Ballet Fantastique: Eugene’s Renegade Ballet Company

The moment you settle yourself into a seat in the Hult Center for a Ballet Fantastique performance, you can feel that you are about to experience something unexpected. There is a buzz of energy in the crowd. The first time I found myself waiting for a "BFan" show to begin, I was struck by just how alive the audience was. It wasn’t the subdued crowd I was used to at other performances. Young families crowd in next to a group of girlfriends with signature BFan drinks in hand, everyone chatting happily until the lights go down. Then something extraordinary happens – the audience cheers and whoops, celebrating in a way that I have never experienced at the start of a ballet. The musicians who are about to unleash a live, original score warm their instruments, the smiles on their faces suggesting they are about to have a really good time. Depending on the show, artistic digital displays may start presenting, narrators may take the stage, dancers of incredible skill and style prepare to invite you into a new world. By the time the dancers take the stage or drift up the aisles next to your seat, you are launched into an immersive experience.

The thing is, Ballet Fantastique is doing something very different. The performances they put on in Eugene are something you can’t see anywhere else – not even New York, LA or Chicago. And they are getting national attention as a renegade ballet company by breaking the rules of traditional ballet and leaning into the innovation of dance theater. This attention has also become a draw for international dancers to relocate to Eugene, Oregon for the opportunity to dance a little differently. From writing original scripts or working with talented musicians and composers on bespoke scores, to costume and choreography that are always a bit unexpected, Ballet Fantastique is a company of world premieres. Where else can you go to see the story of "Aladdin" as a rock opera, watch Cinderella head to prom and dance the mashed potato or see the story of "Pride & Prejudice" mixed up with the vibe of Moulin Rouge? Even if it’s a story you know and love, it’s guaranteed to have moments that take you off guard. Be ready for the audience to go with you, laughing, cheering, or whispering in awe.

While I have yet to see a BFan performance that I didn’t enjoy, I live for the Halloween shows. It has become an annual tradition – even my teen son who primarily communicates via eyeroll is always in for a Halloween performance. We aren’t the only ones – both the performances themselves and the experiences outside the theater sell out fast. Those moments are often the ones that stay with me. I will never forget the gasp of the crowd when a darkly ethereal raven appeared at the window in "Nevermore". How it took us all so long to realize she was there, I can’t be certain, but the crowd held its breath as she stepped through the window towards a sleeping Poe. Similarly, the first time the florescent glowing nightmare horse of "Sleepy Hollow" took the stage I heard children squeal in spooky delight. I’ve seen a group of friends’ high-five when they unveiled the murder during "Murder at the Ballet" – celebrating the live voting from the crowd in a way that invited us all in and gave some of us the right to gloat.

That’s the thing about Ballet Fantastique, it isn’t just a group of incredibly talented people delivering a beautiful performance – it’s a captivating moment in time uniquely cultivated by the partnership between the people performing and those looking on. It’s the play between the two that creates something truly magical. There is a sense of community and connection at Ballet Fantastique, and the dancers find ways to take that off the stage. If you find yourself at a show, be sure to pop down afterwards to meet the dancers. They will all be down in the atrium of the Hult Center, greeting fans with faces flushed from dancing and costumes that look even more strikingly beautiful up close. There are so many other ways that Ballet Fantastique steps off the stage to curate an experience with its fans.

When COVID hit and performance arts organizations had to pause in-person experiences, Ballet Fantastique courageously stepped off the stage and into new spaces. The first stop was filming a movie. Their version of "A Christmas Carol: A Ballet Movie" brought some beautiful Oregon scenes into our homes that first Christmas of lockdown. At my house, we dressed up to hang in the living room with a fancy take-out dinner from Lion and Owl. It felt so special to have a night at the ballet from the comfort of our home at a time when we really needed the boost. Ballet Fantastique’s "American Christmas Carol" was not only nominated for four Emmy® awards, but won a Silver Telly award for its “exceptional artistry and creativity.” It also launched a new way to experience the ballet – it’s now possible to purchase tickets to stream BFan shows from anywhere. Around the holidays, you can even see it on the big screen at the Art House.

Not only did they go digital, the dancers of BFan began dancing off-stage and outdoors. They started dancing on golf courses, in vineyards and pop ups around town. "Ballet on the Green" and "Ballet in the Vineyard" have become lovely summer traditions. As we all wait, breath held for a new season to start, these en plein air performances give us a taste of what’s to come. We pack a light picnic, grab a glass of wine at Silvan Ridge and settle in at the end of each summer to see what is in store for the next season of Ballet Fantastique.

There is something about art experiences that always break down the expected and launch us into new, deeply felt spaces. The renegades at Ballet Fantastique make that look easy. Come prepared to be awed and inspired but also to laugh, clap and cheer. Like the rest of their fans, once you see a show it’s highly likely you’ll become a BFan yourself, returning again and again.