What happens when you combine professional dancers and a community audience? #instaballet.
Formed by Eugene, Oregon based ballet dancers, Suzanne Haag and Antonio Anacan, #instaballet is a unique, interactive, fun way to experience ballet and other forms of dance. Since 2013, #instaballet has connected audiences with artists, creating pathways to access dance by bringing ballet out of the theatre and into the community.
Our mission? We teach the use of creativity to empower the self and build community through the art of dance.
How do we do it? We include the audience in the creation of a dance by translating audience ideas into movement that is learned and performed by professional dancers. Zero pressure, 100% fun. Come create with us, it's your turn to make a move!
What happens when you combine professional dancers and a community audience? #instaballet.
Formed by Eugene, Oregon based ballet dancers, Suzanne Haag and Antonio Anacan, #instaballet is a unique, interactive, fun way to experience ballet and other forms of dance. Since 2013, #instaballet has connected audiences with artists, creating pathways to access dance by bringing ballet out of the theatre and into the community.
Our mission? We teach the use of creativity to empower the self and build community through the art of dance.
How do we do it? We include the audience in the creation of a dance by translating audience ideas into movement that is learned and performed by professional dancers. Zero pressure, 100% fun. Come create with us, it's your turn to make a move!
#instaballet's journey from an idea to a successful nonprofit was featured in Oregon Artswatch. Check our Jean Zondervan's story detailing the key steps and sources of support that have helped us make our recent leaps in growth.
Antonio Anacan and Suzanne Haag
Antonio Anacan and Suzanne Haag
Besides dancing himself, Antonio enjoys capturing dance behind the camera and his dance-themed photography work can be spotted around Eugene. In his down time, Antonio likes to learn random facts on youtube and wonders what it would be like to dance without gravity.
Suzanne is a former ballet dancer and the current Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of the Eugene Ballet. Most of her dance inspiration comes from her rescue cat, Nellie.
“Each time we perform an #instaballet, it’s a completely new experience based on the participating audience. Sometimes our final audience-choreographed ballet is serious, sometimes it’s hilarious, but it’s always beautiful to see a group of random audience members of all ages and backgrounds come together to create art.”
Create Together
Join in as we create the dance together.
Create Together
Join in as we create the dance together.
#instaballet strives to bring a unique ballet experience by allowing the audience to be a part of the creative process.
Participate (or just sit back and watch!) in a FREE #instaballet event at the Lane Art Council's First Friday ArtWalk.
Our FREE events happen in the Spring and Summer, check our calendar for upcoming events near you!
Contact us to perform at your special event. #instaballet events are perfect for team building retreats to get creativity going!
To schedule a private event, email us at: info@instaballet.org
We enjoy sharing our love of dance and creativity with students. We frequently work with the children and staff of Bridgeway House. Other past educational events include partnering with the A3 School for their Sky Camp Retreat and working with the Relief Nursery. Fun times!
Antonio Anacan, Miranda Atkinson, Catherine Bonomini-Smith, Troy DeShazer (treasurer), Suzanne Haag (board member emerita), Ross Heintzkill (board president), Michelle Holdway, Cynthia Hostetter (board vice president), Christina Lay, Roberta Mann, Bryan Matluk, Joshua Purvis, Johanna Seasonwein (secretary), Kelli Sherman (board member emerita in memoriam), and Richard Sniezko
Antonio Anacan, Miranda Atkinson, Catherine Bonomini-Smith, Troy DeShazer (treasurer), Suzanne Haag (board member emerita), Ross Heintzkill (board president), Michelle Holdway, Cynthia Hostetter (board vice president), Christina Lay, Roberta Mann, Bryan Matluk, Joshua Purvis, Johanna Seasonwein (secretary), Kelli Sherman (board member emerita in memoriam), and Richard Sniezko
ADVISORY BOARD
Alaja Badalich, Lee Black, Kelsey Elliot, Laurel King, Nina Nicotera, Erin Ocean, Andrea Plesnarski, Toni Pimble, Mike Solomon, Michael Vergamini and Patricia Wigney
ADVISORY BOARD
Alaja Badalich, Lee Black, Kelsey Elliot, Laurel King, Nina Nicotera, Erin Ocean, Andrea Plesnarski, Toni Pimble, Mike Solomon, Michael Vergamini and Patricia Wigney
CREATE TOGETHER
#instaballet is committed to creating with all audience members and artists without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political belief, or veteran status.
CREATE TOGETHER
#instaballet is committed to creating with all audience members and artists without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political belief, or veteran status.
Our Values
Collaboration. We partner with external organizations to share resources, expand our community impact, and create meaningful connections between audiences and artists.
Accessibility. We remove the practical, psychological, and financial barriers that prevent people from experiencing and participating in dance, because we know that all people are capable of making and connecting with art.
Inclusion. We create a welcoming culture where people of all backgrounds and abilities can create with and alongside professional artists, free of expectation or judgment. We listen to what our communities need and hold ourselves accountable to them.
Innovation. Our unique, co-creative approach to dance is infused throughout all that we do. We empower audience members to act as choreographers and shape the performance as it happens.
Equity. We break down systemic barriers to ensure dance is for everybody, engaging historically excluded groups and expanding who shapes the art form. We are committed to the well-being of our artists and staff, including fair and transparent compensation.
Our Values
Collaboration. We partner with external organizations to share resources, expand our community impact, and create meaningful connections between audiences and artists.
Accessibility. We remove the practical, psychological, and financial barriers that prevent people from experiencing and participating in dance, because we know that all people are capable of making and connecting with art.
Inclusion. We create a welcoming culture where people of all backgrounds and abilities can create with and alongside professional artists, free of expectation or judgment. We listen to what our communities need and hold ourselves accountable to them.
Innovation. Our unique, co-creative approach to dance is infused throughout all that we do. We empower audience members to act as choreographers and shape the performance as it happens.
Equity. We break down systemic barriers to ensure dance is for everybody, engaging historically excluded groups and expanding who shapes the art form. We are committed to the well-being of our artists and staff, including fair and transparent compensation.
