The Portland Ballet makes big move, names George Balanchine protégé as artist-in-residence

The Portland Ballet has performed many of John Clifford's works over the years.

Now, the ballet and its performers get to work with Clifford many days in the coming year.

The Portland Ballet has named the acclaimed choreographer as its artist-in-residence for the 2024-2025 season. Renowned as George Balanchine’s protégé, Clifford brings a wealth of experience and creativity to TPB, further enriching its artistic programming.

Clifford will teach, choreograph, and stage ballets from the Balanchine Trust for TPB students. Clifford had danced professionally with TPB co-founders, Artistic Director Nancy Davis and Executive Director Jim Lane. In the past 23 years, Clifford has returned to TPB to teach and choreograph such works as "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "The Enchanted Toyshop" and "A Christmas Carol," among others.

“We are so excited to bring John Clifford to The Portland Ballet for this residency,” Davis said. “John played an integral role in my professional ballet career, and since TPB opened its doors in 2001, John has played a key role as artistic advisor, choreographer, and repetiteur for our Balanchine repertory. Having him here on a daily basis will bring our training program to new heights.”

“I’m most happy to return to The Portland Ballet for a longer period,” Clifford said. “This will give me more time with the talented students and I’m sure we’ll get some fabulous work done.”

A former principal dancer and choreographer with George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet, Clifford has staged Balanchine’s ballets as well as his own works for prestigious companies worldwide, including the New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Zurich Ballet, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, among others.

In 2005, Clifford’s Los Angeles Dance Theater company premiered his "Casablanca: The Dance," commissioned by Warner Bros., in Beijing, China. This was the first Western ballet company to premiere a full-length work in The Great Hall of the People and the first time Warner Bros. has ever allowed an adaptation of their most famous film.

Clifford is also the author of "Balanchine’s Apprentice: From Hollywood to New York and Back," a critically acclaimed memoir. A feature-length documentary film celebrating his illustrious career is currently in production.

The Portland Ballet has a studio at 6250 S.W. Capitol Hwy.

More: theportlandballet.org .