Jessica Collado

As much as I admire the art of ballet, I have never seen a new, professional ballet performance, one that no one else has seen before. To say I was excited to be in the audience for the opening night of the world premiere of Houston Ballet's SUMMER AND SMOKE is an understatement, and it was everything that I hoped it to be!

Next week, Houston Ballet is presenting the premiere of Cathy Marston's SUMMER AND SMOKE, inspired by Tennessee Williams' play. It was my joy to speak with Jessica Collado, one of the leads for SUMMER AND SMOKE; I learned about her background, how SUMMER AND SMOKE was uniquely developed, and what we can expect from this beautiful production.

ROMEO AND JULIET…the classic love story of star-crossed lovers. To say that our culture is saturated with this tale is a fact that no one can deny. However, knowing the talent of the Houston Ballet, I was intrigued to see this legend translated to dance. As I watched the production, I quickly realized that this story is simply perfect as a ballet!

With more than 70,000 patrons seeing it every year, Houston Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER is one of the most celebrated traditions of the holidays, and rightfully so! Being performed for over 35 years, the production is full of incredible orchestrations, wonderful imagery, and a magical story to boot. Do not want to miss this magical event of the season!

The Nutcracker is beloved for many reasons; the endless eye candy, the dynamic score, and the marriage of artistry and excellence. The element of tradition keeps us coming back for more. We yearn to feel connection, and to remember what it's like to wonder about magical things. Houston Ballet's multi-faceted Nutcracker is a delicious carnival of mystery and joy. Creative director Stanton Welch has built a production that serves the audience and leaves us completely fulfilled. Nothing sends you back to your childhood more quickly, with all things seemingly possible and your imagination offering an endless sweet escape.

While the ballets each have a marked identity, the triad presentation serves to compliment the elements of each. It's a journey into well-crafted worlds, an escape and a reunion all at once.

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, Houston Ballet: Sylvia by Stanton Welch AM on Saturday, January 19 at 3pm and 7:30pm.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents The Choreography of Light by Brandon Stirling Baker on Friday, January 18 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 20 at 7:30pm.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim is pleased to announce its spring 2019 season. Since 1984 the performing arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading creators. Programs explore the artistic process through stimulating discussions and riveting performance highlights. Each 70-minute program takes place in the intimate Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Peter B. Lewis Theater. Additional information is available at worksandprocess.org.

Houston Ballet set out to provide a space for women to explore choreography and tell their stories through its inaugural all-female choreographic workshop, elle emerge. Women from Houston Ballet, Houston Ballet Academy, Cincinnati Ballet and Kansas City Ballet answered the call to premiere complete pieces and movements from upcoming works for around 100 ballet supporters at Houston Ballet on November 10.

TUTS' OKLAHOMA is now on stage through September 23rd! Priscilla Lopez stars as 'Aunt Eller' in the production and is joined by Sam Simahk as 'Curly,' Olivia Hernandez as 'Laurey,' Madeline Hamlet as 'Ado Annie,' Logan Keslar as 'Ike Skidmore', Hassan Nazari-Robati as 'Ali Hakim,' Christopher Campbell as 'Will Parker,' Eric Ulloa as 'Jud Fry,' David Sitler as 'Andrew Carnes,' and Dewey Caddell as 'Cord Elam.'

Tony Award winner Priscilla Lopez will lead the cast in the role of 'Aunt Eller' in Theatre Under The Stars' (TUTS) production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, the first show in the musical theatre company's 50th Anniversary Season.

Houston Ballet is proud to perform by invitation at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2018-the oldest internationally acclaimed dance festival in the United States-for the first time in nearly 40 years. Referred to as the "hub and mecca of dancing" by TIME Magazine, Jacob's Pillow showcases a prestigious lineup of elite dance companies from across the globe and Houston Ballet is thrilled to return to the hallowed stages with performances August 15-18.

Last month, the Houston Ballet revived Ben Stevenson's DON QUIXOTE. And this month, as part of its community outreach, the company will present free performances of the production MAY 11, 2018 through 13, 2018 at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform MAYERLING. instead of the previously scheduled six performances, the ballet ran for four from September 22-24.

Due to Hurricane Harvey, Houston Ballet is unable to perform the opening two productions at the company's home venue. However, Houston Ballet is pleased to report that select performances of fall programming have been rescheduled at THE HOBBY CENTER - SAROFIM HALL. For a limited time from September 22-24 at The Hobby Center, Houston Ballet presents Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling, and will be the first North-American company to perform this compelling production. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

The Houston Ballet brings one of the most theatrical of the Bard's plays to life in a lavish production by choreographer David Bintley. No expense was spared; no stop un-pulled in this story of love, revenge, magic, and complicated skullduggery that this play provides in abundance. Or maybe overabundance.

On March 10, 2017, just moments after Collado starred in the Houston Ballet's presentation of CINDERELLA at the Wortham Theater Center, Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM promoted her to principal dancer.

Happy Friday, BWW Dance! Here are the top dance stories from around the BroadwayWorld you might have missed this week!

Houston Ballet is proud to announce that Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM has promoted Jessica Collado to Principal dancer. Formally a First-Soloist, Ms. Collado was promoted on the evening of March 10, 2017 after starring in Stanton Welch's production of Cinderella in the title role.