The Houston Ballet is the fourth-largest professional ballet company in the United States. Based in Houston, Texas, it is run by the Houston Ballet Foundation. [1] The foundation also maintains the Ben Stevenson Academy, which trains more than half of the company's dancers. [2] As of 2017, Houston Ballet's endowment is just over $70 million. [3] The company holds over 75 performances each year and includes 51 dancers. [1] [4] [5]
The Houston Ballet began as the Houston Ballet Academy. It was created in 1955 under the leadership of Tatiana Semenova. [6] In 1969, the foundation formed a professional ballet company, which was directed by Nina Popova. [7]
Ben Stevenson, artistic director of Houston Ballet from 1976-2003, helped the ballet become internationally famous. [8] [9]
Kenneth MacMillan, an artistic associate, worked with the company from 1989 until his death in 1992. [10] Christopher Bruce, the resident choreographer, has created nine works for the company. [11] Trey McIntyre, the choreographic associate, has created seven world premieres for the company. [12] In 2003, Australian choreographer Stanton Welch became Artistic Director, and has also created many works for Houston Ballet. [13]
In 1982, Sandra Organ became its first African American ballerina at the age of 19. In 1990, Lauren Anderson became the Houston Ballet's first African-American principal dancer.
In July 1995, the Houston Ballet became the first full American ballet company invited by the Chinese government to tour the country. [8] Around 500 million people watched Houston Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet, which was presented live on Chinese television. [14]
For the company's 40th season in 2010, Stanton Welsh created a new production of La Bayadère. [15]
In 2011 the company was the first company to win the Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance. This achievement allowed the company to purchase a new piece by Jorma Elo. [16]
Source: Houston Ballet. [17]
The Houston Ballet administrative headquarters are in Downtown Houston, [18] in the Center for Dance. Houston Ballet's Center for Dance had its grand opening on April 9, 2011. [19] The site increased the number of dance studios, and a "black box dance laboratory" was added. [20] The Center more than doubled the space that Houston Ballet had at its location before. [21] It became the largest dance site of its kind in the United States and cost $46 million. [22] [23] [24]
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Category:Ballet companies in the United States
Category:Culture of Houston
Category:Texas classical music
Category:1969 establishments in Texas
Category:Performing groups established in 1969
Category:Tourist attractions in Houston