Canfield to leave Oregon Ballet Theatre - News - James Canfield - Brief Article

Dance Magazine, July, 2002 by Martha Ullman West

James Canfield, 42, founding artistic director of Oregon Ballet Theatre, has resigned the position he has held since 1989 when two Portland ballet companies, Ballet Oregon and Pacific Ballet Theatre, consolidated to become one company. Canfield, whose tenure has often been controversial, announced his resignation in February, saying he wishes to pursue other interests, although he isn't revealing what they might be. "I honestly don't know," he said in an April interview.

The former Joffrey Ballet dancer, who came to Portland with longtime dancing partner Patricia Miller in 1985, will stay on at OBT through next season, which ends in June 2003. The company board of directors has formed a search committee to find his replacement. The committee is headed by Michael Mooney, president of Lewis and Clark College, and Canadian executive search firm Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates will assist. Company members Alison Roper and Christopher DeMellier were elected by the dancers to represent their interests on the search committee.

"We have discussed what we might be looking for in someone to replace James," said Mooney, who is saddened but understanding about Canfield's departure. "Do we want a choreographer, someone who has led a company already, someone with a distinct style? The bottom line is the search is open and we welcome nominations and applicants." The committee hopes to complete the search before the end of 2002.

OBT has nineteen dancers and a budget of $4 million. Its 2002-2003 season, which starts this month, will offer a retrospective of Canfield's work, beginning with performances at the Joyce Theater in New York on July 23-27. The group will dance Jungle, a hard-driving rock ballet, and Coco, the third in a trilogy about tragic women, along with one other ballet. The last show of the season will feature works by choreographers commissioned and presented by Canfield for the American Choreographers Showcase, including Trey McIntyre, Peter Martins, and Paul Vasterling.