Interview

Isaiah Tillman Will Take His Roses Now

The burlesque superstar on how he’s endured Portland’s racism and made his way on the road to fame.

07/02/2020 By Andrew Jankowski Photography by Johnny Nuriel

Arts News

Executive Director Michael Greer to Leave Oregon Ballet Theatre

Greer assumed his post in 2017.

04/15/2020 By Conner Reed

Dance

Listening to Silence Asks Us to Lend An Ear

The new piece from Portland's Creative Laureate has been brewing since she was an undergraduate.

01/29/2020 By Conner Reed

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Nov 7–10

The Portland Book Festival returns, BodyVox tackles Shakespeare with Death and Delight, and Cherokee Nation member Brenda Mallory opens a new show at Upfor.

11/07/2019 By Conner Reed, Rebecca Jacobson, and Fiona McCann

Fall Arts 2019: Dance

Portland’s Body Home Fat Dance Blazes a Radical Path

The fast-rising company has all but abandoned the conventions of mainstream dance, with an in-progress work that explores fat bodies in motion.

08/27/2019 By Brendan Nagle

Dance

James Canfield Reimagines A Streetcar Named Desire for NW Dance Project

The Oregon Ballet Theatre founder's weird, wonderful quasi-adaptation of the Tennessee Williams classic is part of NWDP's Summer Premieres.

06/11/2019 By Conner Reed

Jazz It Up

Meet MC Shoehorn, Portland's Tap-Dancing Saxophonist

"It's a hard act to sell on the phone," says Michael Conley of his unusual schtick.

05/22/2019 By Jackson Main

Dance

Don’t Listen to Dance Snobs—Tap Still Matters

The Portland Tap Dance Fest chugs into year 4, bringing improv battles, decades of history, and legendary tappers along with it.

04/23/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Dance

April Is a Bonanza for Portland Dance Fans

From tap whiz Savion Glover to the strobe-light magic of Parsons Dance, White Bird closes its season with a bang. And that's not all that's set to hit local stages.

03/28/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Culture

At Portland’s Gender-Neutral Square Dance, You Won’t Hear “Ladies” and “Gents”

Portland’s do-si-do scene is punk as hell.

03/26/2019 By Sarah Mirk

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Mar 7–10

Ali Wong hits the Keller, the Portland Film Festival kicks off, Laura Veirs plays Polaris Hall, and Bag & Baggage revamps The Winter's Tale.

03/06/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson, Wriik Maui, and Fiona McCann

Wellness: Bust a Move

Cully's Nonprofit Workout Studio Puts Community First

(com)motion brings Portland together with dance parties, karate classes, and body-positive yoga.

01/29/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Performance

A New Portland Performance Transforms Trauma Into Art

Anya Pearson's Made to Dance in Burning Buildings is a vivid choreopoem about rape, PTSD, and perseverance.

01/29/2019 By Fiona McCann

Big Steps

A New Dance Studio Opens Its Doors in St. Johns

FLOOR Center for Dance launched in early November, with ambitious plans for newbies and professional movers alike.

11/29/2018 By Emma Luthy

TBA 2018

Our Top 6 Picks for TBA 2018

Terrorist drag, groovy chaos, a sitcom baking fiasco, and some joyous J-Setting: It can only be the Time-Based Art Festival.

09/06/2018 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Runway Show

A Fashion Show? Give Us Moore!

Ultra-talented Portland designer Andrea Moore puts on a 45-piece fashion show.

04/24/2018 By Eden Dawn

Fitness

A Northeast Portland Studio Stirs Up a Multicultural Fitness Movement

(com)motion's class roster runs from vogue dance to introductory karate.

03/22/2018 By Jagger Blaec

Fitness: Shake Your Groove Thing

7 Portland Dance Classes to Take Right Now

From hoop dance to Afro-contemporary, our city serves up a seriously sweaty slate of options.

12/28/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson

Ballet

Catch OBT Soloist Candace Bouchard's Last Sugar Plum Fairy Dance

After a 15-year career, the Oregon Ballet Theatre star is performing her last pirouette in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

12/18/2017 By Kayla Brock

Body Talk

This Fat-Centric Dance Class Provides a Safe Space to Move and Groove

Founded by Portlander KT Kusmaul, Body Home pushes the boundaries of the mainstream dance world.

11/30/2017 By Tuck Woodstock