Portland’s introduction to the Oregon Ballet Theatre’s (OBT) 2011/2012 company — four new members of which had just arrived from their native China — was like something out of a dream.

On a late afternoon this summer in tiny Director Park, beneath a tent protecting the dancers and a few lucky members of the audience from threatening and occasionally spitting rain, on an itty-bitty stage, the company leapt and glided and twirled through a rehearsal of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. The familiarity of the music and the surprise of the ballet conspired to delight onlookers, but this was only the beginning.

From 1995 through 2008, Oregon Ballet Theatre presented OBT Exposed, a free opportunity for the public to watch OBT’s dancers and artistic staff rehearse in Portland’s downtown park blocks. OBT Exposed took a break for a couple of years, but the event is back in a new location, and this year included an opportunity for the audience and dancers to mingle.

OBT executive director Diane Syrcle began the introductions by explaining that "Oregon’s only full-time professional ballet company" would soon be on its way to South Korea for its second international tour. Her description of the dancers as "athlete-artists" was both a little startling and exactly right.

Artistic director Christopher Stowell pointed out that "a tent in the park on the first day of work" was both "an unusual way to begin a season and a good way to get to know each other." He asked the dancers to tell the audience a little about themselves by answering a question about Portland or about dance.

Ye Li, from Anshan in Liaoning, China, confessed that his favorite place to eat in Portland is his own kitchen. Haiyan Wu of Beijing told the audience that her favorite role is the title character in Giselle. Xuan Cheng, from Chenzhou in Hunan, allowed that the favorite role she has danced is Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, but that the favorite role she hasn’t danced is also Giselle. Yang Zou, a Guangzhou native, found it difficult to make a choice among roles and decided his favorite was "everything that I’ve danced with my wife, Haiyan Wu."

After all the dancers present had answered their artistic director’s questions, it was time for them to answer questions from the audience. It was a pleasure to listen as they spoke Chinese with several members of the audience as I waited my turn to ask what they like best about Portland and what they miss most about China.

Haiyan Wu and Yang Zou were in agreement that Portland is a beautiful city in a "fantastic state" and that the people are very friendly. Ye Li is very impressed with the dance company, and Xuan Cheng is grateful to all the drivers in Portland for their kindness. "My driving is really bad," she admitted.

As for what the dancers miss about China, all but one, not surprisingly, spoke of their families and friends. Xuan Cheng, however, misses the food most of all. Fortunately, her boyfriend, Ye Li, "cooks very good Chinese food." No wonder his favorite place to eat is his kitchen.

Marketing and communications director Trisha Mead pointed out, "The addition of these dancers means that our company now includes members from China, Korea, and Japan."

Said Stowell of the four new dancers of Chinese origin: "I’m always happy to continue to diversify the talents, traditions, and cultures that make up OBT. These new dancers each bring unique qualities that, added to our stellar company of dancers, create a powerful artistic voice."

Should you want to see for yourself, OBT’s 2011/2012 season begins October 8. To learn more, call (503) 2-BALLET (222-5538) or visit <www.obt.org>.