WELCOME!

Welcome to the NEW School of Oregon Ballet Blog at:  http://schooloforegonballettheatre.blogspot.com/
Please bookmark this page, as there will be NO link from the OBT/SOBT website.

Beginning Monday, October 7th the old SOBT blog will not be accessible.  Our recent attempt at a secure blog only allowed access for 100 readers (my mistake, I didn't realize that 'team members' meant readers.) While the new blog will be open to the public, it is more difficult to access then the previous link posted on our homepage.

As with the old blog, you can sign up for Google Alerts.  The instructions are posted below.

We ask that all SOBT students/families begin using the new blog immediately.  In the right hand column you will find "Pages".  Under "Pages" I will post schedules and documents for easy accessibility.  Click "Return to blog" to continue reading blog posts.

Please remember to check the SOBT blog daily for updates, schedules, and news.  If you have any questions, please email Shari Goss at shari.goss@obt.org

How to Sign Up for a Google Alert

Once you are comfortable accessing the SOBT Blog, consider signing up for a Google Alert.  A Google Alert notifies you by email that a posting has recently occurred.  To sign up, follow these simple directions: 

1.     Go to this website: www.google.com/alert

3.     Enter the following information:

Search query:       “School of Oregon Ballet Theatre” (be sure to use quotation marks)

            Result type:            Everything

            How often:             as-it-happens

            How many:            All results

                  Deliver to:              Enter the actual email address to which you want the email sent

                  Click:                    CREATE ALERT

4.     Each time the School Administrator posts to the SOBT Blog, an email will be sent to the registered email address.  You can have the email sent just to your home email address or you can sign up multiple times and, for instance, have it sent to your work address as well.

Freed Pointe Shoes, Level 3 & 4

After communicating with the rest of the faculty, we have jointly agreed we would like all Level 3 and 4 students dancing on pointe to eventually switch to Freed Studio pointe shoes.  Freed Studio shoes were developed with the young dancer in mind and provide students with a stronger and more durable shoe.  We feel this will be a positive change for the younger students in the school.  The Freed Studio shoes will not only offer more support in the early stages of pointe training, they will also last longer than Freed Classic shoes.   This is not a policy to be implemented overnight.  Please continue wearing what you are wearing until they have worn out, then consider purchasing Freed Studio for your next pair of shoes.  In addition, we are in the process of trying to get a representative from Freed to come to SOBT in January to do fittings for all students.  You are welcome to wait until this time to switch shoes; this would be a perfect opportunity to be professionally fitted and make the change to Freed Studio.  We will have more information about this visit in the near future.  OBT and SOBT are very committed to Freed of London and feel strongly they provide company and school dancers alike the highest quality product currently on the market. 

Anthony Jones

School Director

A Message From Anthony Jones, SOBT School Director

Dear SOBT Students and Families,

I am glad to hear from afar the school year is off to a good, productive and busy start.  I again thank the staff and faculty of SOBT for keeping everything running so smoothly until I arrive.  As I believe most of you are aware, I am working for the Palucca Hochshule für Tanz in Dresden, Germany.  I have been working with the school in Dresden the past couple of weeks on my exit plan with a goal towards finding a solution that would give the Palucca School sufficient time to organize things on their end, while also providing me with the earliest possible start date at SOBT.  We have come to a compromise whereby I will begin at SOBT on Monday, October 21, 2013.  I will then be in Portland for three weeks up until November 9, 2013, at which time I will return to Dresden for a few weeks to wrap up my time at the school and a few projects that need my attention.  I will be in Portland and at SOBT permanently from December 9, 2013, onwards.

The teaching schedule that is in place now will remain so till the start of the Christmas holidays.  I do anticipate, however, that there will be some modifications to the teaching schedule during the three weeks I am in Portland to afford me the chance to teach as many classes as possible in an effort to get to know the students and the school better.  I will work with the faculty on this interim 3 week schedule and have it to you very soon.  Starting in January, there will be a somewhat revised teaching schedule where I will be taking over some of the classes in various levels.  It is with much anticipation I look forward to getting in the studio and beginning to work with the students of SOBT!

During the weeks I am in Portland in October and November we are planning an Open House and informal reception for all SOBT students and their families.  The date and time are yet to be determined but that information will be forthcoming very soon.  This will be a wonderful opportunity for me to introduce myself to the SOBT family and have a chance to meet as many of you as possible.

The SOBT Wellness program is an important new component for our ballet school and I strongly encourage all students, levels 3 and above, to take part in the assessments this week. I am very excited for my start at SOBT and I look forward to seeing everyone when I arrive in Portland next month.

Keep up the good work!

Anthony Jones

SOBT School Director