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ARTISTIC STAFF    
Lauren Jonas
Artistic Director
Sally Streets
Artistic Advisor
Tina Kay Bohnstedt
Apprentice Program Director
 
Nikolai Kabaniaev
Co- Artistic Director
Christopher Stowell
Resident Choreologist
Viktor Kabaniaev
Resident Choreographer & Apprentice Program Director
 
     

"Stowell’s choreography credits include Titled, Tchaikovsky Dances and Karelia Suite—three works he created for the San Francisco Ballet Choreographic Workshop."

Christopher Stowell - Resident Choreologist

The son of Francia Russell and Kent Stowell, artistic directors of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Christopher Stowell was raised in Germany and America. He received his formal training at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and later at the School of American Ballet. Stowell’s graduating performance from the School of American Ballet received critical acclaim and attracted the attention of Helgi Tomasson, who had just been appointed artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet (SFB). He joined SFB in 1986. As a principal dancer for SFB, Stowell danced extensively in Tomasson’s own works including roles such as Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, in addition to creating roles in Tomasson’s Con Brio, Meistens Mozart and Handel-A Celebration. Stowell has had roles created for him by such noted choreographers as Mark Morris, David Bintley, William Forsythe and James Kudelka. In addition, he has performed the work of choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Jiri Kylian, Jerome Robbins and Sir Frederick Ashton. Stowell has also appeared as the lead male role in almost every Balanchine ballet performed by SFB from 1986 until his retirement in spring 2001, including Symphony in C, Agon, Rubies, Stars and Stripes and Tarantella. Stowell’s choreography credits include Titled, Tchaikovsky Dances and Karelia Suite—three works he created for the San Francisco Ballet Choreographic Workshop. Stowell’s first work for San Francisco Ballet, Opus 50 premiered in March 2000 in the Company’s “Discovery Program.” In November 1998, Stowell created Estampie for Diablo Ballet and a year later, Sonata #1, followed by La Captive in 2000. Stowell recently returned from Tokyo where he was assistant director and choreographer for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis production of The Tale of Genji and choreographed a new ballet, Hexodus, for the Pennsylvania Ballet. Christopher is beginning his first season as the Artistic Director for Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland.