded
the State of Oregon, and the City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture.
Complexions has become world-renowned for their intense physical energy, go-for-broke dancers, and spellbinding choreography, set to scores spanning all musical genres. Enormously popular with White Bird audiences, Complexions returns with a dynamic program featuring Dwight Rhoden’s “FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,” an uplifting and powerful new work set to U2 songs from their latest release “Songs of Surrender.”
“Beautiful bodies whose anatomical fluidity is a joy to watch.” - LA Dance Chronicle
Sponsored by: Darci & Charlie Swindells
WEDNESDAY | 7:30 PM
October 22, 2025
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
NEW YORK CITY
Mixed Repertoire
Founded in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey, the Limón Dance Company has been at the vanguard of American modern dance since its inception and is considered one of the world’s greatest dance companies. Hailed for its powerful physicality and emotion, the company will perform José Limón’s masterwork “A Choreographic Offering,” set to the music of Bach, as well as works by modern dance pioneer Doris Humphrey and the bold contemporary voice of choreographer Kayla Farrish.
“Limón’s works plumb the depths of human experience.” - Observer
Sponsored by: Shawn K. & Lisa M. L. Mangum
LALI AYGUADÉ COMPANY
Lali Ayguadé, Founder and Artistic Director
COMPAGNIE HERVÉ KOUBI
Hervé Koubi, Founder and Artistic Director
Photo by Luis San Andres
Photo by
THURSDAY-SATURDAY | 7:30 PM
November 13-15, 2025
Lincoln Hall, Portland State University
BARCELONA, SPAIN
RUNA
Lali Ayguadé is among Spain’s most acclaimed up-and-coming choreographers, whose career spans collaborations with dancers and circus performers across Europe. In her new duet RUNA, Ayguadé plumbs the emotional depths of nostalgia to unveil a loving relationship that is sometimes joyful and sometimes combative, but always awe-inspiring.
Sponsored by: Nancy & George Thorn
WEDNESDAY | 7:30PM
January 21, 2026
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
CALAIS, FRANCE SOL INVICTUS
Combining breaking, acrobatics, and martial arts with powerful imagery, the dancers of Compagnie Hervé Koubi defy gravity. Returning to White Bird after two previous hugely successful engagements, the company will perform Hervé Koubi’s newest work Sol Invictus, named after the “invincible” sun deity. In the choreographer’s words, “I want to talk about light, solidarity, and those bonds that united us.”
“The dancers of Compagnie Hervé Koubi could be mistaken as gods.” - The New Yorker
Urban Bush Women, one of White Bird’s most in-demand companies, was founded by visionary choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar as an engine and an amplifier for the unheard stories of Black Women+. The program of four works, collectively called “THIS IS RISK” and celebrating Urban Bush Women’s 40th Anniversary, includes powerful works from throughout the company’s history. This energetically charged evening, featuring live music, promises to defy expectations and easy categorization.
“Drew the audience to its feet in a tumultuous roar of applause.”
Gibney Company commissions and performs works by choreographers from across the United States and around the world who are committed to connecting the superhuman physicality of contemporary dance to human-centered storytelling. Performing a broad range of aesthetics and techniques, Gibney Company has an unrelenting focus on artistic excellence and social integrity. Founded in 1991 by acclaimed dance artist Gina Gibney, the company was expanded and reinvented in 2020. Now under the leadership of Company Director Gilbert T. Small II, the company has been receiving acclaim wherever it has performed.
“Strong and versatile dancers who appearto be capable of anything.”
- The New York Times
Jackie Lopez & Leigh Foaad, Founders and Artistic Directors
Comprised of committed, highly skilled dancers and educators representative of the diversity of Los Angeles, Versa-Style Street Dance Company harnesses the exhilarating energy of street dance for the concert stage. In celebration of their 20th anniversary, they will bring their newest work that celebrates West Coast Hip Hop and the street-dance styles that originated in the LA area. Versa-Style is presented in partnership with the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.
“Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe forHip Hop Empowerment.” - LA Weekly
Sponsored by: Ellen Walkley
WEDNESDAY | 7:30PM
April 29, 2026
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
NEW YORK CITY
Mixed Repertoire
One of America’s most acclaimed and treasured dance companies, Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to White Bird with an exhilarating mixed repertory program of classics and contemporary work that embodies founder Arthur Mitchell’s belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Now in its fifth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multicultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.
“All was radiance,sparkle and joy… a triumphant achievement” - The New York Times
Sponsored by: Ken & Ann Edwards
BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL
Alexandra Damiani, Artistic Director
WEDNESDAY | 7:30PM
May 20, 2026
Keller Auditorium
MONTREÁL, QUÉBEC, CANADA
Dance Me—Music by Leonard Cohen
Founded in 1972 in Montréal, Ballets Jazz Montréal is renowned for the excellence of their dancers and their collaboration with some of the most unique voices in contemporary dance. All BJM dances bring an element of humanity, fearlessness, and emotion to the intense technical skill that each work requires. Dance Me is a full evening work inspired by the profound artistry of Québécois musician Leonard Cohen (19342016). Dance Me - Music by Leonard Cohen —co-choreographed by Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Ihsan Rustem— combines Cohen’s music with vivid lighting design and videography for an unforgettable experience.
“Pushes contemporary dance closer to the level of a rock concert or big-budget musical.”
- Ottawa Citizen
Photo by Marc Montplaisir
WHITE BIRD LOVES OUR COMMUNITY
White Bird strongly believes that community involvement is as vital as the dance performances we put on Portland’s stages. We work with local studios, schools, and community partners to create experiences that are meaningful and affordable for all.
Community Workshops
White Bird partners with local schools and studios to provide dance workshops to hundreds of students each year. These workshops are led by highly trained visiting artists from around the world, and provide invaluable experiences to students of all ages.
Building Community Around Values
White Bird strives to apply our values in all aspects of our presenting, and beyond. We consistently build new relationships with organizations and individuals throughout Portland, and work with them to ensure that White Bird spaces remain respectful, inclusive, and safe for everyone.
NEST ( No Empty Seats Today)
Created in 2002, NEST is an equity initiative wherein White Bird partners with many nonprofit health and human service organizations in Portland. With support from our audience and local foundations, NEST annually provides the clients of our partner organizations with over 400 tickets in prime seats in the form of subscriptions and unused tickets donated by White Bird ticket buyers.
White Bird thanks all our Community Partners:
BODYTRAFFIC workshop with Trey McIntyre held in partnership with OBT.
“Dying Swan” workshop with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo held in partnership with Friendly House.
White Bird’s NEST Partners at Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performance - February 2025.
Photo by Katelyn Ker
Photo by Katelyn Ker
JOIN THE FLOCK Support Excellence in Dance
HELP US CONTINUE TO BRING THE WORLD’S BEST DANCE TO PORTLAND - PLEASE DONATE AND JOIN OUR FLOCK!
Did you know that ticket sales cover less than half of White Bird’s total budget? We rely on support from individuals, as well as local businesses and foundations, to continue our extensive and longstanding dance programming, community outreach, and equity initiatives. Although we continue to contend with rising production costs and decreasing public support for the arts, we are optimistic about what we can achieve with your help.
Together, we can make dance engaging, equitable, and accessible for everyone.
YOUR GIFT, OUR ACTION
Your donation enables us to act on our six core values , aligned with our Equity Commitment, bringing positive change to our local community as well as the greater dance world:
Excellence in Performance
We compensate highly skilled dance artists and crew fairly for their hard work.
Accessibility and Inclusiveness
We provide thousands of low-cost and no-cost tickets annually to Portlanders in need.
Generosity of Spirit
We go above and beyond to ensure both audiences and visiting artists have the best possible experience.
IT’S EASY TO DONATE
Diversity in Movement
We present the dance you know and love, plus the dance you don’t know you love...yet.
Dedication to Community
We arrange local community engagement opportunities for each and every artist we bring to Portland.
Fiscal Responsibility
With good governance and your support, White Bird continues to operate sustainably.
• Include a donation with your ticket purchase or subscription renewal
• Give online, anytime, at whitebird.org/donate
• Call us at (503) 245-1600
All donations, including in-kind gifts, are welcome and tax-deductible. You may also designate your gift to be used for a special purpose, including:
White Bird’s Walter & Paul Founders Fund
Help ensure White Bird’s future. The majority of your gift supports our future programming and operations, with a portion going to underwrite the commissioning of new work.
Show & Series Sponsorship
Enjoy great benefits including tickets, name/logo on our marketing materials, and more.
NEST (No Empty Seats Today)
Sponsor a NEST subscription, or donate your unused subscription tickets for redistribution to our NEST partners.
And More!
Visit whitebird.org/donate
WHY SUBSCRIBE?
GREAT SAVINGS – Save 30% or more when you subscribe, compared to the single ticket price.
BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE – Subscribers get the best available seats, well in advance of the public on-sale dates.
FREE & EASY EXCHANGES – Free exchanges between dates and shows, while supplies last.
PRE-SALE ON SINGLE TICKETS – Purchase additional tickets at subscriber prices before shows go on sale to the public.
EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE
ONLINE – whitebird.org/subscribe
MAIL – Contact boxoffice@whitebird.org if you would like a paper renewal/ subscription form. Completed paper forms should be mailed to White Bird, P.O. Box 99, Portland, OR 97207-0099
WE DO NOT TAKE SUBSCRIPTION ORDERS OVER THE PHONE
VERY IMPORTANT
• Accessible seating is available. Please contact boxoffice@whitebird.org if you have questions or to share your specific accessibility requirements.
• Dates, artists, and programs are subject to change.
• Subscription seat maps can be viewed at whitebird.org/venues
ORDER PROCESSING – WHAT TO EXPECT
• You will receive an email confirmation immediately upon your purchase. After our box office team seats you, you will receive another confirmation with your seating information.
• Based on the delivery method you select, tickets will be mailed or emailed approximately 5 weeks before the start of the season.
• Subscription orders are non-refundable.
SINGLE TICKETS ON-SALE
Single tickets will be available for public sale on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
QUESTIONS? – Contact the White Bird Box Office at (503) 245-1600 or boxoffice@whitebird.org
