Dance

Houston Ballet's Swan Lake Ascends to Greatness

Houston Ballet's Swan Lake Ascends to Greatness

Best Bets: Swan Lake, Jazz on Film and Summer Love

Best Bets: Swan Lake, Jazz on Film and Summer Love

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In Houston Ballet's Swan Lake, Naazir Muhammad Dances the Role of Prince Siegfried

By Margaret Downing
Jun 5, 2023

When Naazir Muhammad was young, he and his twin brother Shaakir were enrolled in a ballet class in Brooklyn in elementary school and while his brother was a model student, Muhammad was not. The teachers were all female, class was all girls except for the brothers which Muhammad didn't like. He...
The Future is Here in Houston Ballet's Latest Mixed Rep Program

By Natalie de la Garza
May 26, 2023

Imagine entering the Wortham Theater Center for an evening with the Houston Ballet. It’s their latest mixed repertory program, Divergence, and the first thing you see is an excited ballet (and music) aficionado giddily rushing to tell a friend that he spied sandpaper and a typewriter in the orchestra pit...
A Justin Peck Premiere Tops Off Houston Ballet's Mixed Rep Program Divergence

By Margaret Downing
May 19, 2023

As you stand in a line, start by leaning to the right, and imagine you're leaving a space ship to explore a new world — that's the instructions acclaimed choreographer Justin Peck gave to the four featured dancers in his new work Under the Folding Sky about to have its world...
The Many Loves of Prince Genji Take Center Stage at Asia Society Texas

By Natalie de la Garza
Mar 20, 2023

There are many good reasons to know The Tale of Prince Genji. The Japanese epic is widely considered to be the world’s first novel. It was written in the 11th century by a woman, lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu, during the Heian period, a time that saw the establishment of the most...
Bach and Tennessee Williams Shine in Houston Ballet's Summer & Smoke

By Natalie de la Garza
Mar 10, 2023

I can’t help but think of Houston Ballet’s latest mixed repertory program, Summer & Smoke, as Bach two ways with a side of Tennessee Williams. It’s a simplistic way to look at what proved to be an exceptionally rendered program – featuring George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Stanton Welch’s Clear and...
Best Bets: Bach, Carajita and a Tennessee Williams Ballet

By Natalie de la Garza
Mar 9, 2023

On this week’s list of best bets, you’ll find world premiere dance works with some interesting inspirations, a five-day-long film festival, and a not-oft-heard work of art. Keep reading for more about these and our other top picks over the next seven days. Homelessness is the subject of Houston Grand...
Group Acorde Tells Two Stories of Adaptation Through Dance and Music

By Natalie de la Garza
Mar 7, 2023

The idea of change – specifically changing to suit new or different conditions – lends itself to adaptar: stories of adaptation, the latest full-evening production from Group Acorde. Founded in 2016, the Houston-based company began when choreographer-dancers Roberta Paixão Cortes and Lindsey McGill reached out to musician-composers Thomas Helton and...
Lyrical and Romantic Romeo and Juliet at Houston Ballet

By Natalie de la Garza
Feb 24, 2023

Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene… This isn’t really necessary, is it? William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is by far one of the most well-known stories in the world, so it’s likely you already know all you need to know – feuding...
New/Now Gives Four Emerging Artists A Time To Shine

By Sam Byrd
Feb 23, 2023

Performing Arts Houston will give four local artists a chance to shine in New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project this weekend at Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater.
Summer & Smoke Mixed Rep Continues the Season at Houston Ballet

By Margaret Downing
Feb 22, 2023

A many-layered and lesser known Tennessee Williams play written in 1948 and set in Mississippi from the turn of the century through 1916 makes for a good ballet? That's what Houston Ballet believes as it presents the world premiere of Summer and Smoke by choreographer Cathy Marston in a co-production...
Houston Ballet's Romeo and Juliet Returns to the Wortham Stage After 8 Years

By Margaret Downing
Feb 13, 2023

When Stanton Welch once again presents his choreography for Romeo and Juliet starting on February 23, it will be eight years, almost to the day since that this production opened on the Wortham Theater stage. In the interim, the company has taken the ballet around the world to Australia where...
Houston Ballet Announces its 2023-24 Season and Celebrates 20 Years With Stanton Welch

By Houston Press
Feb 8, 2023

As the Houston Ballet announces its 2023-24 season with six world premieres and three Houston Ballet premieres in both story ballets and mixed rep, it also recognizes Artistic Director Stanton Welch who is celebrating his 20th year in that position. There will be a special 20th anniversary celebration of Welch for...
Houston Ballet's Nutcracker a Can't-Miss Holiday Production

By Natalie de la Garza
Nov 26, 2022

A Houston tradition, The Nutcracker, returns to Houston Ballet.
It's Time For Stanton Welch's The Nutcracker Once Again

By Margaret Downing
Nov 21, 2022

Beckanne Sisk has danced many different Sugar Plum Fairy roles before. But, as the newest Principal dancer joining Houston Ballet said, "This is a very different version. Stanton's Skeleton of The Nutcracker is the same as many but he has added so much of his own and incorporated more of the...
Houston Fringe Festival: 6 Days Of Not-To-Miss Arts

By Sam Byrd
Oct 31, 2022

The Houston Fringe Festival, a celebration of art that lives nearly entirely on the performing arts periphery will run November 1 – 6 at The MATCH, 3400 Main. This year’s artist line-up is full of cutting edge and experimental performances.
Houston Ballet Hires its First Co-Artistic Director

By Margaret Downing
Oct 24, 2022

A friendship of more than 20 years, coupled with several professional intersections over that time, has had no small part in the selection of Julie Kent as the first Co-Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet. Kent, a former ballerina with American Ballet Theatre, and most recently artistic director of The...
Elation, Sensation, and Good Vibrations in Houston Ballet’s Mixed Rep Program

By Natalie de la Garza
Sep 23, 2022

After a two-year-long COVID delay, the Houston Ballet presents Good Vibrations, a world premiere from Arthur Pita, during their fall mixed rep program.
Sophistication and Childlike Wonder in Houston Ballet's Peter Pan

By Natalie de la Garza
Sep 10, 2022

Houston Ballet opens their season with Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan.
Sword Fights, Flying and Beasts: Peter Pan Offers it All at Houston Ballet

By Margaret Downing
Sep 8, 2022

It's hard to beat a show about flying. Whether they be superheroes, a nanny with an umbrella or in the case of Peter Pan, a boy who won't grow up, there's something fascinating about watching someone take to the air, unencumbered by the usual laws of gravity. But, of course,...
Best Bets: Peter Pan, Somi, and Crying in the Bathroom

By Natalie de la Garza
Sep 8, 2022

Musical performances, dance works, and film headline this week’s list of best bets.