(Above: Photo by Ari Denison)

Edited by Randi Bjornstad

Eugene Ballet’s final production for the 2024-25 season is final for another reason: It is the swan song, so to speak, for the illustrious career of Toni Pimble, who co-founded the company in 1978 and retires as its artistic director after the close of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a companion piece created by Pimble, Silk and Steel, onstage on May 17 and 18.

Here’s a snapshot of Toni Pimble’s background, from Eugene Ballet’s website:

Born in England, Toni studied at Elmhurst Ballet School. Her professional career began in Germany with notable choreographers Lothar Höfgen, Anthony Taylor, Nils Christie Michel Descombey and Miko Sparemblek. She co-founded the Eugene Ballet Company in 1978 with Riley Grannan.  She has choreographed over 60 works for the Eugene Ballet Company, many of those productions involving collaborations with composers, literary and visual artists and local arts organizations including Eugene Concert Choir, Eugene Opera, Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Mozart Players, The Shedd Institute for the Arts, and the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance.

Toni’s work has been performed by Atlanta Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nevada Dance Theatre, Oregon Ballet Theater, Ballet NY, Kansas City Ballet and Oklahoma City Ballet.

Orchestra Next provides the music for this production by Eugene Ballet. It also includes colorful backdrops by One of Satoko Motouji’s colorful creation for Eugene Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Silk and Steel.

Eugene Ballet presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Silk and Steel

When: 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17  and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18

Where: Silva concert Hall, Hult Center for the Performing Arts, One Eugene Center, Seventh and Willamette streets, downtownEugene

Tickets: $18 to $70, available from the Hult Center ticket office, 541-682-5000, or online at eugeneballet.org

 

Above: One of artistic Satoko Motouji’s colorful creations for Eugene Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Silk and Steel