Stanton Welch News

From May 30 - June 9, 2013 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program titled Journey with the Masters featuring the company premiere of Ballet Imperial, George Balanchine's tribute to Marius Petipa and Peter Tchaikovsky, alongside revivals of Ji?i Kylian's exuberant and joyous Sinfonietta (not seen in Houston since 1997) and Jerome Robbins's The Concert, a laugh-out-loud ballet depicting a group of concertgoers at a performance with keen insight to human behavior.

Today, May 10, 11, and 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Houston Ballet returns to Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park to present three FREE performances of Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch's signature work Madame Butterfly in honor of the 90th anniversary of this beloved venue.

On May 10, 11, and 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Houston Ballet returns to Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park to present three FREE performances of Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch's signature work Madame Butterfly in honor of the 90th anniversary of this beloved venue.

"Dancing The Rite of Spring", A Conversation between Shen Wei Dance Arts Company Manager Stephen Xue and Houston Ballet's Artistic Director Stanton Welch will be held on Friday, May 17 at 6:30 P.M.

The Joyce Theater (Linda Shelton, Executive Director), the United States' foremost dance venue, announced today programming for its 2013-2014 Fall & Winter Season featuring extraordinary companies, both international and local - several making their Joyce debuts - and loaded with highly anticipated premieres, including The Royal Ballet's production of Kafka's The Metamorphosis, choreographed by Arthur Pita especially for Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson.

This weekend, the Houston Ballet Academy and Houston Ballet II performed their 2013 Spring Showcase in the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center, showcasing why this program is globally recognized as one of the preeminent dance training programs.

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.

Northrop Dance Presents Joffrey Ballet's RITE OF SPRING tonight, February 26th at 7:30 pm in the Orpheum Theatre.

From tonight, February 21-March 3, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch's La Bayadere ('The Temple Dancer'), a historic classic staged by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch and set in royal India of the past.

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced the 2013 Blossom Music Festival season. The Orchestra will present 19 concerts at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park from July 3 - September 1.

From February 21-March 3, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch's La Bayadere ("The Temple Dancer"), a historic classic staged by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch and set in royal India of the past. La Bayadere is a dramatic ballet of eternal love, mystery, fate, vengeance and justice, featuring spectacular scenery and costumes by the acclaimed English designer Peter Farmer. This lavish production recounts the story of Nikiya, a temple dancer, her lover Solor, and the vengeance that keeps them apart -- at least in this life. Houston Ballet will give seven performances of La Bayadere at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713 227 2787 or by visiting www.houstonballet.org.

From March 7-17, 2013, Houston Ballet will present The Rite of Spring, a program of premieres featuring three exciting 21st century choreographers and honoring the centenary of the premiere of Igor Stravinsky and Vaslav Nijinsky's landmark work. The company will unveil the world premiere of Stanton Welch's The Rite of Spring. A world premiere by internationally renowned choreographer Edwaard Liang to music by the Italian composer Ezio Bosso and a Houston Ballet premiere of Mark Morris's Pacific round out the program.

Houston Ballet II Dancer Joel Woellner was awarded two prizes at the 41st Prix de Lausanne Dance Competition, the prestigious international contest held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland between January 27 and February 2, 2013. Mr. Woellner placed sixth overall out of 78 international contestants and won the Contemporary Dance Prize. Mr. Woellner was the only student from an American ballet school to be awarded a prize.

Houston Ballet has announced that Jean Joransen Ellis has been appointed as its first Chief Development Officer. Ms. Ellis will be responsible for developing comprehensive strategic fundraising plans and overseeing the development department at the company.

Northrop Dance Presents Joffrey Ballet's RITE OF SPRING on Tuesday, February 26th at 7:30 pm in the Orpheum Theatre.

BalletMet has provided artistic excellence in the field of dance to Central Ohio since 1978. Get to know the company's history as we proudly feature BalletMet as the Regional Dance Company of the Week!

Ashley C. Wheater, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, announces the company's 2013-2014 season, titled "Masters of Dance." The season kicks off with a special addition to the Joffrey's home engagement line-up, a one-weekend-only program titled "Russian Masters" celebrating the centennial of Vaslav Nijinsky's ground-breaking 1913 ballet Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), along with George Balanchine's Allegro Brilliante and the return of Yuri Possokhov's Bells, September 19 - 22, 2013.

From February 21-March 3, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch's La Bayadère ('The Temple Dancer'), a historic classic staged by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch and set in royal India of the past.