Anne Mueller joined The Portland Ballet as Co-Artistic Director, a position created specifically for her in 2015 through 2018. Mueller danced with Oregon Ballet Theatre from 1996 to 2011 and Alabama Ballet for three seasons prior. She became a principal dancer for OBT when ranks were established in 2007. She danced leading roles in works by Julia Adam, George Balanchine, James Canfield, Nicolo Fonte, James Kudelka, Peter Martins, Trey McIntyre, Yuri Possokhov, Jerome Robbins, Helgi Tomasson, Twyla Tharp, Christopher Wheeldon, and had numerous original roles created on her by OBT Artistic Director Christopher Stowell (2003-2012).
Mueller became Artistic Coordinator for OBT while continuing to perform. Her responsibilities combined Ballet Mastering with tour management and other administrative functions. She initiated a company residency at Caldera and tours throughout California, Oregon and Washington. She managed the company’s second tour to Seoul, South Korea and laid the ground work for OBT’s first appearance at Wolf Trap. She was promoted to Director of Artistic Operations and, following Christopher Stowell’s departure, became Interim Artistic Director. She successfully led the organization through transition while maintaining artistic excellence. As Interim AD, she oversaw the re-mounting of Christopher Stowell’s full length Swan Lake, the creation of several new works for the company’s repertoire, and led a tour to the Kennedy Center for OBT’s second appearance in Ballet Across America.
She first choreographed for OBT under Artistic Director James Canfield (1989-2003), creating several works for the company in partnership with fellow company artist Vanessa Thiessen. With Stowell’s encouragement, Mueller created work in annual choreographic workshops and was a collaborating choreographer for OBT’s The Stravinsky Project. She was also Stowell’s Choreographic Assistant on several of his ballets, including Rite of Spring in which she also appeared in the leading role. Rite earned critical acclaim with both the Portland and national press, including Dance Magazine.
In addition to works Anne staged for OBT, Mueller has set works by Christopher Stowell, Nicolo Fonte, and Trey McIntyre for companies such as Ballet West, The Washington Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, and Carolina Ballet.. She self-produced tours of her own work to Bozeman, MT and to Ballet Builders 2009, a New York-based choreographic showcase. Her choreography has been performed by Oregon Ballet Theatre, Alabama Ballet, Ballet Victoria, Body Vox 2, Polaris Dance Theatre, and The Portland Ballet. Mueller was on the faculty for the School of OBT from 1999 to 2013, focusing specifically on working with the upper level students and company apprentices. Anne created two narrative ballets for the School’s annual productions.
Anne was a co-founder of Trey McIntyre Project, performing as a company artist from 2005 to 2007, also serving as the organization’s founding Managing Director from 2004 to 2006 and as Director of Outreach in 2006-2007. Anne appeared with TMP in leading roles performed at Vail International Dance Festival, Aspen Dance Festival, Wolf Trap, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, with her performance praised by the New York Times. She led workshops for TMP in Boise, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Birmingham. Anne also served as Managing Director for Bag&Baggage Productions, a Hillsboro based theater company before joining the staff at TPB.
Anne received her training from Dame Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, in addition to The Washington School of Ballet, The Kirov Academy, Houston Ballet Academy, The Joffrey Workshop, and the School of American Ballet. Anne completed coursework at Vermont College focusing in Dance and Religious Studies, Business and the Arts and Dance Injury Prevention.