Join dancers from American Ballet Theatre Studio Company for a masterclass for intermediate and advanced dancers, ages 13 and up. You do not need to be a student of Drouin Dance Center to attend the class. ABOUT DROUIN DANCE CENTER A friendly and welcoming, small classroom environment, open to any student of any age who … Read more
Join Ovations and Stepping Out creators Dr. Wendy Chapkis and Megan MacGregor for a walking tour of significant Congress Street sites, followed by a conversation on queer placemaking led by Dr. Theodore Greene at the Equality Community Center. ABOUT STEPPING OUT Stepping Out: Portland Queer History Trail is a 1.5 mile self-guided tour through the … Read more
Photo ID: A moment from Kinetic Light’s territory. In a futuristic realm, a figure whips wire above his head as vibrant red lightning bolts emerge from his feet, scattering across the landscape. Behind him, angular gates separate dozens of kneeling figures; two flying figures swing through the multicolored swirling sky, trailing lines of barbed wire. “A … Read more
“From concept to archival research to embodied inquiry, Jeremy Nedd’s groundbreaking vision and rigor offer a glimpse into the future of dance.” JAY CARLON, ELLIS-BEAUREGARD FOUNDATION 2024 CHOREOGRAPHER AWARDEE AND JUROR Closing out Ovations’ 96th season, slidin’ thru from acclaimed choreographer and performer Jeremy Nedd, transforms Portland’s Kennedy Park into a joyful, free, and open-to-the-public celebration of movement, music, and community. Set … Read more
COUNTDOWN TO MEMBER PRESALE Days Hours Minutes Seconds Step into the spotlight for a night of reveals, previews, and first looks at the spectacular performances headed to Portland Ovations for the 2026–27 season. Can you spot the clues hidden in the graphic? This complimentary celebration features irresistible bites from Taj Indian Cuisine, video sneak peeks, … Read more
There are an estimated 200 million African descendants across 19 Latin American countries, whose collective cultural identity is known and celebrated as Afrolatinidad. Join Michele Reid-Vazquez, a vocalist, and Caribbean and Latin American studies scholar at Bowdoin College as she explores the historical, cultural, and personal significance of Afrolatinidad through Afro-Cuban music—particularly Afro-Cuban jazz—and its impact … Read more
History has always had a tendency to narrow its gaze, and classical music is no exception. Bach, now considered one of the greatest composers, was passed over repeatedly in his lifetime for positions given to composers whose names we barely remember today. Amy Beach set aside her career at her husband’s request, her voice constrained … Read more
In the age of the internet, social media, and AI, what keeps classical music relevant and engaging for audiences? How do young artists like Sophia Liu synthesize a centuries-old musical and cultural tradition with modern life? Our pre-concert talk with pianist and scholar Danny Holt introduces the audience to this extraordinary young talent, while exploring … Read more
Join Cape Elizabeth native and internationally award winning pianist Henry Kramer for a morning masterclass with students in the Osher School of Music piano program. ABOUT HENRY KRAMER Praised by The Cleveland Classical Review for his “astonishingly confident technique” and The New York Times for “thrilling [and] triumphant” performances, pianist Henry Kramer is developing a reputation as … Read more
Guest speakers Ed Pearlman and Laura Scott have worked professionally as performers, organizers, and journalists with most of the “All-Stars”—some of the top Scottish, Irish, and Canadian performers working today. In this lively pre-performance talk, we will learn more about the artists on the evening’s program, exploring their history and virtuosity with fiddle, bagpipes, banjo, Gaelic song, and traditional … Read more