Artistic Director>> ROBERT GUITRON

Collaborators

John Bacone, Artist
John Bacone is a sculptor, painter, animator, and musician whose visual work ranges from abstract forms to pop-up cards. He taught in the Manhattan Art Project for three years, before moving to Portland two years ago. Since then he has completed works for the Indianapolis Zoo and begun working with SoundView Recording Studio. Introduced to Polaris Dance Theatre by his wife, M’Liss Stephenson, John has enjoyed the opportunity to work for them behind the scenes - as a stagehand, editing video and music, and working on sets since it beginning in 2002.

Michael Allen Harrison
Michael Allen Harrison is a man of extraordinary talents. Producer, Composer, Arranger and Concert Pianist. Michael's unique brand of music ranges from movie scores to passionate arrangements for piano, orchestra, ballet, jazz, fusion, New Age, Broadway Musicals and Adult Contemporary.
Since his professional debut in 1984, Michael Allen Harrison has gained notoriety with his well loved concerts and popular recordings. He has released over 30 albums worldwide and is by far one of the most recognized, loved and sought after musicians from the Pacific Northwest.www.mahrecords.com

Midori Hirose, Artist
Midori Hirose is a portland native. She has a background in installation artist, sculpture and early childhood education. The basis of her work deals with the surreal design inspiring fantasy compelled with serene nature scenes. She enjoys expressing and manipulating such materials as astroturf, glitter and faux fur to express and alter the beauty and essence of nature. Her work has been shown in such places as Basil Hallward Gallery, Motel Gallery, Modern Zoo, Tube, PSU, and PNCA. midorihirose@excite.com

Brian McDonnell, Photographer
"I have had the privilege of working with this fabulous dance company for the past couple of years. I have had the opportunity to witness it all, from the first days of learning a new program, all the way through to the fabulous finale. The experience has opened my eyes to the incredible art of dance. ...My job as a photographer is to capture the spirit of the moment which remains long after the moment is gone. As memories fade, a single photograph can instantly bring back every feeling and emotion with clarity not found in any other medium." -Brian McDonnell, BMAC-Photography www.bmac-photo.com

Bonnie Merrill, Guest Choreographer
Bonnie Merrill was a founding member, performer, and choreographer for Portland Dance Theater and The Company We Keep, a company formerly in residence at Portland State University where she was a faculty member. Bonnie is also the recipient of an Oregon Governor’s Art Award. “I thank each dancer for the exchange of creative energy which fueled our shared passion for dance, as relationships were formed and reformed. It was a delight.”

Josie Moseley, Guest Choreographer
As a teacher and choreographer, Ms. Moseley explores movement that is expansive, passionate, and humanistic. Her work continues to be performed both nationally and internationally. She is currently an independent choreographer and teaches modern dance for Oregon Ballet Theatre. Her Intermediate/Advanced Modern dance class is held on Mondays at 9:30am at OBT 818 S.E. 6th Avenue.

Mary Oslund, Guest Choreographer
As a choreographer, teacher and performer, Mary Oslund is one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading dance artists. Throughout her career, she has advanced the discipline of contemporary dance through the exploration and creation of new work with choreography marked by compelling and expressive physicality, movement invention, specialized group work, and a unique approach to partnering.Oslund's teaching career has included serving on the faculties of Reed College, Lewis &Clark College, the University of Oregon, and Portland State University. She founded and directed Dance Works Studio in Eugene, Oregon and co-founded and now co-directs Conduit studio in Portland, both of which have provided a home base for Oslund+Company/Dance.

Eric Skinner, Guest Choreographer
Originally from Muncie, Indiana, Eric Skinner has been working on the West Coast as both a performer and choreographer for over eighteen years. Eric received his B.A. in Dance from Butler University’s Jordan School of Fine Arts in Indianapolis. He has danced professionally with the Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Oregon, Pacific Ballet Theatre, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, and was a founding member of Oregon Ballet Theatre. With these companies he performed the work of noted classical and contemporary choreographers including George Balanchine, Dennis Spaight, James Canfield, Paul Taylor, Bebe Miller and Donald Byrd. Following his departure from OBT, Eric danced with contemporary choreographer Gregg Bielemeier and was a founder of aero/betty aerial dance theatre before joining artistic directors Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland in their innovative dance company, Bodyvox, in which he performs and serves as Artistic Associate. Currently he is also acting as Assistant Director for Portland Center Stages adaptation of ‘The Fantasticks’ Eric is additionally Co-Artistic Director of the Skinner|Kirk

John Smith, Composer
Best known as founder of the 80’s pop group NuShooz, John Smith has always loved arranging and orchestration. He learned his craft by sporatically attending community colleges, Harbor College, in L.A., Mount Hood C.C. Gresham, and P.C.C. Cascade, and also from a stack of theory books much taller than himself. Currently working as a commercial music composer for Poolside Music Inc. and writing a graphic novel about mutant genetics. About his music... In 2001 John was asked to write film scores for two indie films, Slingshot by David Massachi, and The Man With the Empty Room by Tod Korgan. At the time he was interested in writing small group pieces. This music if it’s about something, hints at all the various things in your mind that are going on simultaneously.

Howard Waldron, Lighting Designer
Howard Waldron started in the theater in 1964 as an actor and dancer. Twenty years later he moved off the stage to design lighting and in 1988 created a Christian production company called “In Production. He currently lights, stages, or directs fifty show each year through his company. He is also the technical director for the Jefferson Dancers.