Rachel Tess in Portland

Dancer/Choreographer Rachel Tess is currently working with BDC on a new piece for our Fall Performances at Lincoln Hall. I've known Rachel since she was very young at Oregon Ballet Theater's school. I taught her and her brother Patrick Tess in some of my first classes at the School of Oregon Ballet Theater. It's a pleasure to have her here working, and a great opportunity not only for us to have a new piece, but to sponsor her here in Portland. I watched her and her partners piece called; "Details of a couple" or a preview thereof at Conduit dance, and again at Pacific Artists Dance Center's Studio A. It was rich and detailed, with a big and complex back story...I look forward to seeing the finished product in November!
Some of you may know that Joanne Van Ness Menasche (bio in the newsletter) is now President of our Board, with Caroline Miller finishing her tenure and stepping down from the Secretary position. Joanne is a wonderful, funny person and a real treasure trove of knowledge and skills in raising money and organizing us. As we progress and I continue to seek to build Bouand DanceCompany into a real, functioning Contemporary Ballet Company, people like Joanne will be vital and integral to our success.
Also rapidly becoming a huge part of our organization are Cheryl Ramette and Susan Castner...more news on these two soon.