Dedicated to Excellence in Dance, White Bird is committed to bringing the best Portland-based, regional, national, and international dance companies to Portland, Oregon and to fostering the growth of dance in the region. Through presenting established and emerging companies and choreographers, commissioning and co-commissioning new work, as well as collaborating with other arts organizations in Portland and the region, we are able to make these dance performances possible.  White Bird strongly believes in making dance exciting, educational, and accessible to everyone, young and old, of all social backgrounds, and through contributed income and sponsorships, is able to facilitate outreach to schools and keep ticket prices affordable. A passionate advocate for dance, White Bird strives to broaden audiences, develop new dance venues, and support both existing and new dance programs.

19 YEARS OF DANCE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATION
230 dance companies presented
35 new works commissioned
5,000 students reached annually

Walter Jaffe and Paul King launched White Bird in July 1997 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing excellence in dance to Portland, Oregon. Their cockatoo Barney, the ‘CEO’ and namesake of the organization, keeps things lively, and is over 27 years old. 

The Mark Morris Dance Group first performed at White Bird in 2003. Pepperland marks White Bird's first presentation of an evening-length work by Mark Morris and its first commission.