Houston Ballet today announces a strong ballet season ahead, with three full ballets – Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake — and three world premieres in mixed repertoire programs.
Nutcrackerchoreographed by artistic director Stanton Welch, will return in full force for the winter holiday season and a one-night-only performance of the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance will feature a world premiere.
But you don’t have to wait until next fall to see the Houston Ballet. Continuing through March 20 is Welch’s Sylvia. The Academy’s Spring Showcase takes place April 29-30 and gives audiences the chance to see the next generation of burgeoning ballet talent. pretty things May 20-29 features works by some of the world’s most respected choreographers.
Originals slated for June 2-12 features an original ballet return by Welch as well as the first complete work commissioned by principal dancer Melody Mennite for Houston Ballet. And Lady Butterflyscheduled for June 16-26 and choreographed by Welch, will close the 2021-22 season.
Longer term, Houston Ballet’s 2022-23 season lineup includes:
Peter Pan (2004)
Choreographer: Trey McIntyre | Music: Sir Edward Elgar, arranged by Niel DePonte
September 9 – 18, 2022
Based on the popular children’s story by Sir James M. Barrie, Peter Pan is a gripping performance that follows Wendy, John, Michael and Peter’s escape to Neverland. Told through the eyes of a child, this take on the classic children’s tale features flight sequences, sword fights, giant puppets and punk fashion-inspired costumes that are sure to mesmerize audiences of all ages. ages. Experience what Broadway World calls, “a magical ballet produced by an extremely talented dance company.”
good vibes
Red Earth (1996) | Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Peter Sculthorpe
The Letter V (2015) | Choreographer: Mark Morris | Music: Joseph Haydn
Good Vibrations (World Premiere) | Choreographer: Arthur Pita | Music: Christopher Austin
September 22 – October 2, 2022
Good Vibrations sets the scene with an energetic triple poster featuring Red earth, the letter V and a long-awaited world premiere from internationally acclaimed choreographer, Arthur Pita. Red earth celebrates Australian art, transporting audiences to a world where adversity is expressed through movement, accompanied by an original score by Peter Sculthorpe and artwork by set designer Kevin “Pro” Hart. In The letter Vcreated by the famous musical choreographer Mark Morris at the Houston Ballet in 2015, the dancers evolve on the music of Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 88 in G major. To complete the programme, the world premiere of Pita, good vibes, originally planned for the 2019-2020 season. This work marks the first time Pita has choreographed on the Houston Ballet. Set to a score commissioned by Christopher Austin, with references to the legendary Beach Boys song, “Good Vibrations,” this program is quite the vibe.
Romeo and Juliet (2015)
Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Sergei Prokofiev
February 23 – March 5, 2023Welch’s Romeo and Juliet weaves the harrowing tale of star-crossed lovers exquisitely with lavish sets and costumes by acclaimed Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. Premiered at Houston Ballet in 2015, Welch’s brilliantly imagined rendition of the world’s most famous love story pays homage to the Italian Renaissance with classical themes and fresh choreography danced to Prokofiev’s romantic score. Saluted by Texas Arts and Culture Magazine as “simply breathtaking – as in, it literally inspired marvelously amazed gasps among the audience”, Welch’s take on this Shakespearean classic breathes new life into the story.
summer and smoke
Clear (2001) | Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Baroque Concerto (1977) | Choreographer: George Balanchine | Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Summer and Smoke (World Premiere) | Choreographer: Cathy Marston | Music: Michael Daughtery
March 9 – 19, 2023
Highlight the depth of male talent in the company, Clear strips down using skin-toned costumes to focus on the essence of the dance and the male body. Featuring seven men and one woman, this ballet production emphasizes the depth of emotion in choreography and reveals the power of transparency in movement. neoclassical ballet by George Balanchine, baroque concertopartners in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto in D minor for two violins highlight the relationship between dance and music. The Houston Ballet also presents the world premiere of Cathy Marston summer and smoke, a co-production with the American Ballet Theatre. Based on the Tennessee Williams play of the same name, Houston audiences can experience Marston’s unique literary storytelling for the first time.
Divergence
Angular Momentum (2012) | Choreographer: Aszure Barton | Music: Mason Bates
Divergences (1994) | Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Georges Bizet
World premiere | Choreographer: Justin Peck
May 25 – June 4, 2023
For the first time in ten years, Aszure Barton’s Angular momentum will take the stage at Houston Ballet for a performance that can only be described as an otherworldly experience. Barton pays homage to Houston with influences ranging from the Houston architecture depicted in stage design to the moon landing in the third movement of Mason Bates’ hybrid orchestral-electronic score. Divergenceset to L’Arlesienne Suites n°1 & 2 by Georges Bizet, breaks with tradition with dazzling choreography and provocative costumes meant to showcase the range of ballet. Presented to the public and critically acclaimed at the Australian Ballet, this work stretches beyond all limits. Justin Peck, choreographer of the Oscar-nominated musical West Side Story and resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet, launches a world premiere, his second commission for the Company.
Swan Lake (2006)
Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky
June 8 – 18, 2023
With elaborate sets and glittering costumes by the late New Zealand designer Kristian Fredrikson, Swan Lake is the first complete classical ballet created on the Houston Ballet by Stanton Welch. This will be the fifth time Houston Ballet will perform Welch’s Swan Lake as part of its main season. Set to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and inspired by Pre-Raphaelite painting The Lady of Shalottthis interpretation of Swan Lake follows Odette-Odile as she is cursed by the evil Rothbart transforming into a swan doomed never to find true love.
Additional performances for the 2022-2023 season lineup include:
Nutcracker (2016)
Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky
November 25 – December 24, 2022
The ultimate holiday tradition returns with the greatness audiences expect from Stanton Welch Nutcracker. From snowflakes to sword fights to the Christmas tree reaching for the sky, this ballet is a nostalgic annual tradition and the perfect holiday experience for the whole family. Be there as Clara and Drosselmeyer make their journey to the Candy Kingdom and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her prince in the land where real magic happens. Welch’s Nutcracker features hundreds of roles and a myriad of exquisite details that will let you find something new with every performance.
Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance
December 2, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Experience the fun of Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance in a one night only performance Houston Chronicle calls it “one of the funniest performances of the season”. This year’s program will highlight the most exciting moments from Houston Ballet’s repertoire with each principal dancer and debut a world premiere of Silas Farley, an up-and-coming choreographer who recently choreographed works for the Guggenheim’s Works & Process series, the Washington Ballet and American Ballet Theater.
For more information, call 713-227-2787 or visit houstonballet.org. Season tickets start at $117.
