HoustonBallet Vol. 4, Issue 6
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Peter Pan
Sept. 9-18, 2022
Good Vibrations
Sept. 22-October 2, 2022
Romeo & Juliet Feb. 23-March 5, 2023
Summer & Smoke March 9-19, 2023
Divergence
May 25-June 4, 2023
Swan Lake June 8-18, 2023
The Nutcracker Nov. 25 - Dec. 24, 2022
Margaret Alkek Williams
Jubilee of Dance Dec. 2, 2022
Academy Spring Showcase April 28-29, 2023
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Derek Dunn and Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar
At Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we are experts in helping the body do what it was designed to do — stay in motion. As trusted doctors for Houston Ballet, we keep the dancers performing in the spotlight. And, by finding innovative ways to treat their injuries, we’re better able to treat yours. Whether you’re getting back on the stage or back to work, we use the latest technology and advanced therapies to get you back on your feet — and keep you moving. 713.790.3333 | houstonmethodist.org 20 convenient locations
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ORIGINALS
CONTENTS
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FIRST POSITION Learn about the partnership between Melody Mennite and Olga Saldivar for Floreciente; a conversation with Floreciente underwriters; a look at Dance Theatre of Harlem; a quick Q&A with up-and-coming composer and guest conductor Quinn Mason
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MUSICAL MATCH Think you’re a musical maestro? Put your knowledge to the test and match the instrument to its section.
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ORIGINALS Here you’ll find a QR code to the latest casting plus information on the artists behind Originals
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ÉTOILE
Derek Dunn and Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar
Meet the visionary leaders investing in Houston Ballet’s world-class performances and programs
IN THIS ISSUE 6 Welcome Letter 25 Company Profiles 29 Houston Ballet Staff 36 Annual Supporters 41 Special Events 42 In the Wings
Scan here for the latest casting! HOUSTON BALLET
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Houston Ballet 601 Preston Street, Houston, TX 77002 713.523.6300 info@houstonballet.org www.houstonballet.org Stanton Welch AM Artistic Director James Nelson Executive Director Ben Stevenson OBE Artistic Director Emeritus
Welcome!
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DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Angela Lee ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS Jasmine Fuller Cane DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Kate Wood PROJECT STAFF Lynn Chung, Tory Lieberman, Jared Murphy ADVERTISING SALES Ventures Marketing Group Matt Ross
HoustonBallet Vol. 4, Issue 6
See you in the theater, VOL. 4, ISSUE 6 2022
HOUSTON BALLET
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Angela Lane
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debuts his first solo piece on the Company, set to the enchanting compositions of rising star and Dallas native Quinn Mason, who will also serve as guest conductor for the Houston Ballet Orchestra. I’m proud of how far both Mennite and Walsh have come in their careers and can’t wait to see what they do next. Rounding out this incredible bill of works is The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, set to Benjamin Britten’s spirited work of the same title. Britten’s 1946 work set out to educate and introduce audiences to the sections of the orchestra, and in 2014, I set the score to dance created on Houston Ballet. This large-scale piece marks a very significant collaboration between our talented dancers and orchestra. Costume designs by Holly Hynes and lighting by Lisa J. Pinkham harmonize with this exquisite work for a truly exhilarating performance. This piece also comes complete with narration from Dewey Caddell, whom you may recognize from our 2018 collaborative performances of Okalahoma! with TUTS. Originals would not be possible without your constant support. I want to thank each of you for your presence in the theater and for your encouragement as Houston Ballet continues to thrive.
HoustonBallet
Dear Houston Ballet friends, I am pleased to welcome you to Originals! After beautiful performances of Pretty Things, we’re excited to demonstrate our diversity of talent and technique in another mixed repertoire of one-act ballets. Houston Ballet is known for its innovation and forward-thinking, and this performance is the perfect opportunity to see new efforts in both collaboration and choreography. First on the stage is Orange from my series of ballets inspired by the colors of the chakra. Performed in tandem with globally acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem, this will mark the first time that both companies share the stage. Spurred by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Dance Theatre of Harlem was born at the height of the civil rights movement and provided dancers of all colors the opportunity to excel in the classical ballet world. Dance Theatre of Harlem remains one of the most influential American ballet companies for over 50 years; we are honored to collaborate with this impactful and inspiring company. Originals also showcases the premiere of Floreciente, a new one-act ballet by Houston Ballet Principal Dancer Melody Mennite, generously underwritten by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. After the great success of her earlier work Oh, there you are for the 2018 Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance, Mennite presents her first fully commissioned work for the Company, a very important achievement for the 20-year Houston Ballet member, and costume and set designs from artist Olga Saldivar accompany her latest creation. Principal Dancer Connor Walsh also
PUBLISHED BY Houston Ballet
STANTON WELCH AM Houston Ballet Artistic Director
ON THE COVER Nao Kusuzaki Photo by Amitava Sarkar.
Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch. Photo by Charles Ford
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June 2022 Perspectives Series Faculty Chamber Music Tuesdays, June 7, 14, 21
Festival Orchestra Series
June 11: Franz Anton Krager, conductor – Schubert, Gershwin, Strauss June 18: Hans Graf, conductor – Janáček, Bartók June 25: Mei-Ann Chen, conductor – Hindemith, Dawson
Institute Concerts
June 10: Vocal Institute: Building Your Craft June 24: Jazz Institute June 25 and 26: Keyboard Academy
(re)Discovery Week
June 21-25: Concerts, discussion, and performances featuring works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and William Dawson Tickets:
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Floreciente artwork courtesy of Olga Saldivar
SPARK INSPIRATION Spark inspiration from studio to stage. Give today!
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FIRST
POSITION
Floreciente artwork courtesy of Olga Saldivar
SPOTLIGHT p. 10
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ANATOMY OF A SCENE p. 11
Meeting of the Minds A partnership between choreographer Melody Mennite and artist Olga Saldivar is the perfect mix for Floreciente By Jasmine Fuller Cane
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EN POINTE p. 12
GIVEN THE BLESSING TO DREAM BIG from Artistic Director Stanton Welch for her world premiere Floreciente, Principal dancer Melody Mennite’s thoughts immediately rushed to one name for collaboration: Mexican born, Texas-based artist, Olga Saldivar. Fifteen years prior to that moment, Mennite had seen her first Saldivar painting in a coffee shop gallery. “I always aspired to just own one of her pieces one day,” Mennite says. “[Her pieces] felt very empowering to
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UPLIFT p. 13
me and touched something in me.” When viewing Saldivar’s works for the first time, you’ll notice a theme. With each brushstroke, Saldivar blends traditional techniques with whimsical elements, building worlds with an edge of innocence, beauty and mystery. Inspired by nature, she often uses flowers, butterflies, and women as her source. So when Mennite’s concept for Floreciente needed costumes and sets, Saldivar was an obvious choice. HOUSTON BALLET
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FIRST POSITION
“This ballet is about cycles that we find ourselves in as humans and then how those cycles match up with the natural cycles of our environment,” Mennite explains. The Floreciente choreographer contacted Saldivar through her website with fingers crossed for their first-time collaboration; Saldivar was quick to agree to embark on this journey, her first costume and set design experience. The pair took their first meeting at Saldivar’s home studio, where they listened to the Floreciente music and brainstormed ideas over string melodies and piano chords, often jotting down matching ideas evoked from the music. “We basically came up with the whole thing then,” Saldivar remembers. “We knew the mood. I knew we were both seeing it in our heads somehow… we based most of the work from that meeting.” Saldivar uses her whimsical worldbuilding talent to capture the cycles in each of Floreciente’s eight movements. But quickly realizing physical sets
FROM THE ARTIST, OLGA SALDIVAR
would put a ''Along with Melody, I wanted to create this mystical world with limit on the art and movement. By making my paintings move along with the dancers, we want the audience to immerse themselves boundaries in this creative environment. Allthough the artwork was of these animated digitally, everything was originally painted by hand worlds, the and scanned. I wanted to show the textures and the brush duo turned their strokes. I feel that along with choreography, emotions can be attention to projection and shown with the paintings and the music.” animation for the scenic design. Animation attracted Saldivar immediately, who as she replicates the stages of the loved the opportunity to execute her magnolia from bud to flower. The vision through her own hands rather costumes also complement each world than delegating her designs, but it accordingly. Mennite and Saldivar, who also meant a lot more hours of love has a background in fashion, keep the and sweat from the self-proclaimed costumes clean and able to integrate perfectionist. into the cycle of each world. A new skill for Saldivar, she quickly With no stone left unturned, taught herself animation to make there’s no doubt that audiences will her paintings come to life behind the reap the benefits from this powerful Floreciente dancers. Each projected partnership. background is hand painted by “Our brains together are very Saldivar, scanned into the computer, similar in the way that we have an and meticulously digitally layered to immense amount of meaning and make the paintings move, an example detail to why we make what we make,” being the last movements of the Mennite says. “It’s very rewarding ballet, which take place in a meadow when all of that love we’re putting of blooming magnolias. Saldivar’s into it hits somebody in even just one attention for detail is impeccable, way.”
SPOTLIGHT
Stephanie & Frank Tsuru
On supporting choreographic creativity: When the dancers are onstage, the audience is enthralled with their beautiful technique, but the actual dancing is only half of any production’s equation; the concept, the steps, and intention behind the steps – that is pulled out of somebody’s mind. Without the choreography, there would be little for the dancers to do, so I really like highlighting the work and the choreographic process and providing the support necessary to cultivate that creativity. Working from the original ideas to the final product we see on stage is a long and detailed creative journey that is often underappreciated to the general public. We wish to highlight and celebrate the process and those behind it.
On sharing the joy of Houston Ballet: Houston is an enormous city. We feel not enough people actually get the opportunity or take the opportunity to enjoy Houston Ballet. It’s such an amazing gift that we have right here in our community, and it’s amazing how the Company is flourishing despite year after year of huge obstacles and barriers. We hope to encourage more to soak up the talent and beauty of our beloved Houston Ballet – to see what a gem we have right here. 10
Floreciente artwork courtesy of Olga Saldivar Frank and Stephanie Tsuru. Photo by Wilson Parish
On Melody’s next steps after her world premiere: Melody is an immense talent. She is incredibly intelligent with broad interests, so whatever Melody chooses to do and focus on, it will be a success. What I want to see is a fulfilled and content Melody. She is an amazing woman that has only scratched the surface of her potential. Floreciente is the beginning of something great, and I’m excited to see where she goes from here.
HOUSTON BALLET
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Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alexandra Hutchinson, Ingrid Silva and Daphne Lee. Demi Soloist Aui Fujiwara and Chun Wai Chan. Photo by Amitava Sarkar
No strangers to supporting Company members’ choreographic works, Frank and Stephanie Tsuru underwrite Melody Mennite’s Floreciente. Stephanie shares her thoughts on supporting creativity, Melody Mennite, and Houston Ballet.
ANNIV
H DT
’S
1969 At the height of the civil rights movement, Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook founded Dance Theatre of Harlem. Dance Theatre of Harlem went on to give their first public appearance in 1971 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
FIRST POSITION FIRST POSITION
E R SA RY
1999 During their 30th anniversary season, Dance Theatre of Harlem and its cofounder Arthur Mitchell were inducted into New York’s esteemed National Museum of Dance and the Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame.
2009 Dance Theatre of Harlem was honored in an exhibition at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts – a highlight of DTH’s 40th anniversary celebration and tribute to their contributions to the community.
MILES
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2019 Dually celebrating their 50th anniversaries, Dance Theatre of Harlem performed Stanton Welch’s Orange with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre alongside George Balanchine’s Rubies, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Balamouk, and Darrell Grand Moultrie’s Harlem on My Mind.
ANATOMY OF A SCENE
A Collaborative Effort
New York’s historic Dance Theatre of Harlem comes to Houston to perform Stanton Welch’s Orange alongside Houston Ballet
Floreciente artwork courtesy of Olga Saldivar
Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alexandra Hutchinson, Ingrid Silva and Daphne Lee. Demi by Soloist AuiNeville. Fujiwara and Chun Wai Chan. Photo Amitava Sarkar Photo Rachel Courtesy of Dance Theatre of by Harlem
By Kate Wood IN AN EXCITING FIRST-TIME PARTNERSHIP, the globallyacclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem joins Houston Ballet at the Wortham Theater Center for performances of Stanton Welch’s Orange. Dance Theatre of Harlem has long been an institution in New York City, celebrated for their forward thinking repertoire and powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. “We’re a very distinct company because the premise of our organization is diversity,” says Virginia Johnson, Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director. “We are built on the idea that ballet belongs to everyone, and we have the capacity to show what ballet looks like when everyone is included on the stage.” Although Originals marks the first time Houston Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem will share the stage, Dance Theatre of Harlem is no stranger to Welch’s ballet Orange. During their 50th Anniversary Celebration Performances in 2019, Dance Theatre of Harlem gave stunning performances of Orange in tandem with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, also celebrating
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their 50th anniversary. “Orange is just a beautiful ballet,” says Johnson. “It’s musically beautiful and it has a playful feeling to it, but it’s also very dramatic. It’s thrilling that we’re going to be working with Stanton directly on this work.” From Welch’s color series inspired by the colors of the chakra, Orange is set to various oboe concerti from composer Antonio Vivaldi. Noted by the Pittsburgh City Paper in 2019, “Orange conveys an inexplicable sorrow, depicted through the dancer’s sharp movements.There’s a flowing, seamless display of support, merged with bodily collapse. Dancers sweep the floor, floating from lifts, inducing goosebumps with uninterrupted, fluid movements.” As the two companies enter a collaboration, Houston Ballet is honored to welcome Dance Theatre of Harlem to the Bayou City. “Dance Theatre of Harlem has performed in Houston many times over the years, and it’s always been a favorite place of ours to be.” says Johnson. “We’re going to have a lot of fun!” HOUSTON BALLET
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FIRST POSITION
HOW DO YOU EXPECT CONDUCTING A BALLET ORCHESTRA WILL DIFFER FROM CONDUCTING A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA? I’ve sought a lot of counsel from my conductor mentors, specifically those who have experience conducting some of the best ballet orchestras in the country. They all tell me that when you conduct for a ballet, your tempo has to be precise, as opposed to when you’re conducting in a symphonic setting, where you have the freedom to mess with the feel of the music. With ballet, it has to be very consistent so the dancers have a strict tempo to dance to. For that advice, I want to give a shoutout to two of my mentors – Edwin Outwater in San Fransisco and Alastair Willis in South Bend. Thank you!
Music in the Air
Composer and rising star Quinn Mason talks musical inspiration and his collaboration with Houston Ballet Principal Dancer Connor Walsh
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WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATION WITH HOUSTON BALLET? This will be a very new experience for me. It’ll be very immersive; Maestro Florio wants me to supervise all rehearsals, tech rehearsals with the piano, pit rehearsals with the orchestra. It’ll be new for me to go inside one of the top ballet companies in the country – maybe even the world – and see how everything works and how a production is put together. I’m also really looking forward to working closely with Connor and seeing how we can work together to bring a new project to life.
Quinn Mason. Photo by Allison Slomowitz. Courtesy of Cadenza Artists.
HOW WERE YOU AND CONNOR WALSH INTRODUCED? HOW DID YOU COME TO BE THE GUEST CONDUCTOR FOR THE HOUSTON BALLET ORCHESTRA? Connor reached out to me. He found my work, A Joyous Trilogy, and he told me he was instantly smitten by it, which is an honor because Connor is an amazing dancer. He told me how he listened to my piece over and over and realized he had to choreograph to it, so he reached out and we had a really cool conversation. Then, we got in touch with Maestro Ermanno Florio, and he was excited about it as well; he knew I conducted so he invited me to conduct.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCES AS A MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER? When it comes to my orchestral approach, the music of John Adams is a big influence, especially in A Joyous Trilogy. The music of Stravinsky has influenced me as well since he’s my favorite composer, and The Rite of Spring is my favorite piece. I’m inspired by world music, too; since I primarily grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood, I had friends introduce me to salsa, mariachi and banda; listening to the crazy rhythmical stuff they do in those pieces inspired me because I’m very rhythmically oriented as a percussionist. I put some of those rhythmic elements into my own music; a lot of that stuff subconsciously finds its way into my music.
HOUSTON BALLET
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Houston Ballet Orchestra. Photo by Christian Brown
EN POINTE
YOUR RÉSUMÉ IS VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR A YOUNG COMPOSER SO EARLY IN THEIR CAREER; YOU’VE WORKED IN MANY DIFFERENT ARENAS AT ONLY 26 YEARS OLD. HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN COMPOSITION? I started when I was 10. I took a piano class, and a couple of years after that, I started playing the cello. I’d been studying music a lot, listening to the radio, and I got curious about what it would sound like to create my own music. In high school, I had a supportive band director who let me compose for and conduct the band. That gave me a lot of opportunities to practice my craft, and then my career really took off when I won a composition contest called the NextNotes High School Music Creator Award my senior year. l got a taste of what it’s like to be a professional, and after high school I went up to Minneapolis to work with professional musicians for the first time. After that, I started getting paid commissions, and now I work with orchestras all across the country.
FIRST POSITION
Musical Match UPLIFT
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra provides a crash course into the sections of the orchestra. Think your musical knowledge is up to snuff? Match the instruments to their designated sections!
THE SECTIONS WOODWIND Instruments in this section require air blown through them to make sounds. Usually, they’re made of wood and use reeds.
BRASS These instruments also require air but are made of metal and use metal mouthpieces rather than reeds.
STRINGS String instruments require no air at all. Instead, they are played with a bow or plucked with fingers.
PERCUSSION The percussion section includes anything that is struck, whether it’s with hands, mallets, or sticks.
THE INSTRUMENTS
BASSOON FLUTE
FRENCH HORN
VIOLA HARP
ANSWERS WOODWINDS - BASSOON, FLUTE | BRASS - FRENCH HORN | STRINGS - HARP, VIOLA | PERCUSSION - TIMPANI
Quinn Mason. Photo by Allison Slomowitz. Courtesy of Cadenza Artists.
Houston Ballet Orchestra. Photo by Christian Brown Instrument photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
TIMPANI
HOUSTON BALLET
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houstonballet.org | 713.227.2787 (ARTS)
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Principal Charles-Louis Yoshiyama and Soloist Mackenzie Richter with Artists of Houston Ballet rehearsing Connor Walsh’s A Joyous Trilogy (in flight). Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.
La Sylphide June 16-26 World Premiere
Sparrow
STANTON WELCH AM
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CREDITS p. 16
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THE ARTISTS p. 20
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ORCHESTRA p. 23
ORIGINALS JUNE 2-12, 2022
Principal Charles-Louis Yoshiyama and Soloist Mackenzie Richter with Artists of Houston Ballet rehearsing Connor Walsh’s A Joyous Trilogy (in flight). Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.
This performance lasts approximately two hours and twenty-five minutes. There will be two intermissions lasting twenty minutes each. For casting, scan the QR code.
HOUSTON BALLET
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CREDITS
Orange
Choreography by Stanton Welch AM, for Mark Music by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Concerti (various) for Oboe, Strings, and Basso Continuo Costume Design by Holly Hynes Lighting Design by Lisa J. Pinkham Featuring Guest Artists from Dance Theatre of Harlem Mayu Isom, Oboe World Premiere: July 30, 2001 by Dance Galaxy at the Joyce Theater in New York City, New York. Houston Ballet Premiere: October 27, 2006 at the Dixon Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This photo is from Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 2020-2021 season photoshoot
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Dance Theatre of Harlem, Lindsey Donnell. Photo by Rachel Neville. Courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO Orange is performed to a mixture of melodies composed by the famed virtuoso Antonio Vivaldi. Vivaldi’s various excerpts are arranged for Strings, Basso Continuo, and Oboe. Broadway World describes the beginning of Orange’s score as having an “inexplicable sorrow,” that gradually turns cheerful as “Vivaldi’s composition ends jovially.”
HOUSTON BALLET
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Choreographer Connor Walsh.
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING One of Stanton Welch’s color ballets based on the colors of the chakra, Orange features three couples that perform both as a group and in individual pas de deux. Pittsburgh City Paper calls Welch’s Orange “a flowing, seamless display of support, merged with bodily collapse. Dancers sweep the floor, floating from lifts, inducing goosebumps with uninterrupted, fluid movements.”
CREDITS
A Joyous Trilogy (in flight)
WORLD PREMIERE Choreography by Connor Walsh Music by Quinn Mason A Joyous Trilogy Costume Concept by Connor Walsh and Chae Eun Yang Costume Realized by Sandra Fox Lighting Design by Lisa J. Pinkham
Dance Theatre of Harlem, Lindsey Donnell.
Choreographer Connor Walsh. Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING A note from the choreographer: “When creating this piece, I toyed with the idea of a dancer’s relationship with flight. When you dance, it sometimes feels like you’re flying… there’s moments of weightlessness that make you feel absolutely free. When I listened to this wonderful music by Quinn Mason, I got a sense of soaring through different landscapes: canyons, forests, oceans. We started making this work in October shortly after we resumed our normal rehearsal schedules, which led to a real sense of community and joy in this piece. I wanted the dancers to connect with each other and feel like they could dance to their freest and fullest potential. There’s a strong sense of renewal and optimism that I hope comes out through this piece.”
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO “For A Joyous Trilogy, the composer writes that he ‘wanted to create a composition that was the very embodiment of happiness and cheerfulness, an accessible work that would put any listener in a good mood.’ The first movement, ‘Running’ is so called because of its always-moving and seemingly never-waning energy that keeps going and going. The second, ‘Reflection,’ is a gentle and introspective meditation featuring a solo trombone. The third, ’Renewal,’ picks the energy back up, but a little more spirited and zestful this time, and keeps it going to the very end, complete with dynamic and vibrant interplay between all the orchestral sections.” Written by Jeff Eldridge HOUSTON BALLET
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CREDITS
Floreciente Generously underwritten by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru
WORLD PREMIERE Choreography by Melody Mennite Music by René Aubry (1947-2016) Ne m’oublie pas, Steppe, Facéties, Après la pluie Ezio Bosso (1971-2020) Exit, Run 44, Mechanical Dolls (The Turin String Quartet), Pines and Flowers Max Richter Sunlight Costume and Scenic Design by Olga Saldivar Lighting Design by Grey Starbird Projection Design by Leon B. Chenier Jr.
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Choreographer Melody Mennite. Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox.
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO A selection of live and recorded music from composers René Aubry, Ezio Bosso, Max Richter.
HOUSTON BALLET
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Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING A note from the choreographer: “Floreciente means to flourish or bloom. There was a time, not long ago, when we were closer to the rhythms of the natural world. We more intimately belonged to this Earth and simultaneously to each other. Finding ourselves out of balance in a modern era, we have become disoriented and searching for a clearer path forward. We look back and see that even through our greed and all our distractions, natures rhythms, cycles, and wisdom continue to hold us and sustain us. Shedding the skins that keep us blind to the harm of our assertions of power starts with listening. Respecting each other and our natural teachers who bloom and thrive with the silent wisdom from within will go a long way in this aim. Listen to the song of nature, that rhythm of your own heartbeat, it is the deepest place in you that says you are home. May we bloom.”
CREDITS
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Choreography by Stanton Welch AM, for Mark Music by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner Costume Design by Holly Hynes Lighting Design by Lisa J. Pinkham Dewey Caddell, Narrator World Premiere: March 16, 2014 at Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater in Houston, Texas by Houston Ballet.
Choreographer Melody Mennite.
Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra gives audiences an inside look at the instruments that make up an orchestra illustrated by dance. An ensemble of 35 dancers open and close the show, with various solos, groups and pas de deux performing in between to bring each orchestral section to life, from strings to woodwinds to brass to percussion. Stanton Welch notes, “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra marks a very significant collaboration between our dancers and the orchestra.”
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO Created in 1946, Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra has helped introduce generations of children to the world of classical music. Complete with a narrator, the piece opens with a theme from English composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695), then takes audiences through each section of the orchestra using variations on the theme. Rounding out the score, the orchestra plays together once again with a fugue – a short melody introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and interwoven – as the brass play the Purcell tune from the beginning.
HOUSTON BALLET
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THE ARTISTS
The Artists STANTON WELCH AM Choreographer, Orange and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra In July 2003, Australian Stanton Welch AM assumed leadership of Houston Ballet, America’s fifth-largest classical ballet company. Since he took the helm of the Company, Mr. Welch has revitalized Houston Ballet, bringing in new dancers, commissioning new works, and attracting a top-flight artistic staff. Mr. Welch has created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. Welch was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia’s most gifted dancers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1989, he was engaged as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, where he rose to the rank of leading soloist, performing various principal roles. He has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, and Maurice Bejart. In 1995, Mr. Welch was named resident choreographer of The Australian Ballet. For his contributions to the world of dance, he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2015. For Houston Ballet, he has choreographed more than 20 works, including a new full-length narrative ballet Marie (2009), inspired by the life of the legendary Marie Antoinette, and spectacular stagings of Swan Lake (2006), La Bayadère (2010), Romeo and Juliet (2015), Giselle (2016), The Nutcracker (2016), and Sylvia (2019). HOLLY HYNES Costume Designer, Orange and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Holly Hynes is an award-winning costume designer with over 250 ballets to her credit, including more than 70 at New York City Ballet. Hynes’ designs are also on view in companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre; The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Russia; National Ballet of Canada; La Scala Ballet in Milan, Italy; The Kirov Ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia; The Royal Ballet in London; Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris, The Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen; Bulgarian State Ballet in Sofia, Bulgaria, Miami City Ballet; Koninklijk Ballet van Vlaanderen in Antwerp, Belgium; San 20
Francisco Ballet; Houston Ballet; Den Norske Ballet in Oslo, Norway; Finnish National; BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio; Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ballet Vancouver, Canada; Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Canada; American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, New Jersey; Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle, Washington; Atlanta Ballet, Georgia; Nashville Ballet, Tennessee; Ballet Pacifica, California; Dance Galaxy, New York; Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, Illinois; and The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, where she has served as the resident costume designer for 19 years. Ms. Hynes has been entrusted by The George Balanchine Trust and the Jerome Robbins estate to teach the execution of costume designs for Mr. Balanchine’s and Mr. Robbins’s ballets to companies all over the world. Mr. Welch has collaborated with Ms. Hynes several times. She has designed the costumes for ten of his works: Tu Tu (2003), Falling (2005), Naked (2008) and Bespoke (2018) for San Francisco Ballet; Don Quixote (2003), The Firebird (2005) and Blue (2005) for BalletMet; Orange (2001) for Dance Galaxy (now Ballet NY); Kisses (2001) for Chamber Dance Project; and Brigade (2006) and The Core (2008) for Houston Ballet. Her HB designs for Stanton Welch include Just, Sons de L’âme, The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Tapestry, The Core, Brigade, Falling, Tu Tu, Orange and Blue. She also designed the revival of Christopher Wheeldon’s Carousel- A Dance and Jorma Elo’s ONE|end|ONE for the Company. LISA J. PINKHAM Lighting Designer, Orange, A Joyous Trilogy (in flight), and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Lisa J. Pinkham has designed lighting for over 200 ballets, operas, and plays. Her lighting can be seen in the repertories of many national companies. She enjoys a successful relationship with Stanton Welch AM, and has designed the lighting for many of his ballets, including Maninyas, Taiko, Tu Tu, and Falling for San Francisco Ballet; Madame Butterfly for Boston Ballet and Houston Ballet; Clear for American Ballet Theatre; and Swan Lake, Play, Cinderella, Tapestry, Marie, The Rite of Spring, Sons de L’âme, Paquita, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Romeo and Juliet, Zodiac, Giselle, The Nutcracker, and Sylvia for
Houston Ballet. DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM Guest Artists, Orange Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a professional touring company, a leading studio school, and a national and international education and community outreach program. Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries a solid commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the arts. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem is considered “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times). Shortly after the assassination of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children – especially those in Harlem, the community in which he was born – the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its sixth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts. Dance Theatre of Harlem has achieved unprecedented success, bringing innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences in New York City, across the country and around the world. Now a singular presence in the ballet world, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company tours nationally and internationally, presenting a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. The 17-member, multi-ethnic company performs a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and resident choreographer Robert Garland, as well as innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate African American culture. Through performances, community engagement and arts education, the Company carries forward Dance Theatre of Harlem’s message of empowerment through the arts for all. MAYU ISOM Oboe, Orange Mayu Isom is 2nd Oboe and English horn with Houston Grand Opera and 3rd Oboe with Houston Ballet Orchestra; she currently
HOUSTON BALLET
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THE ARTISTS
The Artists serves as Acting Principal Oboe with both orchestras. Earlier this season, Isom appeared as a soloist with the Houston Ballet Orchestra, performing English horn on Aaron Copland’s “Quiet City.” Isom’s orchestral credits include performances with the San Antonio Symphony, the Amarillo Symphony, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and others. Her festival appearances include the Spoleto Festival USA, the Music Academy of the West, the National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute, and many other festivals. Prior to winning her positions in Houston, Isom was a member of the studios of John Ferrillo and Anne Marie Gabriele at Boston University. While in Boston, Isom won the Ralph Gomberg Merit Award Competition through the Boston Woodwind Society. Isom earned her Master of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where she was awarded a full scholarship to study with Robert Atherholt, and earned her Bachelor of Music at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music as a prestigious Jacobs Scholar under the tutelage of Linda Strommen and Roger Roe. CONNOR WALSH Choreographer, A Joyous Trilogy (in flight) Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Connor Walsh began his training at the age of seven under the direction of his mother Constance Walsh. He has trained at The Kirov Academy of Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, and Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, where he was awarded the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation Scholarship and the Ben Stevenson Scholarship award. In 2004, he won the first annual gold award from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) and was given the Award of Encouragement at the Shanghai International Ballet Competition. In 2004, Walsh joined Houston Ballet’s company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was quickly promoted to soloist in 2006 and then to principal dancer in 2007. Walsh has originated lead roles in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker (The Prince), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Giselle (Albrecht), Marie (Count Axel von Fersen), and La Bayadère (Solor). He has danced major roles in numerous full-length ballets including John Cranko’s Onegin (Lensky) and The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon (Des Grieux) and
Mayerling (Prince Rudolf), John Nuemier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal Gardée (Colas), Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow (Camille), Ben Stevenson’s Don Quixote (Basilio), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund), and Dracula (Fredrick), Sir David Bintley’s Aladdin (Aladdin) and The Tempest (Ferdinand), Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan (Merman), and Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake (Siegfried), Marie (Count Axel Fersen and King Louis XVI), Madame Butterfly (Pinkerton), La Sylphide (James), and Cinderella (The Prince and Dandini). Walsh’s repertory also includes works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Justin Peck, Alexander Eckman, Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon, Twyla Tharp, Hans Van Manen, Glen Tetley, Christopher Bruce, Anthony Tudor, Nacho Duato and Serge Lifar, Melissa Barak. One act creations include Stanton Welch, Aszure Barton, Edwaard Liang, Mark Morris, James Kudelka, Nicolo Fonte, Melissa Hough, and Garrett Smith among others. In recent years Walsh has expanded his reach into teaching, coaching and choreographing. In 2015, along with fellow Houston Ballet company members Oliver Halkowich and Melody Walsh, Walsh founded REACH - a choreographic project that raises money for arts education in schools. Following the success of REACH, Walsh and his colleagues were invited to create a world premiere, entitled What we keep, for Houston Ballet in spring of 2018. Walsh enjoys teaching, coaching and choreographing as well as participating in many forms of dance. He is also a soccer fanatic as well as food enthusiast. QUINN MASON Composer and Guest Conductor, A Joyous Trilogy (in flight) Quinn Mason (b. 1996) is a composer and conductor based in Dallas, Texas. He recently served as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots composer in residence for 2022 (the youngest composer to serve in that role) and currently serves as KMFA’s inaugural composer in residence. His music has been played by groups such as the Dallas Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Detroit Symphony, New World Symphony. Utah Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, National Youth Orchestra of the United States and more. A multiple
prize winner in composition, he is also the recipient of awards from the American Composers Forum, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Heartland Symphony Orchestra, ASCAP, and Voices of Change among others. He is also a conductor, having studied with Marin Alsop, James Ross, Christopher Zimmerman, Kevin Sütterlin, Miguel Harth-Bedoya and Will White, and has guest conducted many orchestras around the country, including the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Harmonia Orchestra, and MusicaNova Orchestra. Upcoming performances in the 2022-2023 season will be by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra and numerous other orchestras. He will also make his conducting debut with a major orchestra, leading the National Symphony Orchestra in May 2023. MELODY MENNITE Choreographer, Floreciente A native of Santa Cruz, California, Melody Mennite trained at Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre under Robert Kelley and Diane McLarty and at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She also attended summer intensive programs with Suzanne Farrell. At the age of 13, Mennite began her training with Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy and also attended three consecutive summer intensive programs with the academy. In the 2000-2001 season, she spent one year in Houston Ballet II on full scholarship and stipend. Mennite also won a scholarship award from Regional Dance America in 2000. At the age of 17, she joined the Company in 2001 as an apprentice, rose to Corps de Ballet dancer in 2002 then Soloist in 2005. Mennite was promoted to principal in 2008. She was invited to tour with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre through Tansonmer, Austria. Prior to joining Houston Ballet, she performed numerous leading roles with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre: the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker; Kitri in Don Quixote and Odette in Swan Lake. Mennite has performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy as a guest artist with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker productions since 2006. Mennite has performed leading roles in ballets by Stanton Welch AM, John Cranko, Ben Stevenson OBE, Marius Petipa, Jiří Kylián, Christopher Bruce, George Balanchine, Mark HOUSTON BALLET
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The Artists Morris, Paul Taylor, Justin Peck and Harold Lander. Stanton Welch choreographed the full-length Marie with Mennite as his muse and title character, Marie Antoinette. He choreographed a new production of The Nutcracker in 2016 with Mennite as Clara. Welch has created many roles on her like Psyche in Sylvia, Cinderella in Cinderella, Falling, The Four Seasons, Carmina Burana, The Core, Brigade, and Velocity. Justin Peck created a role on her with his world premiere of Reflections in 2019. In 2015, along with fellow Houston Ballet Company members Oliver Halkowich and Connor Walsh, Mennite founded REACH – a choreographic project that raises money for arts education in schools. Following the success of REACH, Mennite and her colleagues were invited to create a world premiere, entitled What we keep for Houston Ballet in spring of 2018. Mennite is also a choreographer and premiered Oh, there you are at Houston Ballet’s Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance on November 30, 2018. Mennite has created 13 commissioned works since 2011 including Ana for Ballet Arkansas in 2015, Next of Kin for Houston Ballet Academy in 2016, Own commissioned for Kingwood Dance Theatre which won a Regional Dance America award and was chosen for their Gala Festival in 2017, The 64 and 91 for Kansas City Ballet in 2020, We all are for Contingent Ballet in 2020, Nostalgia de los montañas for Houston Chamber Orchestra Festival in 2020, and You and me and the waves for Houston Ballet in 2021. She was the choreographer and dancer in the awardwinning film Self Sabotage, which was the short film category winner for the Festivus Film Festival in 2012. Mennite frequently appears as a guest artist in galas and with companies nationally and internationally. She performs in Seattle with Whim W’Him, where she originated roles in Cylindrical Shadows by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Monster by Olivier Wevers. OLGA SALDIVAR Costume and Scenic Designer, Floreciente Olga is a Mexican born, Texas-based artist, illustrator, and designer. She grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, and developed a passion for fashion and for creating. After moving to Texas she left the fashion world behind and started adding paint to her drawings. She has shown her artwork for almost 20 years in galleries across United States and Mexico.
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Her artwork blends traditional techniques with whimsical elements creating an edge between innocence, beauty, and mystery. Olga has worked with different mediums during her career as an artist. Whether she is doing ceramics, painting, or working with leather, she is extremely inspired by nature. Flowers, butterflies and birds are a common subject in her art, with texture playing a key element on each of her pieces. Olga Saldivar lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two children. GREY STARBIRD Lighting Designer, Floreciente Grey Starbird (she/her) is a Houston-based designer, technical director, and educator. She is currently the Technical Director for Houston Ballet. She has designed for Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company, Karen Stokes Dance, Suchu Dance, San Antonio Ballet, Rice University Dance, Episcopal High School, St. Agnes Academy, Westbury Christian School, University of St. Thomas, University of Houston, Brave Little Company, Main Street Theatre and Main Street Youth, Queensbury Theatre, Rec Room Arts, and Trinity University, among others. She has been a finalist for Houston Theater Awards for Best Lighting thrice, was featured in Houston Press’ 100 Houston Creatives, and is an Eagle Scout. LEON B. CHENIER JR. Projection Designer, Floreciente Leon is a proud member of the I.A.T.S.E Local 51 stagehand union of Houston for 47 years. He has traveled with Broadway touring shows such as The Wiz 1979 (1st National Tour), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Into the Woods, and Guys and Dolls. In 1998, he was contracted by the Houston Grand Opera to produce their large screen projection images for The Flying Dutchman, Carmen, A Little Night Music, Madame Butterfly, and Pagliacci. Other projection projects: Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS): Scrooge, Tommy, The Wiz, and the Kansas City Opera: Of Mice and Men. He produced projection images for the Utah Opera during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Mr. Chenier is the projection operator for the Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Sylvia, and Floreciente.
DEWEY CADDELL Narrator, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra A graduate of the great University of Missouri, Dewey is an actor, concert tenor and comedian. Some favorite credits include: Finian’s Rainbow (Irish Rep), The Will Rogers Follies (Goodspeed), Oklahoma with Houston Ballet (TUTS), The Story Pirates! (Worldwide), Brigadoon (Iroquois Amphitheatre), and Dear World (York). Dewey is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and SAG/AFTRA and can be found at thedewey.com. JONATHAN MCPHEE Guest Conductor Jonathan McPhee is currently Music Director Emeritus for Boston Ballet after 29 years as Music Director and is Music Director for the Lexington Symphony. In addition, he is a guest conductor for New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and Sarasota Ballet. McPhee has served as conductor for The Royal Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, National Ballet of Canada, The Australian Ballet, Den Norske Ballet in Norway, and Royal Danish Ballet, among others. During the 2020-2021 season he was Artist in Residence at Boston University. Mr. McPhee’s works as an arranger and composer are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. and Schott Music. McPhee’s edition of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and The Firebird are the only authorized reduced orchestrations of these works. His adaption of Wagner’s RING Cycle premiered in 2016 to rave reviews and will soon be available from Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. Mr. McPhee’s recordings of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet, and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, are available on iTunes. His recording of Michael Gandolfi’s Caution to the Wind is available on the CRI label. McPhee conducted for the films of Martha Graham’s works telecast by DANCE IN AMERICA, including Samuel Barber’s Cave of the Heart, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Errand into the Maze, and Edgard Varese’ Integrales, Offrandes, and Octandre. He received his L.R.A.M. from the Royal Academy of Music and University of London, and a B.M. and M.M. from The Juilliard School.
HOUSTON BALLET
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ORCHESTRA
Houston Ballet Orchestra Conducted by Ermanno Florio, Quinn Mason, and Jonathan McPhee
FIRST VIOLIN Denise Tarrant*, Concertmaster Rachel Shepard, Assistant Concertmaster Linda Sanders* Sylvia Ver Meulen* Mary Reed* Oleg Sulyga* Anabel Detrick Chloe Yeseul Kim Hae-a Lee Kana Kimura SECOND VIOLIN Natalie Gaynor, Principal Elizabeth Frederick* Karen Hall Wilkson* Miriam Belyatsky Feld* Erica Robinson* Melissa Williams Emily Madonia Hannah Watson VIOLA Rene Salazar*, Principal Lorento Golofeev*, Assistant Principal Dawson White Elizabeth Golofeev Erika Lawson Gayle Garcia-Shepard
CELLO Barrett Sills*, Principal Max Dyer* Dave Zeger* Steven Wiggs* Esra Sturman Matthew Dudzik
CLARINET Eric Chi, Principal Sean Krissman
BASS Curry Duffey*, Principal David Connor, Assistant Principal Greg Garcia* Carla Clark*
HORN James Wilson*, Principal Jamie Leff Sarah Cranston* Kevin McIntyre
FLUTE Susan Kang, Principal Peggy Russell* Colleen Matheu Johnson* PICCOLO Colleen Matheu Johnson* OBOE Mayu Isom, Principal Katherine Hart
BASSOON Michael Frederick*, Principal Amanda Swain
TRUMPET Tetsuya Lawson, Principal Randal Adams Jason Adams
TIMPANI Alison Chang, Principal PERCUSSION Christina Carroll*, Principal Karen Slotter* Robert McCullagh Richard Brown HARP Joan Eidman*, Principal CELESTE Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon* *Houston Ballet Orchestra members who have more than 10 years of service
TROMBONE Thomas Hultén*, Principal Michael Warny* BASS TROMBONE Richard Reeves* TUBA Mark Barton*, Principal
ENGLISH HORN Katherine Hart
Acknowledgements General Counsel: Vinson & Elkins, LLP Immigration Attorneys: Foster, LLP The dancers appearing in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists AFL-CIO Houston Ballet Orchestra members are represented by Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local 65-699, A.F. of M. Stage Crew personnel are placed by I.A.T.S.E., Local 51. Wardrobe personnel are placed by I.A.T.S.E., T.W.U. Local 896. Houston Ballet is a member of Dance/USA Touring Representation: IMG Artists
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HOUSTON BALLET
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Artistic Staff Profiles STANTON WELCH AM The Harris Masterson III Artistic Director In July 2003, Australian Stanton Welch AM assumed leadership of Houston Ballet, America’s fifth-largest classical ballet company. Since he took the helm of the Company, Mr. Welch has revitalized Houston Ballet, bringing in new dancers, commissioning new works, and attracting a top-flight artistic staff. Mr. Welch has created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. Welch was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia’s most gifted dancers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1989, he was engaged as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, where he rose to the rank of leading soloist, performing various principal roles. He has also worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, and Maurice Bejart. In 1995, Mr. Welch was named resident choreographer of The Australian Ballet. For his contributions to the world of dance, he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2015. For Houston Ballet, he has choreographed more than 20 works, including a new full-length narrative ballet Marie (2009), inspired by the life of the legendary Marie Antoinette, and spectacular stagings of Swan Lake (2006), La Bayadère (2010), Romeo and Juliet (2015), Giselle (2016), The Nutcracker (2016), and Sylvia (2019).
ERMANNO FLORIO Music Director Ermanno Florio has impressed both audiences and critics in the major centers of Europe, North America, and Asia. The extremely versatile Mr. Florio has well distinguished himself in genres of symphonic, operatic, and balletic repertoire. Mr. Florio maintains an active conducting schedule that has included extensive engagements with the world’s major ballet companies. In 1985, Mr. Florio was appointed Principal Conductor and Music Administrator of The National Ballet of Canada by Erik Bruhn and since 1992 has held the position of Music Director of Houston Ballet. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Florio held the position of Music Director of American Ballet Theatre. In March 2004, Mr. Florio was appointed Music Director of Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam and currently continues his relationship with the company as Principal Guest Conductor. Mr. Florio’s extensive discography includes DVD releases of critically acclaimed performances of The Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Onegin, Cinderella, The Merry Widow, Alice, The Nutcracker, La Ronde, and Le Corsaire with ABT, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts. Mr. Florio’s DVD recording of Don Quichotte with L’Orchestre de L’Opera National de Paris also won the Cannes Classical Music
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Award for Best DVD in the category of Concert and Ballet Recordings. Mr. Florio’s music arrangements include scores for Patrice Bart’s Tchaikovsky, Das Flammende Hertz, and Gustaf III; Stanton Welch’s Marie and La Bayadère; and Asami Maki’s La Dame aux Camelias.
Upon his retirement after a 22-year professional career onstage, he joined the artistic staff of Houston Ballet as ballet master in 2020.
AMY FOTE Ballet Master BARBARA BEARS Ballet Master Barbara Bears, winner of the silver medal at the 1991 International Ballet Competition, was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and received her early dance training from Victoria Leigh and James Franklin. Ms. Bears joined Houston Ballet as a corps member in 1988 and that same season was selected by Sir Kenneth MacMillan to dance the lead in his ballet Gloria. Ms. Bears was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1995 and after 20 years with Houston Ballet retired in 2009. Ms. Bears’s repertoire included leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Widow, Manon, Onegin, and Madame Butterfly. Houston Ballet’s diverse repertoire has afforded Ms. Bears the opportunity to perform works by Glen Tetley, George Balanchine, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Christopher Bruce, Jiří Kylián, Anthony Tudor, Nacho Duato, Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon, William Forsythe, and Mark Morris. Ms. Bears had the honor of dancing under the directorship of both Ben Stevenson OBE and Stanton Welch AM. With choreographers at the helm, Ms. Bears created roles in over 30 different ballets. In 2001, Ms. Bears was honored to be featured on the cover of both Dance Magazine and Pointe Magazine. In 2016, Ms. Bears joined the artistic staff of Houston Ballet as ballet master.
IAN CASADY Ballet Master Ian Casady was born in Fairfax, California, and received his dance training there from David Roxander, Jody White, and Georgia Ortega. In 1998, Mr. Casady studied at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy before joining the Company as a member of the Corps de Ballet. He was promoted to Soloist in 2002, to First Soloist in 2006, and to Principal in 2007. Over the course of his career, Mr. Casady has danced a wide range of roles in works by some of the most celebrated choreographers, both past and present. Mr. Casady has been fortunate enough to have danced on some of the most historic and famous stages around the world including Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center in New York, the Bolshoi in Moscow, the Champs Elysee in Paris, the Sydney Opera House, Sadler’s Wells in London, and theaters in Hong Kong, Spain, Germany, and Canada. Mr. Casady was a finalist at the 2002 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.
Amy Fote began dancing at the age of four in her hometown of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, under the direction of Jean Wolfmeyer. She continued her studies on scholarship at the National Academy of Arts, Interlochen Arts Academy, and at the Harid Conservatory, where she graduated with honors. Ms. Fote then accepted a position with the Milwaukee Ballet and rose through the ranks to become a principal dancer. During her 14 years with the company, she regularly performed at the Chautauqua Institution in New York and was subsequently invited to dance the title role in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. In 2005, she joined Houston Ballet, where she danced for eight seasons. In 2003, she was featured in a PBS documentary entitled Dancing Anna Karenina, focusing on her portrayal of one of the great heroines of Russian literature. She was also featured on PBS, performing Alonzo King’s Map, in a moving 9/11 performance. Following retirement, Ms. Fote accepted the position of Ballet Master with Ballet San Antonio. Upon returning to Houston, she began teaching for Houston Ballet II and Houston Ballet before joining the artistic staff in 2018.
STEVEN WOODGATE Ballet Master Australian Steven Woodgate graduated from The Australian Ballet School in 1985. He performed with The Australian Ballet, progressing through the ranks to senior artist in 1996. In 2000, he was awarded The Churchill Fellowship, which enabled him to observe many ballet masters from around the world and study their various teaching methods. Mr. Woodgate joined the artistic staff of Houston Ballet in January 2004. Mr. Woodgate has taught both student and professional classes around the world. Mr. Woodgate reproduced Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly for the Singapore Dance Theater, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet West Utah, and The Australian Ballet. In 2009, Mr. Woodgate staged Clear for Angel Corella’s company in Spain and in 2011 re-staged Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow for Texas Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Teatro Colon Argentina and Houston Ballet. Woodgate also represented Australia in the Moscow Ballet Competition in 1989. Woodgate danced principal roles in Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardee, Van Praggh’s Coppélia, Bejart’s Le Concours and Gaite Parisienne, works by Tudor and Balanchine, Welch, and many other choreographers.
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Company Profiles Principals
Skylar Campbell
Soo Youn Cho
Jessica Collado*
Karina González
Birthplace Laguna Beach, California
Birthplace Incheon, South Korea
Birthplace Coral Springs, Florida
Birthplace Caracas, Venezuela
Dance Training Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky Classical Ballet Academy. Mentored and coached by David Allan
Dance Training Hye Young Kim Ballet School, Sun Hwa Arts School, Canada National Ballet School, John Cranko Schule Ballet School
Dance Training Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy, Ballet Nova of South Florida
Dance Training Gustavo Franklin Ballet School, Caracas, Venezuela
Joined the Company as Principal 2022
Joined the Company 2012
Joined the Company 2004
Joined the Company 2010
Promoted to Principal 2018
Promoted to Principal 2017
Promoted to Principal 2013
Yuriko Kajiya
Melody Mennite*
Connor Walsh*
Charles-Louis Yoshiyama*
The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Principal Dancer
The Melza M. Barr Principal Dancer
The Fondren Foundation Principal Dancer
The Anita B. Stude Principal Dancer
Birthplace Aichi, Japan
Birthplace Santa Cruz, California
Birthplace Fairfax, Virginia
Birthplace Shizuoka, Japan
Dance Training Shanghai Dance School, National Ballet School of Canada
Dance Training Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy
Dance Training Kirov Academy of Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Houston Ballet Academy
Dance Training Hiraki Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy
Joined the Company 2014
Joined the Company 2001
Joined the Company 2004
Joined the Company 2008
Promoted to Principal 2014
Promoted to Principal 2008
Promoted to Principal 2007
Promoted to Principal 2016
The Robert F. Parker Principal Dancer
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
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The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Principal Dancer
The Houston Ballet Guild Principal Dancer
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COMPANY PROFILES
First Soloists
Christopher Coomer*
Mónica Gómez
Oliver Halkowich
Allison Miller*
Harper Watters*
Birthplace Birkenhead, England
Birthplace Havana, Cuba
Birthplace Florida Keys, Florida
Birthplace St. Petersburg, Florida
Birthplace Dover, New Hampshire
Dance Training Houston Ballet Academy, Wallasey School of Ballet
Dance Training National Ballet School of Cuba
Dance Training Miami City Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School
Dance Training Diane Partington Studio of Classical Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts
Dance Training Houston Ballet Academy, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Portsmouth School of Ballet
Joined the Company 2004
Joined the Company 2015
Joined the Company 2002
Joined the Company 2006
Joined the Company 2011
Promoted to First Soloist 2018
Promoted to First Soloist 2019
Promoted to First Soloist 2018
Promoted to First Soloist 2018
Promoted to First Soloist 2021
The Houston Ballet Guild First Soloist
Soloists
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Tyler Donatelli*
Christopher Gray
Ryo Kato
Bridget Kuhns*
Birthplace Huntington Beach, California
Birthplace Vancouver, BC, Canada
Birthplace Saitama, Japan
Birthplace Columbus, Ohio
Jacquelyn Long*
Mackenzie Richter*
Aaron Daniel Sharratt*
Alyssa Springer*
Birthplace Cleveland, Ohio
Birthplace Warner Robins, Georgia
Birthplace Tuscon, Arizona
Birthplace Orange County, California
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
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COMPANY PROFILES
Demi Soloists
Chandler Dalton*
Aoi Fujiwara*
Yumiko Fukuda
Estheysis Menendez
Naazir Muhammad*
Birthplace Richmond, Virginia
Birthplace Osaka, Japan
Birthplace Saitama, Japan
Birthplace Havana, Cuba
Birthplace Brooklyn, New York
Luzemberg Santana
Elivelton Tomazi
Natalie Varnum*
Andrew Vecseri*
Chae Eun Yang
Birthplace João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
Birthplace Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Birthplace Ashford, Alabama
Birthplace Houston, Texas
Birthplace Seoul, Republic of Korea
Corps de Ballet
Simone Acri
Henrique Barbosa*
Gretel Batista
Magnoly Batista*
Neal Burks*
Birthplace Saitama, Japan
Birthplace Maracanaú, CE, Brazil
Birthplace Havana, Cuba
Birthplace Santiago, Dominican Republic
Birthplace Jacksonville, Florida
Jaci Doty*
Caleb Durbin*
Danielle Esposito
Syvert Lorenz Garcia*
Rafaela Henrique*
Kellen Hornbuckle*
Birthplace Shenandoah, Iowa
Birthplace Newcastle, Australia
Birthplace San Diego, California
Birthplace Oslo, Norway
Birthplace Jundiai, SP, Brazil
Birthplace Ann Arbor, Michigan
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
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COMPANY PROFILES
Kirsten Hunsberger*
Danbi Kim*
Fernando Martin-Gullans
Riley McMurray*
Caroline Perry*
Birthplace Las Vegas, Nevada
Birthplace Suwon, Republic of Korea
Birthplace Atlanta, Georgia
Birthplace Chicago, Illinois
Birthplace Orange County, California
McKhayla Pettingill*
Samuel Rodriguez
Madison Russo*
Song Teng*
Matthew West*
Jack Wolff*
Birthplace Phoenix, Arizona
Birthplace Atlanta, Georgia
Birthplace West Palm Beach, Florida
Birthplace Hunan, China
Birthplace Ibaraki, Japan
Birthplace Pearland, Texas
Apprentices
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Jindallae Bernard*
Emma Forrester*
Eli Gruska
Jordan Lovelace
Birthplace New Orleans, Louisiana
Birthplace Houston, Texas
Birthplace Los Angeles, California
Birthplace Dallas, Texas
Zoe Lucich
Jackson Miles*
Yu Wakizuka
Birthplace Marin County, California
Birthplace Denver, Colorado
Birthplace Osaka, Japan
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
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Houston Ballet Staff ARTISTIC †Stanton Welch AM* Artistic Director Barbara Bears* Ballet Master Ian Casady* Ballet Master Amy Fote* Ballet Master Steven Woodgate* Ballet Master Katerina De Lawyer Artistic Coordinator Sarah Miller Artistic Administrative Coordinator ADMINISTRATION †James Nelson* Executive Director †Kelli Gilson General Manager Aileen Roberts Company Manager Laurel Rowe Executive Assistant and Board Liason FINANCE †Kristi Roberts Chief Financial Officer †Rachel Koenig Director of Human Resources Thelma Hearren Controller Denise Guevara Senior Accountant Kenneth Knight II Payroll Coordinator Diamantina Peña* Accounts Payable Coordinator Cheryl Zane* Special Advisor Yeriel Zaragoza Human Resources Coordinator Garth Luther Associate Director, Facilities Alma Amaya, Patricia Barnes, Allison Johnson Receptionists TECHNOLOGY †MJ Bavaret* Director of IT Kelly Holcomb Cloud Services Manager Alejandro Rivas Network Administrator Joshua Jemio Help Desk II Silver Ehiwario Project Associate Gilbert Chapa Help Desk I NUTCRACKER MARKET †Patsy Chapman* CEO Jennifer Estrada Nutcracker Market Manager Abimbola Agbabiaka Nutcracker Market Communications Coordinator
Susan Lehmann Nutcracker Market Associate Sofia Del Villar Nutcracker Market Associate DEVELOPMENT †Angie Lane Chief Development Officer Haley Calvert Development Coordinator Stephanie Faulk Assistant Director, Individual Giving Jasmine Fuller Cane Assistant Director, Publications Joey Gaona Assistant Director, Institutional Giving Lucy Graham Donor Relations Manager Ana Gonzalez* Assistant Director, Tessitura Operations Colleen Hargraves Annual Fund Manager Darry Hearon Assistant Director, Major and Planned Gifts Lindsey Hurst* Director of Institutional Giving Madeline Patton Institutional Giving Coordinator Megan Raines Director of Individual Giving Kate Wood Development Communications Coordinator Alexandra Yates Senior Director, Special Events Baylee Zeringue Special Events Associate MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS †Angela Lee* Director of Marketing and Public Relations Tory Lieberman Associate Director of Marketing Jared Murphy Graphic Designer Lynn Chung* Marketing Coordinator Emily Averitt-Cleveland Education Marketing & PR Coordinator Leslie Goodrum Retail Merchandise & Display Coordinator Anne Wheeler Archivist Project Manager David Rivera Associate Director of Audio & Video Services Nicole Bacon Foreman Audio Visual Assistant Lauren Gayden* Associate Director of Ticketing Services
*Houston Ballet staff who have more than 10 years of service †Senior leadership
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Christina Martinez, Carlyn Scott* Box Office Managers Brittany Restrepo Ticketing Services Manager Rachel Walrath Ticketing Services Coordinator Mike Miles Audience Services Coordinator Nicole Levy Box Office Shift Lead Verity Butler, Austin Cushman, Tabytha Donnelly, Megan Goodlett, Soledad Lara, Stephan Little, Maxwell Paulus, Diamond Rector, Cynthia Saldana, Aaron Thomas, Mary Wemple Wortham Theater Center Box Office Customer Service Representatives PRODUCTION †Michelle de los Reyes* Head of Production †Sandra Fox Head of Costumes †Lisa J. Pinkham Resident Lighting Designer Grey Starbird Technical Director Jonathan Moore Stage Manager Eli Walker Assistant Stage Manager Ashley Christian Production Operations Manager Barry Thomas* Master Electrician Dustin Dowell Property Master Paul Gibson Assistant Electrician/ Light Board Operator Jason Mathis Assistant Electrician Andrew Harper Sound Consultant Gregory Stewart Head Carpenter Lafayette Andrews Assistant Carpenter Zachary Paugh Costume Shop Manager Crystal Breihan Company Wardrobe Coordinator Alexa Carlson Academy Wardrobe Coordinator Drieux Dismukes, Dana Pike, Freddy Reymundo Wardrobe Supervisors Susie DeBlieck, Gloria Pazi, Wendy Stallworth Wig Technicians Kendall Sarro Wardrobe Administrative Assistant
MUSIC †Ermanno Florio* Music Director Richard Reeves* Orchestra Manager/Music Administrator Theresa Hanebury* Music Librarian/Pianists’ Manager & Technical Director Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon* Principal Pianist/Music Coordinator William Patterson Academy Pianist Manager Tyrone Boyle, Jennifer Edmondson, Grecia Lavenderos,* Benjamin Kaplan, April Zhi Li-Thompson, William Patterson, William Marsden* Pianists Krume Andreeveski, Benjamin Chavez, Marshall Davies, Krystel Grauvogl, Tomoe Hayashi,* Ning-Chih Hsu, Nara Jeffus, Elizabeth Mendez, Alex Navarro, Pelayo Parlade, Adeline Saylor, Michele Vesceri Part-Time Pianists James Edwards, Terrence Karn, William Suddreath Academy Part-Time Percussionists ACADEMY †Jennifer Sommers* Academy Director Claudio Muñoz* HBII Ballet Master Cheryne Busch* Upper School Principal Beth Everitt* Lower School Principal & Children’s Ballet Master Melissa Bowman Director of Curriculum Orlando Molina Academy Instructor & Boys Program Coordinator Susan Bryant*, Elizabeth McMillan, Kelly Myernick Kubin* Academy Instructors Katie Wesche Academy Administrative Manager Yahudi Castañeda Academy Artistic Operations Manager Carla Cortez Academy Registrar Dustin Shaw Academy Programs Manager Megan Doerksen Manager, Student Life Shelby Connolly Academy Artistic Operations Coordinator Tempest McLendon Academy Administrative Coordinator Akihiro Kawasaki Head Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach Lauren Anderson* Associate Director, Education and Community Engagement
Alexandra Garza Coordinator, Education & Community Engagement Jamie L. Cegelski Associate, Education & Community Engagement Yasmine De La Rosa Intern, Education & Community Engagement Brittany Bass, Gabrielle Becerra, Jacquelyne Boe, Melanie Boettcher, Durell Comedy, Dwayne Cook, Victoria De Bethencourt, Marshall Davies, Benjamin Delony, Dawn Dippel, Rupert Edwards, Carla Flores Keniston, LaRodney Freeman, Anna Gould, Valerie Handy, Spencer Hering, Gabrielle Johnson, Paige Kutschall, Gabrielle Luna, Ellen Mallon, Lindsey McGill, Mallory Mehaffey, Robbie Moore, Kristina Mosbo, Paola Murga Parada, Lucinda Rohrer, Dawn Scannell, Kathleen Tidwell, Brittany Wallis Part-Time Academy Instructors & Teaching Artists Arin Alston, Kaitlynn Berrones, Lara Hannaford, Jamela Johns, Brittany Kirschner, Chloe Normand, Minely Soto, Katherine Wicks, Vance Monet, Anna Gould, Evoni McClain Part-Time Academy Class Monitors Pam Blangy, Jacquelyne Boe, Brittany Deveau, Danielle Farzanegan, Michelle Gregovic, Gabrielle Johnson, Nadia Khan, Patricia King, Ellen Blanchat Mallon, Dontre Nguyen, Katrina Olson, Lisa Petrozzi, Michelle Phillips, Hilary Schaff, Chelsea Smith, Jennifer Trimmer Wellness Team Kelsey Fyffe Academy Counselor Judy Spong Academy ESL Teacher Emily Hahn Academy Nutritionist Maria McCain Resident Dorm Supervisor Tai John Part-Time Dorm Chaperone Amy Pearl Resident Advisor Andrew Faulk, Nathanial Nakadate*, Peter Nguyen Academic Advisors HOUSTON METHODIST STAFF Carina M. Nasrallah, MS, LAT, ATC, CISSN Head Athletic Trainer Leanne Wonesh Academy Athletic Trainer
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2021-2022 Board of Trustees EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS Ms. S. Shawn Stephens*, Chairman Mrs. Leigh M. Smith, President Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams, Secretary Mrs. Elizabeth R. Zdeblick, Vice President – Academy Mr. Jesse H. Jones II*, Vice President – Development Mrs. Elizabeth Leykum, Vice President – Education & Community Engagement Mrs. Amy Pincu, Vice President – Finance Mr. Daniel M. McClure, Vice President – Investment Mr. Jerry Martin, Vice President – Marketing
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Mrs. F. T. Barr– Ms. Gillian Hobson – Mrs. Russell C. Joseph Ms. Jennifer Kushner – Chad Libertus – Ms. Leticia Loya – Mrs. Kelley S. Lubanko Mr. James J. Parr – Mrs. Carroll Robertson Ray– Mrs. Allison Thacker* – Stephanie Tsuru Mrs. Christine M. Underwood – Ms. Hallie Vanderhider – Mr. Marcus A. Watts – Mrs. Lynn Wyatt
TRUSTEES Mr. W. Cameron Alguire Dr. Julia D. Andrieni Mrs. Diane Bazelides Ms. Ann C. Bean Mr. Gary V. Beauchamp Mrs. Gina Bhatia Mrs. Susan Binney Mrs. Leslie Blanton Mr. Tony Bradfield Mrs. Kristy J. Bradshaw Ms. Lindsey Brown Mrs. Lenni Burke Mrs. Anne S. Chao Mr. James Cowan Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mrs. Lilly Cullen Mrs. Rosanette S. Cullen Ms. Sasha Davis Mr. Bastiaan de Zeeuw Mrs. Pamela D. Earthman Sharon F. Erskine Mrs. Martha Finger Mrs. Allison L. Flikerski Richard W. Flowers Hon. Charles C. Foster Mrs. Kate Fowler Mrs. Jo Furr 30
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Mr. Mitchell George Mrs. Mignon Gill Sandra S. Godfrey Mrs. Donald M. Graubart Mr. Jeremy Griggs Mr. Joseph A. Hafner, Jr. Mr. Herschel Hamner Dr. Joshua D. Harris Mrs. Nancy Ferguson Haywood Mrs. Winell Herron Mr. Michael Heckman Ms. Michelle Iversen Jeffery Mr. James M. Jordan* Natasha Khan Dr. Dale G. Konicek Elizabeth Mata Kroger Ms. Melanie Lawson Dr. Bridgitte Shen Lee Mr. Mark Loveland Mr. Joseph A. Matula Mrs. Jean E. May Mrs. J. Luke McConn III Mrs. Kris McGee Richard K. McGee* Mrs. Martha Rocks McMurrey Mr. Shane A. Miller Mrs. Michael Mithoff
Marsha L. Montemayor Ms. Nancy Powell Moore Ms. Beth Muecke Dr. Duyen Huynh Nguyen Tammy Tran Nguyen Mrs. Cabrina Owsley Mr. Robert F. Parker* Mrs. Elisa S. Pye Mr. Ron Rand Macey Reasoner Laura M. Robertson Mrs. Akemi Saitoh Ms. Samira A. Salman Mrs. Louisa Stude Sarofim* (L) Ms. Elizabeth Schwarze Mrs. James Shaffer Dannika E. Simpson Mrs. Alicia Smith Mrs. Heidi Smith Dr. Liliana Soltero Mr. Karl S. Stern* Mr. Nicholas L. Swyka* Becca Cason Thrash Mrs. Ileana Treviño Mrs. Phoebe Tudor* Mrs. Kelli Weinzierl Mrs. Rini Ziegler (L) Life Trustee * Former Board President
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Étoile
Étoile honors the visionary leaders who make extraordinary annual commitments of $100,000 or more to Houston Ballet. Étoile, translated from French, means “star” and is most frequently used in the ballet world to designate the highest ranking of principal dancers within a company – a fitting tribute to those whose generosity substantially underwrites Houston Ballet’s world-class performances, renowned dance training, and extensive community programs.
MELZA AND TED BARR Melza and Ted Barr, longtime Houston Ballet subscribers, are champions of Stanton Welch’s ambitious vision to bring Houston Ballet to the forefront of dance here in the U.S. and internationally. They were instrumental in making possible the 2015 world premiere of Romeo and Juliet and its milestone tour to Melbourne, Australia. Melza and Ted were also supporters of the campaign to build the Company’s Center for Dance and integral contributors to Houston Ballet’s Crisis Relief Fund. Additionally, the Barrs endowed a Principal Dancer position in Melza’s name, currently held by Melody Mennite.
THE BROWN FOUNDATION, INC. For nearly four decades, The Brown Foundation has been one of Houston Ballet’s most generous philanthropic supporters. Established in 1951 and based in Houston, the Foundation distributes funds principally for education, community service, and the visual and performing arts. The Foundation was instrumental in contributing to Houston Ballet’s crisis relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19. The Foundation’s tremendous commitment to Houston Ballet’s endowment, general operating fund, and the Center for Dance has paved the way for Houston Ballet to grow into the world-renowned company it is today.
GARY V. BEAUCHAMP AND MARIAN WILFERT BEAUCHAMP As longtime members of the Ballet family, Marian and Gary’s extraordinary generosity has touched nearly every aspect of the Company, from production underwriting to support for the Ballet’s world-class dance facility. For the past two seasons, Marian and Gary have made important gifts toward one of Houston Ballet’s key education and community engagement initiatives – Student Matinees – which bring the joy of dance to thousands of schoolchildren each year, many of whom would not otherwise have such opportunity to experience performing arts.
MYRA BROWN Myra Brown is a longtime friend to Houston Ballet since moving to Houston from New Jersey over 20 years ago. Together with her late husband, Ira, Myra has been a devoted supporter and advocate for the arts in Houston and, in particular, aspiring young artists involved in the performing arts. She was instrumental in supporting a collaborative production featuring both Houston Ballet and University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. She established an endowed scholarship in the Houston Ballet Academy, which creates an enduring legacy to help develop the next generation of ballet dancers for Houston and the world of dance.
ALBERT AND ANNE CHAO Albert and Anne Chao are inspiring community leaders and philanthropists who have supported the Ballet for more than a decade. The Chaos chaired the 2017 Houston Ballet Ball and provided critical support to the Ballet’s Crisis Relief Fund in 2020. Through the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation, the Chaos provided instrumental and early support of Houston Ballet’s new production of The Nutcracker. Albert and Anne also serve in a number of leadership roles in other arts and cultural organizations throughout Houston.
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THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
CONOCOPHILLIPS ConocoPhillips has been a proud sponsor of Houston Ballet for more than three decades. As one of the world’s largest independent exploration and production companies, ConocoPhillips is proud to support Houston’s thriving cultural arts community. ConocoPhillips’s investment in Houston Ballet’s mission and goals can be recognized in their support of the construction of Houston Ballet’s Center for Dance and productions including Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Giselle, and Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker. They were honored at the 2019 Houston Ballet Ball. Laura Robertson, Deputy General Counsel, serves on Houston Ballet’s Board of Trustees.
THE CULLEN FOUNDATION One of the city’s oldest and most significant charitable institutions, The Cullen Foundation has supported Houston Ballet for nearly 50 years and is one of its most important benefactors. Established in 1947, the Foundation has more than 70 years of giving history generously supporting cultural arts, education, health care, and public service in the greater Houston area, granting nearly $500 million to Houston institutions. Notably, the Foundation was a lead supporter of Houston Ballet’s Center for Dance, Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, and the Ballet’s crisis relief efforts in recent years.
THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts has been a generous underwriter of Houston Ballet’s presentation of new and premiere ballets for more than three decades. The Trust was established from assets of The Cullen Foundation to support Texas performing arts institutions, focusing on those within the greater Houston area. In addition to supporting new works, The Trust has been a generous sponsor of Houston Ballet’s endowment, the construction of the Center for Dance, and The Nutcracker. Additionally, The Trust has generously supported the Ballet’s Crisis Relief Fund and the Share the Joy campaign, providing both vital challenge grants.
THE JERRY C. DEARING FAMILY FOUNDATION The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation passionately supports Houston-based nonprofits that provide health, education, and sustainability services for the at-risk men, women, and children of Houston and Harris County. As a family-run private foundation that distributes funds for public charitable purposes, the Foundation principally provides encouragement and assistance to Houston-based nonprofits. The Foundation’s Executive Director Kate Dearing Fowler is an integral member of Houston Ballet’s Board of Trustees, and the Foundation supports Houston Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement programming, which reaches more than 74,000 participants annually. The Foundation was honored at the Raising the Barre event on April 24, 2022.
THE EVENTS COMPANY Houston Ballet is proud to count The Events Company among its top supporters. For many years, The Events Company has provided incredibly generous support to Houston Ballet’s special events and, especially, the Houston Ballet Ball. Their support has been instrumental in the success of numerous events. Richard Flowers of The Events Company joined Houston Ballet’s Board of Trustees in the 2018-2019 season.
HOUSTON BALLET GUILD Founded in 1973, Houston Ballet Guild has supported Houston Ballet, its Academy, and special programs for more than 40 years. The Guild hosts the phenomenal Nutcracker Market each year and, along with other projects, has contributed millions of dollars since its inception. The group has underwritten the Sugar Plum Fairy costume in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker and Houston Ballet’s bi-annual publication Houston Ballet News. Each year, Houston Ballet Guild volunteers collectively provide more than 5,400 hours of their time to support Houston Ballet.
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HOUSTON METHODIST This season will mark the 14th year of Houston Ballet’s partnership with Houston Methodist and the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM). Houston Ballet is proud to have Houston Methodist as its Official Health Care Provider as well as receive the unique benefits provided to the dancers through CPAM—a specialized group of more than 100 elite physicians working collaboratively to address the specific demands placed on performing artists. Recently ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Texas by U.S. News and World Report, Houston Methodist supports Houston Ballet through its philanthropic giving in addition to providing high-quality health care to the dancers. Through the ongoing pandemic, Houston Methodist has been instrumental in creating guidelines to keep Houston Ballet dancers safe and healthy as they return to the studio.
JESSE H. JONES II Jesse H. “Jay” Jones II was first introduced to the ballet when his mother served on the Houston Ballet Board of Trustees. Now a Board Trustee himself since 1983, he currently serves on the Board’s Executive Committee as Vice President of Development. Jay was a member of the search committee for Stanton Welch and co-chaired the committees for Houston Ballet’s Dance With Us, Crisis Relief Fund, and Share the Joy campaigns. Jay was honored at the 2016 Ballet Ball and carries on a distinguished family legacy of civil leadership in Houston.
DEBORAH AND ED KOEHLER For nearly fifty years, Deborah and Ed Koehler have been Houston Ballet supporters and ticketholders. As the Executive Director of the Raymond N. Plank Philanthropy Fund, Deborah is instrumental in providing support to the Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement programs. The Koehlers have continued to give generously in honor of Lauren Anderson, Houston Ballet’s Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement. They feel deeply connected to the importance of Lauren’s work in introducing Houston’s youth to the joy of dance. The Koehlers recently made a lead gift to the Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship Fund, which invests in promising underrepresented young artists who aspire to be professional ballet dancers.
KPRC Official Television Partner of Houston Ballet, KPRC has been a leader in the Houston community for more than 65 years. Their unparalleled support in providing media coverage for artistic programming and the annual Nutcracker Market allows the organization to showcase the Company’s worldclass talent. In addition to providing exceptional media coverage, KPRC is a strong supporter of Houston Ballet’s special events. Houston Ballet is proud to partner with KPRC, Houston’s home for news. Houston Ballet is honored to have Vice President, General Manager Jerry Martin as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees as Vice President of Marketing.
LETICIA LOYA For more than a decade, Leticia Loya has been a gracious supporter of Houston Ballet. Letty has held many leadership roles since she joined the Board of Trustees in 2005. From 2009 to 2016, she was Vice President of Academy, while championing the development of the Center for Dance facility. Through Letty’s continued commitment to the Company, Houston Ballet has brought many new works to the stage, including Zodiac; Revisit, Rebirth, Revolt; and What the H Stands For. Letty was recently honored at the 2019 Ballet Ball, and graciously provided underwriting support for Stanton Welch’s series of dance films In Good Company.
CARROLL AND HUGH RAY For more than 20 years, Carroll Ray has championed the mission of Houston Ballet. Her leadership has been instrumental to the success of many Houston Ballet initiatives, including the campaign of Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker and recovery from Hurricane Harvey. Most recently, Carroll has underwritten a museum-quality installation for the Center for Dance to commemorate the Ballet’s history and achievements during its 50th anniversary season.
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ISLA AND T.R. RECKLING III Isla and T.R. Reckling III are both longtime supporters of the Ballet; as decades-long Opening Night season ticketholders, they have carried out a generational family legacy of support for Houston Ballet. Over the years, the Recklings have been active across many facets of the Ballet, including Nutcracker Market and special events such as the Ballet Ball. They were also important contributors to the Dance With Us campaign and the Crisis Relief Fund through leadership gifts.
YASUHIKO AND AKEMI SAITOH As lead underwriters for Houston Ballet’s 2022 Japan Tour, longtime Guild member and Trustee Akemi Saitoh and her husband Yasuhiko are committed to investing in the Ballet’s visibility on the world stage. The Saitohs have provided a warm welcome to Japanese students and dancers over the years, and have been invaluable in creating cross-cultural inroads for the Ballet, both in Houston and around the world. Akemi has traveled with the Company to both Hamburg and New York City, and their keen support of the Ballet’s special events has helped grow the Ballet Family among their many table guests over the years.
ALLISON AND TROY THACKER Loyal subscribers since 2012, Allison and Troy Thacker are deeply committed to seeing the Company prosper. Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Allison currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board. She and Troy made a generous challenge grant for the 2016 world premiere of Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, helping to garner community-wide support for the new production. The Thackers underwrote Trey McIntyre’s world premiere, Pretty Things, in honor of the Company’s 50th anniversary; after being delayed in 2020, Pretty Things made its debut this season.
ANN TRAMMELL Ann Trammell has been one of Houston Ballet’s most steadfast advocates for over three decades. Ann has taken on numerous leadership roles, including Chairman of the Board and as a member of the capital campaign committee that raised $50 million for the Ballet’s state-of-the-art Center for Dance. She also is a member of the Arabesque Society, which recognizes friends who have included the Ballet in their estate plans, and was the honoree at the 2017 Ballet Ball. Recently, she was a generous contributor to Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker and was instrumental in the Ballet’s Hurricane Harvey recovery and Crisis Relief Fund.
STEPHANIE AND FRANK TSURU Houston Ballet is honored to have Stephanie and Frank Tsuru as part of the Houston Ballet family. Stephanie serves on several boards across Houston and joined Houston Ballet as a Trustee in the 2018-2019 season, now serving on the Executive Committee. Stephanie and Frank generously underwrote Company dancer Oliver Halkowich’s world premiere Following in 2019 and are fundamental supporters of Houston Ballet special events. Stephanie and Frank co-chaired the 2022 Ballet Ball and have generously underwritten Melody Mennite’s 2022 world premiere Floreciente.
PHOEBE AND BOBBY TUDOR Phoebe and Bobby Tudor have been amazing friends of Houston Ballet for more than two decades. Phoebe was a key member of the strategic planning committee and has served as Board President and Board Chairman. In 2014, Phoebe and Bobby underwrote John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, bringing its American premiere to Houston Ballet, and underwrote the world premiere of Stanton Welch’s Sylvia in 2019. Their incredible generosity was also instrumental in the creation of Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, and they served as Honorary Chairs for the 2020 Ballet Ball.
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UNITED AIRLINES For over 15 years, United Airlines has been proud to be the Official Airline of Houston Ballet. United provides generous support to first-class arts organizations such as Houston Ballet and takes great pride in setting philanthropic standards in the community. United’s generous support has helped further Houston Ballet’s international recognition through its support of tours around the world, including tours to Melbourne, Australia; Ludwigshafen and Bonn, Germany; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. United Airlines was honored at the 2018 Ballet Ball.
HALLIE VANDERHIDER Hallie Vanderhider has made a tremendous impact since becoming part of the Houston Ballet family. She joined the Houston Ballet Board of Trustees in the 2017-2018 season and recently extended her leadership by joining the Executive Committee. As an incredible supporter of Houston Ballet’s special events, her generosity shines through the organization. Hallie served as Chairman for the 2018 Ballet Ball. Most recently, she underwrote Edwaard Liang’s Murmuration and provided critical support to the Ballet’s Crisis Relief Fund. This season, Hallie has generously underwritten our performances of George Balanchine’s iconic Jewels.
THE WORTHAM FOUNDATION, INC.
MARGARET ALKEK WILLIAMS A pillar of the arts community in Houston, Margaret Alkek Williams is one of Houston Ballet’s most devoted supporters. Margaret has championed the works of Artistic Director Stanton Welch, supporting his landmark staging of Swan Lake in 2006. Her transformational gift in 2008 helped to build the Center for Dance. In addition, she endowed a Principal Dancer position held by Yuriko Kajiya and Houston Ballet’s annual gala performance, the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance. To help ensure the company’s future, Margaret most recently endowed Houston Ballet’s building, The Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance. Houston Ballet is fortunate to be one of many organizations impacted so greatly by her generosity.
THE WORTHAM FOUNDATION, INC Founded in 1958, The Wortham Foundation is one of Houston’s most impactful art supporters contributing to the city’s performing and visual arts organizations as well as supporting community improvement projects throughout Houston. For nearly four decades, the Foundation has been instrumental in bringing many of Houston Ballet’s most loved and treasured story ballets to the Wortham Theater Center. The Foundation’s commitment to Houston’s arts and culture community can be seen and felt throughout the city—and it continues to uphold the values and incredible tradition of philanthropy established by founder Gus S. Wortham.
LYNN WYATT For more than 30 years, Lynn has been a passionate leader of Houston Ballet. She served as a key member of the search committee that recruited Stanton Welch AM. Their friendship has flourished over the years, and she continues to be a staunch supporter of his creative vision and has long been a champion of new work. Lynn generously underwrote Stanton Welch’s world premiere of Giselle and underwrote a new dance floor for the Company following the destruction from Hurricane Harvey. She was most recently honored at the 50th Anniversary Onstage Dinner.
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Annual Support Houston Ballet is grateful to our generous individual supporters who ensure we remain a world-class ballet company, bringing high-caliber, exhilarating performances and educational programming to audiences of all ages.
Directors Circle $50,000-$99,999
Friend of Houston Ballet Lori Gallagher and Curtis Huff Bobbie Nau Mr. and Mrs. Reginald R. Smith Mr. Mike S. Stude
Artists Circle $25,000-$49,999
Friend of Houston Ballet Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bradshaw Lenni and Bill Burke Mrs. Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Mr. Victor Costa Dr. Michael Hawkins and Dr. Liliana Soltero
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Loveland Stephen and Kelley Lubanko Kris and Richard McGee Marvin and Martha McMurrey Cabrina and Steven Owsley Mr. and Mrs. William E. Pritchard III
Mr. Kent A. Schaffer and Ms. Shara Kuy Dylan and Jordan Seff S. Shawn Stephens and James M. Jordan Bonnie Weekley Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Zdeblick
Presidents Circle $15,000-$24,999
Friend of Houston Ballet Dr. Julia Andrieni and Dr. Robert Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bazelides Mr. and Mrs. Philip D. Belanger Jack Bell Dr. and Mrs. Devinder Bhatia Sasha Davis and Joseph Matulevich Bastiaan and Nathalie de Zeeuw Mr. and Mrs. James E. Furr
Mignon and Stephen Gill Sandy and Lee Godfrey Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Graubart Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Hafner, Jr. Claudia and David Hatcher Mrs. Nancy Ferguson Haywood Mr. and Mrs. Russell C. Joseph Susan Lapin D. M. Marcinek Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. May, Jr.
Marsha L. Montemayor Ms. Nancy Powell Moore James Nelson and Richard Lapin Mr. Dee S. Osborne Elisa and Cris Pye Macey and Harry Reasoner Ms. Elizabeth Schwarze Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas L. Swyka Mary and Greg Whalley
Impresario $10,000-$14,999
Friends of Houston Ballet Christopher Barr and Patricia Shanley Ms. Ann Bean Gary And Susan Binney Mr. and Mrs. Jack S. Blanton, Jr. Geraldine Briceño Carol Butler Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Myles and Leslie Culhane Mrs. Rosanette S. Cullen Marsha and Sam Dodson Bruce and Pamela Earthman Sharon F. Erskine Twana and Kelly Faykus Mr. and Mrs. Richard Finger Myrna Fisch Allison and Adam Flikerski 36
The Friedkin Group/Marc and Brenda Watts Mitchell B. George and Stanley Curtis, Jr. Nancy L. Harwell Hope Huber Donna Kaplan and Richard Lydecker Dr. Dale G. Konicek Elizabeth and Bill Kroger Sissy Lappin Ms. Melanie Lawson and Mr. John F. Guess, Jr. Dr. Bridgitte Shen Lee and Mr. Eugene E. Lee Evelyn Leightman Elizabeth and Charlie Leykum Marilyn G. Lummis Joseph and Jenifer Matula Judy and Dan McClure Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mithoff Ms. Beth Muecke
Drs. Duyen and Marc Nguyen Sara and James Parr Kevin S. Potter Mrs. Lila Rauch Mike Rydin Ms. Samira A. Salman Max Seewann and Sheel Patel Helen and Jim Shaffer Dannika E. Simpson Heidi and Marcus Smith Jessica Trincanello and Jeremy Griggs Mr. and Mrs. David M. Underwood, Jr. Mr. Timothy Wampler Mrs. Kelli Weinzierl Drs. Randall and Crystal Wright Dow and Meredith Zabolio Rini and Edward Ziegler
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ANNUAL SUPPORT VIRTUOSO $7,500-$9,999 Friend of Houston Ballet Nancy C. Allen Zachary and Karen Bell Dr. Patrick Benge C. Robert Bunch and Lilia D. Khakimova Marcia and Tom Faschingbauer Marion and Gary Glober Mr. Samuel F. Gorman Mr. and Mrs. Brian B. Hughes Dr. Raymond and Leora Kahn Susan and Michael Klaveness Ms. Tracy N. LeRoy Ginni and Richard Mithoff Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Plaeger II Dr. David W. Reininger and Laura Lee Jones Fay and George A. Rizzo Susan and Ed Septimus Syma and Walter Zerkow AMBASSADOR $4,000-$7,499 Friends of Houston Ballet Mr. and Mrs. W. Kendall Adam Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Alguire Maida and Paul Asofsky Dr. Saul and Ursula Balagura Anne Morgan Barrett Mr. Duane Bennett Muffet Blake Nancy Boruta Anne Orton Boss Ms. Michaela Botha Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Bourne Mr. and Mrs. David A. Bristol, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Brookner Lindsey Brown Judy Gray Brunk Reagan and Claudia Burch Jess and Patricia Carnes Beth and Michael Chambers Nada Chandler Mr. Robert Chanon Donna Collins Mr. Robert and Dr. Carol Collins C.C. Conner, Jr. and David Groover Sylvie and Gary Crum Rochelle Cyprus Douglas R. Davis and Rachel J. Littman David and Lynne Devine Mr. and Mrs. Cody Dick Sandra Didlake Ms. Jane DiPaolo Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Doneker Ms. Catherine M. Donohue Mrs. Carol Drawe Burl and Jenny Wang Drews Rebecca and Brian Duncan Danielle Ellis C.C. and Duke Ensell The Honorable Catherine and Mr. James Evans Mary Ann and Larry Faulkner Vicki Faulkner Sidney Faust Marla and Stewart Feldman Marion and Caroline Freeman Joe and Laura Freudenberger Prince and Princess Piotr and Maria-Anna Galitzine Cynthia and Ty Geiger Dr. Eugenia George Ms. Debra Gibson Dr. and Mrs. George S. Glass Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Graham Mr. and Mrs. Joel Grossman William and Jane Guest Kerry and Jay Harpole Linda Lloyd Hart Susan and Michael Hawes
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hibbert Gillian Hobson Gary Hollingsworth and Ken Hyde Lonnie Hoogeboom and Betsy Strauch Mrs. James E. Hooks Sandra and Richard Jackson Debbie and Frank Jones Mrs. Neale W. Kempner John Atterbury Kendall Ms. Ann Koster Mrs. Warren W. Kreft Jake and Jennifer Kushner Angie Lane and Nick Eoff Dr. Claire Langston Stephanie Larsen and Bryn Kristen Larsen Chad Libertus Ms. Judy Liu Eugene F. Loveland Stephen and Chris Lukin Dr. and Mrs. Michael Mann Melanie and Jerry Martin Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Matiuk Tom Mays Dorothy B. McCaine Bill, Julie and Jason McClung Warren and Yana McFatter Mimi Reed McGehee Vickie Milazzo and Thomas Ziemba Mr. and Mrs. Jordan H. Mintz David and Mary Montague Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer Brad and Lauren Morgan Tammy and Wayne Nguyen Mr. and Mrs. James M. Nicklos Steven J. O’Connor and Catherine L. Cegielski-O’Connor Mr. Michael and Mrs. Catherine Oestmann Martha Farish Oti Mr. and Mrs. R. Robert Page Robert and Mireille Patman Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Alexander Pincu Mr. Vsevolod Popov Ms. Lori Fultz Priess Joan and Lou Pucher Sharon Roark Joseph Henry Rose Bob Scott and Susan Bickley Sarah and Tom Scott Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Simmons Michael B. Smith Frances and Chris Stacy James Stafford and Deborah Keyser Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stibolt Summit Dental Center-Dr. Essa A. Kawaja Dr. Jeffrey Sweterlitsch Dr. Jeff and Erin Thompson Diana C. Treviño Paul and Sherry Vaughan Stanton Welch AM Mrs. Sara E. White Susan Whitfield Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski Loretta and Lawrence Williams Helen B. Wils and Leonard A. Goldstein Mr. John L. Zipprich II YOUNG AMBASSADORS $2,000 Friends of Houston Ballet Renee Anderson Nicholas Baran Katherine Brooker and Thomas Stenack Sara Carbo, River Oaks Dance Rebecca Childs Claudia Espinosa Jessie Gill Victoria Gutierrez Lindsey Hurst Ms. Mariya Idenova Shannon Lindamood
Shane A. Miller David Moyer II R. Trevor Myers Elizabeth Price Melissa Reihle Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ritchie Kristiann Rushton Lauren Walstad Hardy Alexandra Yates BRAVO $2,000-$3,999 Friends of Houston Ballet Dr. and Mrs. George J. Abdo Mrs. Elaine Adams Leslie Alston and Michael Zenker Lauren and Mark Bahorich Michelle and Lorne Bain Mr. and Mrs. Paul Balmert Drs. Robert and Nancy Benjamin Stephen and Linda Bickel Tessa Bodnar Ingrid Osborn Bond In Remembrance of Howard King Bostock Mr. and Mrs. R. Lawrence Brown III Dr. and Mrs. Raul Caffesse Drs. Steven Craig and Janet Kohlhase In Memory of Ramon Creixell Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Denham Cynthia A. Diller Mrs. Jenny Elkins Betsy M. Figueroa Mrs. Elaine Finger Ms. Leslie Gassner Lisa Gray Dave and Bodil Guenther Mr. and Mrs. Ross K. Hill Sippi and Ajay Khurana Mr. and Mrs. William H. Knull III Paul and Nancy LeGros Nicole and Julius Leitner Mr. and Mrs. Peter MacGregor Monica McNeill Patti Mullendore Paula and Geoff Newton Paul and Arvella Oliver Mrs. Peg Palisin and Mr. Gary C. Gardner Captain Kim and Rosie Parker Grace Phillips and Eugene Nosal Jim and Kaylon Phillips Ann and Lou Raden Mr. and Mrs. Eric Reed Mr. Shannon Sasser and Mrs. Leslie Elkins Sasser Barbara and Louis Sklar Allison and Tom Stovall Dr. Wadi N. Suki and Dr. Adaani E. Frost Susan Lee Taylor Drs. Peter and Pamela Triolo Lynda Underwood Ann Wales Kristine and Stephen Wallace Dr. Joan and Mike Weltzien Betsy Winn Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wright ENCORE $1,000-$1,999 Friends of Houston Ballet Norah G. Adams Ms. Cecilia Aguilar Joan and Stanford Alexander Jonni and Skip Almoney Kenneth Anderson and Jean-Marie Simon Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O. Aronson Ann and Jonathan Ayre Laura and Tom Bacon Anthony and Gina Bahr Kristina Baizan Devereux Mrs. Greta Bandy Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Banks HOUSTON BALLET
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ANNUAL SUPPORT
Corporations, Foundations, and Public Agencies Houston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the support of the following corporations, foundations, and public agencies.
$750,000 OR MORE Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Foundation, Inc. The Brown Foundation, Inc. Houston Methodist $500,000-$749,999 The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Wortham Foundation, Inc. $250,000-$499,999 City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance The Cullen Foundation The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation The Hearst Foundations $100,000-$249,999 Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation ConocoPhillips Houston Ballet Guild The Elkins Foundation KPRC The Shubert Foundation, Inc. Texas Commission on the Arts United Airlines $50,000-$99,999 Bank of America Beauchamp Foundation Chevron City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Inc. The Freebird Foundation H-E-B Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo The Humphreys Foundation KPMG The Powell Foundation Shell Oil Company Vivian L. Smith Foundation Wells Fargo $25,000-$49,999 Baker Botts LLP De Beers Jewellers The Fondren Foundation William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation
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King & Spalding LLP M. D. Anderson Foundation Norton Rose Fulbright Rand Group The Sarofim Foundation Texas Children’s Hospital – Pavilion for Women Truist Bank Van Cleef & Arpels Vinson & Elkins LLP $10,000-$24,999 BHP Bora The Friedkin Group George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Jerome Robbins Foundation KNOWAutism Foundation Robert & Pearl Knox Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee John P. McGovern Foundation Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) Nan and Company Properties National Endowment for the Arts Scurlock Foundation Sidley Austin LLP The William A. & Madeline Smith Foundation Sterling-Turner Foundation Truluck’s The Vaughn Foundation $2,500-$9,999 Bridge Development Partners LLC The Joan and Marvin Kaplan Foundation The Sartain and Tamez Family Trust Fund Strake Foundation $1,000-$2,499 EagleLight LLC Houston (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated The Oshman Foundation Performance Solar Inc.
Monica and Scott Barker Stephen Barnes, MD, JD and Amy Barnes Deborah Bautch Victor and Anna Mae Beghini Fund Elise Bentch Ed A. and Valerie Blair Mona Bostwick Ms. Barbara Brooks Cecilia and David Campbell Marilyn Caplovitz Stephanie and Ted Carpenter Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cato Drs. David A. Cech and Mary R. Schwartz Dr. Rupi Chatha Angela Chen Drs. Melissa and Stephen Chen Neel and Adrienne Choksi Janette Choy Steve and Lynne Clark Mr. Wayne Clark Brenda J. and Richard Clem Judy and Art Coen Alice and Michael Conlon In Memory of Becky Crow Ms. Gay Currie Mr. and Mrs. John deGroot Cindy and Al DeMoya Drs. Rafael Diaz and Yanett Anaya Jeanne Doornbos and Michael Maher EagleLight Consulting The Escalona Family Suzi Feickert Mr. Robert Feldman Charles and Sharlynn Fenn Mrs. Madeleine Ferris Ms. Stella Fitzgibbons Mike and Lindsay Fiuzat Ermanno and Franca Florio Mary Lou Flynn-Dupart Mr. and Mrs. Harris Forbes Curtis Ford Lois Frankel Christopher and Ann Frautschi Paula Friedlander Robert and Jayne Garner Ms. Lucy Gebhart Stephan Gelinsky Anne Marit Ghazi Jason and Monik Giordano Russell Handy Karen R. and Franklin J. Harberg, Jr. Ms. Jacquelyn Harrison Cynthia Herzog and Rocky High Mr. Robert Heyl Mr. and Mrs. John Higgins Ms. Kathryn de Sousa Craig and Kate Holzhauser Mr. Scott P. Howard Ms. Barbara J. Hughey Mr. James Hunter Caroline and Bruce Hurley Mr. Francisco J. Izaguirre Debra W. Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Justin Jarski Jill and Dunham Jewett Ms. Emily Kao Ara Karian Ms. Jody Kelley Ann and Tom Kelsey Doug and Karen Kenaley Stephen and Patricia King Rob and Karen Kwok Brenda Landry Parry and Sydney Lauzon Alex and Victoria Lazar Mr. Jaime Ledergerber Joseph Levitan and Nicolo Messana George and Helen Littell Mrs. Sylvia Lohkamp
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ANNUAL SUPPORT Linnar Looris Mr. Robert Lorio David and Susan Loveland Marvin Lummis Dr. Brian Malechuk and Mr. Kevin Melgaard Mr. Thomas Manners Renee Margolin Shelly Mark Dr. Mary F. McAleer Mr. and Mrs. James McCartney V Michael and Onalee McEwen April and Wells McGee Ms. Patricia McMahon Bill and Judy McNamee Katie and Kurt Meissner Christianne Melanson and Durwin Sharp Colonel Michael Mergens and Mrs. Mergens Julie Miles Mrs. Eileen Moore Ms. Desrye Morgan Terrylin G. Neale Mrs. Kim T. Nguyen Mrs. Jo Papadakis Carolyn W. Payne Richard A. and Thelma A. Percoco Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Ray Wanda A. Reynolds Ms. Diana Riggle Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Rigo Elena Lexina and Brian Rishikof Maura and Walter Ritchie Gregory and Dina Rozenfeld Brenda and Mansel Rubenstein DonNell Rushing Robert and Michele Ryan Mrs. Dominique D. Salazar-Rodgers and Dr. Shawn M. Rodgers Dan and Brenda Sauls Mr. and Mrs. Russell D. Sellen Juan Serrato M.D. Audrey and Sofie Sims Jewel Sims and Thomas Springer Tricia and Mark Singer Mrs. Randal Smith Mr. William Snypes and Mrs. Suzanne Suter Mrs. Christine Sofka Ms. Judy Spinella Christen and Amy Springs Carol Todd Stamatedes James and Ginger Stark Marty and Bob Stein Mr. Sam L. Stolbun and Dr. Alana R. Spiwak Kay and Bert Tabor Amir Taghi Dr. Deborah A. Thomas Marty Thomas Mrs. Jean A. Unger Dean Walker Suzanne Walstad Dr. and Mrs. J. Anthony Walter III Barbara and Howard Weiner Mr. Gary Whitney Mary Anne Wilkinson and Bill Samelson Janice B. Willett The Wolens Family Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Wright Lori and Scott Wulfe Cheryl Lynn Zane
These generous donations were received before May 1, 2022. For more information about supporting Houston Ballet through annual membership, please contact Darry Hearon, Assistant Director, Major and Planned Gifts, at 713.535.3275 or dhearon@houstonballet.org.
Arabesque Society The Arabesque Society recognizes and honors those friends who have provided for Houston Ballet in their estate plans. These generous individuals allow Houston Ballet to continue to perform world-class ballet, be a premier training ground for dance, and create important education and community outreach programs by helping to safeguard its future. With deep gratitude, we acknowledge the following donors for including Houston Ballet in their estate plans. Friends of Houston Ballet Dr. and Mrs. George Abdo Susan Battelstein Jack Bell Dr. Patrick Benge The Edna Madden and Paul John Berres Charitable Remainder Trust Myra Brown Tripp Carter Cecil C. Conner, Jr. Sasha Davis Burton Dickey and Yean Sun Debra Donaldson Sharon Erskine Susan Feickert Myrna Fisch Mrs. Barry Galt Mitchell B. George Mr. Samuel F. Gorman Anne and Donald Graubart Mr. Jas A. Gundry Linda Lloyd Hart Ms. Karen J. Hartnett Nancy Ferguson Haywood Dr. Lamar and Jane Jackson Charitable Remainder Trust Jesse H. Jones II
Barbara and Raymond Kalmans John A. Kendall Dr. James E. and Betty W. Key Mrs. Evelyn Leightman Christianne Melanson Shane A. Miller Mr. Juan R. Morales Ms. Kathleen Much Mrs. Patti Murphy James D. Nelson Dr. Susan Osterberg Richard A. and Thelma A. Percoco Dr. Didier Piot Rick and Kathy Plaeger Shelly and Marty Power Mrs. Lila Rauch Sharon Roark Jon and Nell Schwartz Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Toth Ann G. Trammell Lynda Lighthouse Transier Ms. Jana E. Vander Lee Elba L. Villarreal Dean Walker Margaret (Midge) Wische Cecily and Jim Young Mr. John Zipprich
We honor the memory of those who included Houston Ballet in their estate plans. Harriet Bath Audrey Jones Beck Joe Anne Berwick Raymona Brown Bomar Mary Frances Newton Bowers Suzanne S. Braden Ira B. Brown Lawrence E. Carlton George W. Ernst, Jr. 52 PLAYBILL Frank R. Eyler Linda K. Finger Cora Lee Gott David Haber Mickey Hagey
Kevin Harvey Mr. John S.W. Kellett Frederick Adrian Lee Mr. E. Daniel Leightman Elizabeth Martin Harris Masterson III Mr. William McAnear Charles Edward McKerley Dr. Matilda B. Melnick Robert A. Moody David Glenn Puckett Gloria E. Roberti Mr. Richard H. Stork Anita B. Stude Dorothy B. Thomas
For more information about The Arabesque Society, please contact Megan Raines, Director of Individual Giving at 713.535.3241 or mraines@houstonballet.org
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Houston Ballet Endowment Endowed funds assist Houston Ballet in attracting talented artists.
The Harris Masterson III Artistic Director – Stanton Welch AM The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Principal Dancer – Yuriko Kajiya The Melza M. Barr Principal Dancer – Melody Mennite The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Principal Dancer – Jessica Collado The Fondren Foundation Principal Dancer – Connor Walsh The Houston Ballet Guild Principal Dancer – Karina González The Houston Ballet Guild First Soloist – Allison Miller The Anita B. Stude Principal Dancer – Charles-Louis Yoshiyama The Robert F. Parker Principal Dancer – Soo Youn Cho
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The Carolyn Lee and Frederick Adrian Lee Production Fund supports the creation of new productions and the restoration of existing works. Margaret Alkek Williams / The Alkek and Williams Foundation endows the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance. The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation endows the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance, Houston Ballet’s annual gala performance. The Ira and Myra Brown Young Dancer Scholarship Fund underwrites training for Academy dancers annually. The Fayez Sarofim & Co. Touring Fund supports Houston Ballet’s domestic and international tours.
The C. C. Conner Scholarship Fund, The Roy M. Huffington Scholarship Fund, The Billie Bath Perlman Scholarship Fund, and The Winifred Wallace Scholarship Fund each underwrite training for one HBII dancer annually. The Margaret Wiess Elkins Young Artist Fund, The Ben Stevenson Scholarship Fund and The Anita Borges Stude Scholarship Fund each underwrite training for one Academy dancer annually. The AIG American General/AIG VALIC Education and Community Engagement Programs Fund helps Houston Ballet reach a broad population of all ages and economic levels.
With deep gratitude, we salute the following donors for their contributions to the Endowment.
$5,000,000 OR MORE The Brown Foundation, Inc. Estate of Frederic Adrian Lee Margaret Alkek Williams / The Alkek and Williams Foundation $3,000,000-$4,999,999 Estate of George W. Ernst, Jr. The Wortham Foundation, Inc. $1,000,000-$2,999,999 The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Foundation, Inc. The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Houston Endowment, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III†
$500,000-$999,999 Ira† and Myra Brown National Endowment for the Arts Mr. Fayez Sarofim $100,000-$499,999 Friends of Houston Ballet AIG American General/AIG VALIC Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Arnold, Jr. Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation Estate of Audrey Jones Beck Estate of Joe Anne Berwick Estate of Suzanne S. Braden Mrs. Laurie Champion The Cockrell Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Coneway Charles Engelhard Foundation Mr. James A. Elkins, Jr.† The Elkins Foundation
The Fondren Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William J. Gillingham† Hearst Foundations Mr. William J. Hill† Barbara F. and Gerald D. Hines† Hobby Family Foundation Houston Ballet Guild Mr. and Mrs. Meredith J. Long Mary Ralph Lowe Estate of William McAnear Mr. and Mrs. George P. Mitchell† Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. Mr. and Mrs. Roy S. O’Connor Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Parker Mr. Henry Salvatori Scurlock Foundation Tarrant Hancock Trust Estate of Dorothy B. Thomas
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HOUSTON BALLET
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Marina Saitoh, Eugene Saitoh, Akemi Saitoh
Raising the Barre Chefs and Dancers
SPECIAL EVENTS
Raising the Barre
Honorees Jerry C. Dearing, Kate and Stephen Fowler
Co-Chairs Lilly & Harrison Cullen and Amy & Jordan Pincu
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RAISE A GLASS TO THE long-awaited return of Raising the Barre! On April 24, 2022, 150 patrons joined top Houston chefs including Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi of Kata Robata, Chef Chris Shepherd of Underbelly Hospitality, Chef Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn Restaurant, and Pastry Chef Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar and Houston Ballet Company dancers Christopher Coomer, Mackenzie Richter, Naazir Muhammad, and Chae Eun Yang for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Houston Ballet dancers offered patrons a taste of their favorite dishes through a four-course menu. With The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation’s generous matching gift support, this year’s event raised over $150,000 for Houston Ballet making it the most successful to date. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and special thanks to Raising the Barre Co-Chairs Lilly & Harrison Cullen and Amy & Jordan Pincu.
Demi Soloist Naazir Muhammad
Honorees Lauren Anderson and Jen Sommers
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In the Wings Become entranced by a magical world of fairies and forbidden romance with August Bournonville’s La Sylphide. The oldest ballet in existence, La Sylphide tells the story of a young Scottish farmer who becomes spellbound by a beautiful, winged creature. As the Scotsman abandons his bride-to-be, he offends not only the wedding party but a witch who predicts his betrayal before he follows The Sylph into her kingdom in the woods. Don’t miss this ethereal production as La Sylphide returns to the Wortham Theater stage for the first time in 14 seasons.
Houston Ballet will present La Sylphide June 16-26, 2022 at the Wortham Theater Center. For tickets, please visit houstonballet.org or call the box office at 713.227.2787.
Principals Karina González and Skylar Campbell in August Bournonville’s La Sylphide. Photo by Claire McAdams
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LAUREN ANDERSON YOUNG DANCER SCHOLARSHIP FUND Honor a hometown hero by becoming one. Every gift to the Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship Fund makes you a champion for Houston Ballet’s stars of tomorrow and will be generously matched dollar-for-dollar by Deborah and Edward Koehler.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO GIVE ONLINE
OR TEXT HBGIVE TO 44-321
Principals Karina González and Skylar Campbell in August Bournonville’s La Sylphide.
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