The world's largest student ballet scholarship competition - YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX (YAGP) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season, with its NYC Finals held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The week of ballet festivities will include YAGP's Final Round (April 17th), YAGP's critically acclaimed Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala performance and dinner (April 18th), with a repeat Gala performance on April 19th. Lastly, on April 20th, YAGP will present an International Dance School Festival, where dancers from all over the globe will perform works representing each school's style and artistic tradition, ranging from beloved classics to cutting-edge contemporary dance.
Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen announces the 2018–2019 season roster. A total of 66 dancers make up the Company roster, with 56 in the main company and ten in Boston Ballet II (BBII), Boston Ballet's second company. Five new dancers join the main company, six new dancers join BBII, and five Boston Ballet dancers received promotions for the upcoming season.
Boston Ballet presents Classic Balanchine, an array of iconic and diverse works by esteemed choreographer George Balanchine. The program opens with Balanchine's allegorical Prodigal Son, a powerful tale of sin and redemption, followed by the return of Stravinsky Violin Concerto, a tribute to his friendship and frequent collaborations with the celebrated composer. The Company premiere of Balanchine's dreamlikeChaconne concludes the program. Classic Balanchine runs May 17–June 9, 2018, at the Boston Opera House.
Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen has announced the 2017-2018 season roster. A total of 65 dancers make up the Company roster, with 55 in the main company and ten in Boston Ballet II (BBII), Boston Ballet's second company.
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.
As re-imagined by Artistic Director Stanton Welch, the holiday classic pulses with new life and over-the-top theatrics reminiscent of 19th century production at its peak, but brought into the 21st by cutting-edge technology.
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.
In celebration of Stanton Welch's tenth anniversary as Artistic Director at Houston Ballet, the company is presenting a mixed repertory program that showcases his work as a choreographer. Across the three acts, audiences are treated to stunningly beautiful stage pictures, fascinating movement, and breathtaking feats of agility and poise. With their THE YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA program, Houston Ballet splendidly illustrates why Houston is truly to lucky to have Stanton Welch in our city.
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.
The Houston Ballet is known for its elaborate and beautiful productions. Every ticket purchased guarantees a performance filled with masterful dancing, brilliant choreography, remarkable sets, and music. Houston Ballet's much anticipated production of PETER PAN is no exception and nothing short of fantastic. Although many of us are familiar with the tale and have possibly seen it on film or stage, Houston Ballet makes it their own with whimsical choreography by Trey McIntyre and a dance company that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with every move. Set to the magical score by Sir Edward Elgar, arranged by Niel DePonte, PETER PAN draws the audience into the journey of Peter Pan and the Darling children as it creates a visual adventure that is ideal for both the young and the young at heart.
There is no denying that the artistry of ballet revolves around creating mesmerizing visuals, whether it is lush lovely picturesque scenes or exhilarating 'stunt' work that appears to defy all the natural laws of gravity, human flexibility, and motion. In these regards, Houston Ballet's production of LA BAYADÈRE is a sumptuous feast of artistic ingenuity and elegance. However, the repetitious, staunch, and wholly austere European score by Ludwig Minkus as arranged by John Lanchbery and similarly repetitious and almost entirely classical ballet choreography by Stanton Welch, after Marius Petipa, left me wanting something different and something more. With all the references to Bollywood in the pre-production publicity, I expected to see and hear a lot more of the elements from my favorite cinematic genre than the production delivered.
The Houston Ballet organization is imbued with talent from top to bottom. Last year, they organized an event in which the dancers got to experiment and begin growing their own individual choreographic voices. Thursday, December 13, 2012 was their second event with this goal in mind. A small, invitation only audience was treated to an evening of fantastic talent on display in 14 world première ballets by names that are sure to leave a lasting impression on the world of dance.
