Javier Ubell - Ballet Dancer Choreographer and Ballet Teacher

www.ballet-dance.com (excerpt)
December 17, 2010
By Dean Speer
“All of the 11 dancers were well used but it was particularly a showcase for the über virtuoso Javier Ubell, whose story as a Jewish SAB (School of American Ballet) student who progressed through the child roles of the Balanchine “Nutcracker” was the basis for two teRRRific numbers – one serious and one silly [the "Eight Nights of Hanukkah” done as a parody to the tune, “The 12 Days of Christmas”].

I liked how Ubell’s serious solo began with the classic mazurka step and developed into a story, later joined by some of the other men who echoed his motifs.”

The Oregonian (excerpt)
December 19, 2010
By Martha Ullman West, Special to The Oregonian
“...Nobody is better at this than Javier Ubell, who in short order shifted from the arthritic Grandfather in Act One to the acrobatic Tea in the second act's series of national divertissements (variations). He is rapidly becoming the company's best and most useful dancer-actor, with fine technique to boot.”

Critical Dance (excerpt)
Monday March 29, 2010
By Dean Spear
“Wowing the audience with his aerial feats of jumps and turns – and sometimes jumping turns and turning jumps – was Master of Ceremonies/Puck, also known as the mortal dancer Javier Ubell.”

Dirtybombpdx.com - theater and whatnot in and around PDX (excerpt)
Sunday March 7, 2010
“Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments...Thursday night’s casting was inspired. Adrian Fry, all long and languid he, and the rocket-powered sprite, Javier Ubell, were standouts.”

The Oregonian (excerpt)
Sunday December 13, 2009
“Javier Ubell, a powerhouse of a dancer, performed the wind-up soldier doll of the party scene with credibly mechanical moves..., and the Chinese variation with such charm and panache...”

SeattleDances.com (excerpt)
Tuesday April 28, 2009
By Rosie Gaynor
“After two intense pieces, we saw Balanchine’s little Tarantella, danced sweet and light, like cannoli, by corps members Julia Rowe and Javier Ubell. There’s room for fun in this fast piece. Ubell took advantage of the chance; Rowe seemed more focused on getting the steps right. They both did well, however, and it was impressive to see this level of dancing from young corps members.”

Critical Dance (excerpt)
Sunday April 19, 2009
"This afternoon's "Tarantella" performed by Julia Rowe and Javier Ubell, staged by Christopher Stowell and Sandra Jennings, is one of the most exciting renditions I've seen with both performers scoring very high on the "adorability" scale."

portlandmercury.com (excerpt)
Sunday April 19, 2009
By Stephen Marc Beaudoin
""Hush," set to an airy score for both traditional and celtic harp...The work's poignant opening moment promised extraordinary simplicity and grace, as company artist Javier Ubell opened and closed his heart again and again, then laid down in what I imagined was a grassy hillside."

Ballet-Dance.com online dance magazine (excerpt)
Sunday March 1, 2009
“A delightful program, with the crowd-pleasing "Lambarena" by Val Caniparoli bringing the house down. After years of watching this Afro-Classical piece performed by a dozen or so companies, I expected to be bored but I still enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps it comes from the excitement emanating from the entertained crowd. These OBT dancers -- especially Gavin Larsen and Javier Ubell -- can move with the best of them when it comes to African steps and body gyrations.”

Anchorage Daily News
Local performers add brilliance to the jewel-like ‘Nutcracker’ (excerpt)
November 29, 2008
By Anne Herman
“Javier Ubell was an exuberant Candy Cane as he jumped through a striped hoop multiple times...”

Oregonlive.com
Ballet Review: Choreography, dancing reason to see ‘Nutcracker’ (excerpt)
Saturday December 13, 2008
By Catherine Thomas, Special to The Oregonian
“The (Chinese) Tea variation in the second act,...superbly danced by Javier Ubell..."

Dance review: A luminous "Nutcracker" (excerpt)
Sunday December 9, 2007
By Catherine Thomas, Special to The Oregonian
“And Javier Ubell, in his debut as (Chinese) Tea, is electric in his quicksilver jumps.”

Vanguard (excerpt)
Wednesday October 17, 2007
By Deeda Schroeder
"The dancers act the story as much as they dance it. Strong character performances are consistent throughout. Javier Ubell plays the charming Puck, a horned little fellow whose fine intentions bring about disastrous results. You cannot help but like the mischievously good-hearted faun, and Ubell dances the role nimbly."

The Oregonian
Perchance to Dream (excerpt)
October 15, 2007
By Bob Hicks
“And company newcomer Javier Ubell, as Puck, makes the most of the gift that Stowell has given him: a preening, lively, showcase character role that flashes that mischief through the dance.”