Jessica Collado News

From March 16 - 26, Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program Director's Choice: Legends and Prodigy, featuring three company, dancer and audience favorites.

In this retelling of the beloved fairy tale, pretty much everything is thrown out the window for a darker, edgier story of an independent woman fighting against her circumstances for a chance at a better life.

From March 2-12, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch's staging of Cinderella, which was originally created for The Australian Ballet in 1997. A fresh new take on the familiar tale, Cinderella features lavish scenery and spectacular costumes by the late New Zealand designer, Kristian Fredrickson.

From October 21 to 23, the Houston Ballet will be in Los Angeles, CA for CELEBRATE FORSYTHE, a program that celebrates three works from celebrated choreographer William Forsythe.

The current offering from the Houston Ballet, MADAME BUTTERFLY with SON OF CHAMBER SYMPHONY, is a study of contrasts - economy and luxury.

BWW Review: AMERICAN INGENUITY Showcases Powerful Performances From Houston Ballet

Houston Ballet's 2016 Spring Mixed Repertory Program reprises Balanchine's SERENADE and Sir Kenneth Macmillan's GLORIA and presents the Houston Ballet premiere of Alexander Ekman's self-aware comedic contemporary work CACTI. We talk to company principal dancer Ian Casady ('Gloria' and 'Cacti') about the joys and challenges of appearing in the program.

BWW Review: Principal Dancer Melody Mennite Brings Down The House In A Stunning Performance as MANON

Just in time for the opening production of the Houston Ballet 2015-2016 season, the sensuous romance MANON, BroadwayWorld.com releases its discussion with Stanton Welch. In the interview, Welch talks family, career, and love. Family, career, and love at the Houston Ballet, of course.

Melody Mennite, who portrays Katherina in Houston Ballet's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, was given the responsibility of bringing emotional content to senseless violence and etching butt kicking into your memory. As you'll see in our discussion, she worked very hard before she delivered.

William Shakespeare's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is a comedic, character-driven piece about the courtship of volatile Katherina and obnoxious Petruchio. Character pieces require great characters, naturally, and great performers. In his ballet adaptation, John Cranko delivers. In the Houston Ballet production, so do the dancers.

From tonight, May 28 - June 7, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program titled Morris, Welch & Kylian featuring three of today's most dynamic and musical choreographers.

An Aries is willful and stubborn, Libras live in pursuit of justice, and great thinkers and philosophers are Sagittarii. In ZODIAC, Houston Ballet artistic director Stanton Welch explores the color and emotion of each zodiac sign. The world premiere of ZODIAC is part of Houston Ballet's mixed repertory program MORRIS, WELCH & KYLIAN which also includes SVADEBKA by Jiri Kylian and Mark Morris's THE LETTER V.

From May 28 - June 7, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program titled Morris, Welch & Kylian featuring three of today's most dynamic and musical choreographers. A world premiere of The Letter V by acclaimed American choreographer Mark Morris, the world premiere of Stanton Welch's Zodiac and the revival of Ji?i Kylian's iconic Svadebka make this program a must-see for all ballet lovers. Zodiac is made possible through the generosity of Leticia Loya. Houston Ballet will give six performances of Morris, Welch & Kylian at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.  Tickets start at $20, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org, or by calling 713 227 2787. 

Three years and millions of dollars in the making, Stanton Welch's take on ROMEO AND JULIET is magnificent. This is not empty praise for the Houston Ballet's artistic director. Plot complexities aside, ROMEO AND JULIET is a simple story: two teens are in love in a world where their love is impossible. And for all of the spectacle, Welch trusts this simple story.

BWW Reviews: Houston Ballet's THE NUTCRACKER Is Sparkling Enchantment

HOUSTON, TEXAS - From November 28 - December 28, 2014, Houston Ballet celebrates the holidays with Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 27 years ago. The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which "grows" to 40 feet, 200 pounds of "snow" falling during the snow scene, and the firing of cannon onstage. Houston Ballet will give 35 performances of The Nutcracker, to a live orchestra, in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713-227-2787 or logging on to www.houstonballet.org.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced plans today for the company's 2013-2014 season, including eight promotions and additions of several new dancers. Houston Ballet's roster now stands at 53 dancers.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced plans today for the company's 2013-2014 season, including eight promotions and additions of several new dancers. Houston Ballet's roster now stands at 53 dancers.

The Houston Ballet is notorious for providing audiences with top-notch productions and a supremely talented company. Launching into their 2013-2014 season, Houston Ballet opens with FOUR PREMIERES. Consisting of one American premiere and three world premieres, FOUR PREMIERES is a wonderful evening of dance, with works choreographed by Chrisopher Bruce, Melissa Hough, Garrett Smith, and James Kudelka.