About OBA
Mission
The Oregon Ballet Academy is dedicated to offering the finest in dance training and performance. As a self-sustaining community arts organization, we provide a training ground for talented aspiring artists and dance enthusiasts of all ages. We hope to inspire the love of dance and appreciation of music in students of varying abilities and ages, from preschool to pre-professional. We support the growth of classical ballet by maintaining the highest standards and by nurturing the talent of every student.
Pre-professional students have the opportunity to develop the skills, experience, and discipline which are the necessary foundations for a professional dance career. Our director is an accomplished professional dancer who brings his experience to bear for the benefit of our serious students.
Those students whose paths lead to non-dance careers gain immeasurably from having studied at OBA. They develop self-motivation, self-discipline, poise, grace, and an appreciation for the arts which they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Faculty
Directors
JOHN GRENSBACK
Artistic Director (Upper Level Ballet Classes, Pointe)
Since his arrival as director of the Academy in 2003, John Grensback has had a profound influence on the students of the academy, specifically with his high standard of excellence, his working relationship with teachers and his dedication to each stude... view profile
MEGAN MURPHY
Administrative Director
Ms. Murphy began ballet training in Guam and left to study at The National Ballet School of Canada when she was fifteen years old. She attended The San Francisco Ballet School, studied under Richard Gibson in Palo Alto, California, and trained at The H... view profile
FELICIA SANDERS
Lower School Director (Pre-Ballet, Pilates)
Ms. Sanders received her formal training at The North Carolina School of The Arts, majoring in ballet, in junior high and high school. She then went to Holland where she spent two years at the Rotterdam Dance Academy studying various forms of dance inc... view profile
Instructors
APRIL HILL
PreBallet, Ballet
April Hill began her ballet training with Christine McClory and Vasile Petrutiu. She continued her studies at BSU with Marla and Fred Hanson, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and as a dance major at Arizona State University. April has danced profession... view profile
CHARMAINE ENDICOTT
PreBallet, Hip Hop
Charmaine Endicott currently performs with local modern dance company, Traduza Dance Company. Her passion since a young age has been dance. She has performed with several professional dance companies in Portland and later moved on to receive her Bachel... view profile
DUBRAHSKA ARRIVILLAGA
Ballet, Pointe
Dubraskha Arrivillaga was born in Caracas,Venezuela. She received her early training with Nina Novak’s Ballet School. At fourteen, she joined the premiere company in Venezuela, Ballet Nacional de Caracas Teresa Carreño, where she performed... view profile
SARAH OLGUIN
PreBallet, Ballet
Sarah grew up dancing in Klamath Falls where she finishd out her training with Carla Brannon from Carla’s Dance Studio. While at Carla’s, she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, partnering, and aerial dance. She also had the opportunity t... view profile
MELISSA KNAVEL
Ballet, Pointe
Melissa is not teaching this term. Biography coming soon.
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GEIDRE ASTRAUKAS
PreBallet, Ballet
Geidre is not teaching this term. Biography coming soon.
view profileAdministration
NITA STOCKWELL
Office Manager
Nita Stockwell grew up in Virginia. She moved to Eugene to go to the University of Oregon. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication in 2005. Currently she is a full-time student at George Fox Seminary working on he... view profile
Photographers
LIVIA FREMOUW
Photographer
Livia Fremouw grew up in Eastern Europe. She is a graduate of Comenius University in Slovakia where she received her master degree in mathematics and geometry. She also earned an Associate degree in graphic design in Eugene, Oregon. She resides with he... view profile
