Willamette Ballet Academy

Willamette Ballet Academy is the only ballet school in the small town of Woodburn, Oregon. It was founded in 1982 by Rick and Deborah van Winkle (now known as Deborah Higginbotham). Classes are structured in accordance to the Vaganova and Cecchetti ballet techniques. The academy provides a serious program for pre-professionals and also serves the recreational student. It has through its outreach program, reached thousands of people with lecture demonstrations in the schools, free performances, and scholarships for students in need.

Students from Willamette Ballet Academy have been accepted at all the major ballet schools, many with full scholarships: Schools of New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Royal Ballet, Martha Graham, Pacific Ballet Theatre, Eugene Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, Oregon Ballet Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Universal Ballet, Goh Academy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and American Ballet Theatre (NY). Its dancers have gone on to professional careers in dance, musical comedy, and theater.

In 2004, Willamette Ballet Academy student Adrianne Newton was chosen Oregon's Best Dancer by American Dance Awards. Willamette Ballet was once listed in the 100 Things to Do and See in Woodburn, and was featured article in the 'Living' section of the "Oregonian" newspaper.