MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE | MAY 12-13, 2023 Houston Ballet
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE CONTENTS
5 FIRST POSITION A deeper dive into what makes George Balanchine’s choreography both iconic and recognizable; a quick Q&A with former Balanchine student and repetiteur Diana White
7 ANATOMY OF A SCENE
A closer look at the eye-catching red costumes from Rubies , designed by Karinska 9 JEWELS Here you’ll find the latest casting plus information on the artists behind Jewels
IN THIS ISSUE 14 Artist Profiles 17 Artistic Staff Profiles 18 Company Profiles 22 Houston Ballet Staff 23 Annual Supporters
HOUSTON BALLET
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4 HOUSTON BALLET
FIRST POSITION EN POINTE p. 6 | ANATOMY OF A SCENE p. 7
s1t9y8l e3 .bDe tews peiet ne h1 i9s2R0uasns ida nh ios rdi ge iant sh, itnh e choreographer’s influence shaped ti mh eml aena ds us cr aa bp ley,ocf rAe amt ienrgi crainp pblaelsl e t t w h o ro rl u d g . hout the international dance deFmroanmdds aannceemrsb, Bodaliamnecnhtinoef ’sstwyloe rk and a musicality as complex as its
AS THE FOREMOST CHOREOGRAPHER iBna tl ah ne cmh iondee nr ne aerrl ay os if nbgal el l -eht a, Gn de oe dr gl ye ef oxrpma n. Wd eidt ht ha en veomc pa bh ua sl ai sr yo no fstpheee adr, t as ttohrl eyttieclilsi nmg,, ma nodv eamper ne ftearbe onvc ee l i n e a r ftohre amt ri ni ciaml iat yl i,shme odveevre leoxpoerdb imt aonrte t h a n 400 dance works in his neoclassical
Analyzing Balanchine A 20th century gem reveals the many facets of Mr. B
By Nichelle Suzanne
HOUSTON BALLET
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FIRST POSITION s a ys sc oHr oe .u“sHt oenpBu as lhl ee ts bt ha el l eetnmv eal sotpeer ,” aBna dl a fnocrhmi neer ’ sP rc ihnocri ep oa gl rAamp hy yF, o“ nt eo ot f otenclhyncihcaalllley.n” ging you musically but B ch a F a la o n n t c e c e ’ h s s . i a n “ d G e v o b i c a fu e ll r e w t t h h i e s e r n t o t h c t o a a a n k c e y h o r in u is g k t h a s i a n n k d yoTuhceanp.r”inciples of the Balanchine mt her ot huogdh oouf tt rtahien icnhgo rmeaong irfaeps ht e r ’ s much-beloved, 1967 triptych Jewels . Imtsoevleemgaenntt,and wistful opening Emeralds , is adorned wc hi at hr aac tseurpi sptliec apl ol yr tp de er sbi sr taesnfte ea nt ue rr ignyg that extends to the very tips of the dancers’ fingers. Hip thrusts, quickly pivoting footwork and big, off-kilter arabesque distinguish the daring second act, Rubies . Dancers keep their wt oeai gl ihg th itnotuhteobf anlol swohf etrhee. iWr thoeens , arlel a d y angularity falls away in the regal and composed final movement, Diamonds ,
do fa ns pc reirnsgri insge at hwraoyu fgrho mt h eg rf ao voitt yi n’ ss t e a d pi nudl li caant di v et realnassittiicoint yt oo fpMl i ér. wB ai tlha nt chhei n e ’ s technique—unwilling to ruffle even theEaacirh. movement of Jewels evokes aBaplearnicohdinane dcatpratudriteisonthien Rboamlleatn. ticism of early-19th century ballet in Emeralds , the deep green palette satni rdr yi nogu ti mh f augl er so mo faenncceh. aHnet er edt fuorrness t s teox phlios rRi nugs smi aant ui mr epreerl iaatli obna sl lhe itprso wo tist ,h courtly grandeur in Diamonds , and flirts with his mid-20th century pl orvees ea nf fta ti or we xi tphl oAr me ae rmi coarne sewg aa lgi gt aerri a n and a dash of female empowerment in Rubies . y o “uI fgseot ma el iot tnl ee thaasdt enoe fv ietr asl el , ”e nr ebma al lrekt s, Fo T te h . e son of a composer, Balanchine sbiaml l ue tl t iannt ee on us isvl ye l syt tuhdrioe ud gphioa un to hains d no. 3 , to dazzling effect in Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds (respectively). In viewing Jewels , one attendant mh eaayr itnhdeedeadn“csee,”e at sh eMmr. uBs hi ci ma ns de l f cc oa pmt mi v aatnedds b. Ay nt ho et hienrt rmi ciagthet pbaet t e r n s i n ti nh es pmy ai ns tge rr e’ sf ecrheonrceeosgtroa po hr ny aomr edne tl ai gl h t na remc ksl.aSctei sl l ,i na nt oh tehsehr aapuedoi ef nacde amn ceemr ’bs e r mnoanyeimexaisgtisn.e a plot where supposedly As gems do, Jewels sparkles due to a multitude of quintessentially- Balanchine facets. Setting the Scene EN POINTE youth. The depth of his musical training is expressed eloquently in Jewels , as is his philosophy that dance needs no narrative. Famously quoted amsahdaevvi ni sgi bdlees,”c Br iableadn cdhainncei’ns ga ratsi s“tmi cu s i c we xocrelrdpst smfer rogme oGna bsrt iaegl eFaasu rhée’ si n t e r p r e t s Pelléas et Mélisande and Shylock , Igor Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony From counts to choreography to onstage positioning, repetiteurs help shape ballets to take the stage. Emeralds and Diamonds repetiteur Diana White talks about bringing Balanchine’s signature style to Houston Ballet and working with the world-class company in 2022.
George Balanchine is celebrated as the father of American ballet; his ‘neoclassical’ style and technical approach made his works distinct and recognizable. As a repetiteur, do you find staging Balanchine’s work different from staging other works? What makes Balanchine’s style so unique? Tt ahl ke i sntgy laebios ui tn Bh ea rl aennct hi ni nteh’ se scthyol er ,e mo gorsatppheyo; pi tl’es ws tirlal img hetnf ot irown aarnd .eWl e mh eenn t of daring, an extreme quality. Above all, it’s musical. Great classical e s c x t h e e o c p r u s e t e o e v d g o r b a lv y p e h a d e w f r r s e o l wm l- e t r t r h a e i e n o m e ft d e u , n s c i l m c a . s u I s t s ’ i s i c c a s a l o l , d r b t a u n o t c f e w o r u i , t t t h - h t e h B r e a e r l ’ a e s n ; a i c t h s ’s e i n n v e s e , e r i y t o ’ s o f p a li b e k n a e n . t W d h o e h n e n and freedom with 100% commitment and energy. Jewels’ three acts are distinctly different in most aspects, yet they string together to form one complete ballet. In terms of staging, which aspects of Emeralds and Diamonds make the two acts unique? Which aspects help unify them? What makes them unique is their music. The music evokes different eras and countries. For example, the Emeralds composer Gabriel Fauré is French, and the whole act is chic and elegant; it has a certain serenity...What unifies Jewels ’ acts is the joy of dance. And of course, you have these incredible costumes too, the ‘look.’ It’s like we’re in a heavenly jewel box; it’s a transcendent world. It’s unimaginably beautiful.
6 HOUSTON BALLET
FIRST POSITION
TWINKLING TIARAS Fun headpieces adorn the women of Rubies . While three different styles are present throughout the movement, this headpiece – shaped from wire and wrapped with cording – is covered in Swarovski crystals, faux rubies, and gold trim. Upon closer inspection, red mylar tabs also fill the gaps in between crystals to add shine and catch the light without adding weight.
IMITATION GEMSTONES Imposter jewels made from
plastic and wrapped in foil provide a lightweight and durable alternative to the real thing. Placed among an abundance of prong set jewels and Swarovski crystals, these faux gems shine just as brightly under the stage lights. These jewels embellish rich red spandex, velvet, and satin fabrics as well as souffle, nude illusion fabric used on the neckline of the women’s costume.
TWO BECOMES ONE Although it appears as one garment, the men’s costume is
comprised of two pieces: a sleeve unit and a tunic. This traditional trick to men’s ballet wear allows for more mobility. The sleeve unit’s body is made from spandex, which allows the sleeve to be made from a solid satin fabric. The tunic, made from velvet, is then worn over the sleeve unit to appear as one seamless garment.
THE PEP IN PEPLUM The women’s peplum skirt alternates between satin and velvet tabs backed with a metallic
crepe to accentuate Balanchine’s fiery choreography, and the men’s skirt follows similarly with metallic mesh. “If it were all red, it would all just kind of blend together,” says Fox. “I think with the metallic accent, you see the movement. So much of
the movement of this ballet is reflected through these little tabs.”
IN GEORGE BALANCHINE’S DECADENT BALLET JEWELS, there’s no shortage of db ya zaz lcionlgl egcet imo ns t fornoems , jveiwb real enrt Cc ol al uo rdse, aAnr pd ecllsa, sdsei cc kdse os iugtnds .a Tn hc eeras bi snt reamc te rbaal ldl es t, ,riunbsipeisr,e d a n“dI dt hi ai nmkown dhse nwyi tohuelloeogka natt di te, si ti gfne es lfsr ol imk e csoosmt uemt hei ndge soifgf naebr iKg asroiunns kdas. t a g e ,” H e a d o f C oWs t uhmi c he st rSaacnkdsrfaoFr oOxsoc abrs-ewr vi nens .i n“ Igt ’csovsetruymoel dd eHsoi gl lnyewroKoadr.”i n s k a , w h o s e g o l d e n d e s i g n years were during the height of old Hollywood. Born Varvara Zhmoudska, Karinska ei nmNi gerwa tYe odr fkr oCmi t yUi knr1a 9i n3e9atnode ms caadpee sbtroepws iinngPcaorni sf l ai cnt df rLoomn dWo on rbl de fWo raer fIi In. aGl il vy el na nadri on og m ap tl et thheoSr ac hoof ool popf oArmt uenriitci ae ns fBoar l cl eotl lbayb oBraal taino cnhfirnoem, Kbaar lilnest kt ao’ st hnee ws i l vh eormsec rpereonv. i d e d a Karinska’s designs for Jewels’ 1967 premiere expertly ties together her skill for ballet costumes and showstopping screen designs. While each costume’s basic form encompasses quintessential dance wear, the wow-factor comes down to Karinska’s af obi il l iwt yr at po pme idmpi lca tsht iec bi nr i al l isaenac eo foSf we ma reorvaslkdis c, rr yusbtiaelss, oa nn dv idbiraamn ot nf adbsr ti chsr. oTuagkhe l ai gchl tows eeri g h t look at Karinska’s beautiful designs through the Rubies costumes above.
ANATOMY OF A SCENE
The Glitz & Glamour of Jewels
A closer look at the showstopping designs of Jewels costume designer Karinska
By Jasmine Fuller Cane
HOUSTON BALLET
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Swan Lake June 8-18
Generously underwritten by Margaret Alkek Williams
houstonballet.org | 713.227.2787
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REPERTOIRE p. 10 | CASTING p. 13 | HOUSTON BALLET ORCHESTRA p. 15 JEWELS MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE
This performance lasts approximately two hours and twenty minutes. There will be two intermissions lasting twenty minutes long, each.
Houston Ballet’s performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are generously sponsored by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Houston Ballet congratulates Miller Outdoor Theatre on 100 years of performances!
HOUSTON BALLET
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CREDITS
Emeralds
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING Two leading couples, three soloists and a corps de ballet of ten women take the stage for Emeralds . Emeralds is often cited as the most reserved of the three, and the romantic tutus enhance the dreamy and elegant choreography. Balanchine once said about the piece, “It is perhaps an evocation of France, the France of elegance, comfort, dress, perfume.”
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO The backing track to Emeralds consists of excerpts from two works of French composer Gabriel Fauré: Pelléas et Melisandra and Shylock. Both pieces are derived from incidental music – background music intended to add atmosphere to plays, television programs, and other mediums that are not primarily musical.
Choreography by George Balanchine (1904-1983) © The George Balanchine Trust
Music by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Pelléas et Melisandra and Shylock
Costume Design by Karinska (1886-1983)
Staged by Diana White
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CREDITS
Rubies
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING Once likened to Times Square at midnight, Rubies is a strikingly dissonant act featuring a leading couple, a female soloist, and a corps de ballet of both men and women. Rubies is faster and jazzier than Jewels’ other acts, and features bolder choreography designed to dazzle. Although Rubies is commonly thought to represent America, Balanchine said the boldness of the act is “simply Stravinsky’s music.”
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO Stravinsky’s 1929 composition Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra in three movements: Presto, Andante rapsodico, and Allegro capriccioso ma tempo guisto. Many have said it reflects the daring nature of American culture; however, the piece was composed years before Stravinsky moved to the United States. Although he and Balanchine worked together on many occasions, Stravinsky did not write the piece specifically for Jewels .
Choreography by George Balanchine (1904-1983) © The George Balanchine Trust
Music by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc, publisher and copyright owner
Costume Design by Karinska (1886-1983)
Staged by Bart Cook
Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon , Pianist
HOUSTON BALLET
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CREDITS
Diamonds Choreography by George Balanchine (1904-1983) © The George Balanchine Trust Music by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29, first movement omitted
WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING As the crown jewel of the entire ballet, Diamonds features luxurious choreography danced by a leading couple, a group of soloists, and a large corps de ballet. Diamonds is reminiscent of Imperial Russia, Balanchine’s home, and is full of opulence and glamour. Balanchine pays tribute to Marius Petipa by using his trademark grandeur and scale throughout the entire act.
WHAT YOU’RE LISTENING TO The latter four movements of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 in D major score Diamonds . These movements first feature two scherzos, then a slow movement for a pas de deux, and then close with a polonaise Balanchine called “superb.” Balanchine’s selection of Tchaikovsky is the perfect complement to Diamonds, as both the movement and the music throughout the act pay homage to his home in Russia.
Costume Design by Karinska (1886-1983)
Staged by Diana White
Jewels World Premiere: April 13, 1967 by New York City Ballet at New York State Theater in New York, New York. Houston Ballet Premiere: September 23, 2010 in the Brown Theater in the Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas.
The performance of Jewels , a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service Standards established and approved by the Trust.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 8:00 PM Houston Ballet Orchestra conducted by Simon Thew Stage Manager: Eli Walker
EMERALDS
MELODY MENNITE & AARON DANIEL SHARRATT
SOO YOUN CHO & HARPER WATTERS
TYLER DONATELLI
CHANDLER DALTON
AOI FUJIWARA
Gretel Batista, Jindallae Bernard, Jaci Doty, Emma Forrester, Kali Kleiman, Zoe Lucich, Amelia Meissner, Jaclyn Oakley, Madison Russo, Alexandra Walton
INTERMISSION
RUBIES
TYLER DONATELLI
SKYLAR CAMPBELL
JESSICA COLLADO
Simone Acri, Syvert Lorenz Garcia, Samuel Rodriguez, Song Teng
Gretel Batista, Jindallae Bernard, Jaci Doty, Emma Forrester, Kellen Hornbuckle, Amelia Meissner, Madison Russo, Alexandra Walton
INTERMISSION
DIAMONDS
YURIKO KAJIYA
CONNOR WALSH
Gretel Batista, Kellen Hornbuckle, Jacquelyn Long, Chae Eun Yang
Chandler Dalton, Syvert Lorenz Garcia, Riley McMurray, Luzemberg Santana
Jindallae Bernard, Jaci Doty, Emma Forrester, Aoi Fujiwara, Yumiko Fukuda, Kali Kleiman, Zoe Lucich, Estheysis Menendez, Jaclyn Oakley, Madison Russo, Renee Shubov, Natalie Varnum
Simone Acri, Henrique Barbosa, Eric Best, Neal Burks, Eli Gruska, Augustin Lehner, Jackson Miles, Samuel Rodriguez, Song Teng, Elivelton Tomazi, Ryan Williams, Jack Wolff
Generously Underwritten by Hallie Vanderhider
Casting subject to change.
HOUSTON BALLET
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THE ARTISTS
Artist Profiles movie. A major artistic figure of the twentieth century, Balanchine revolutionized the look of classical ballet. Taking classicism as his base, he heightened, quickened, expanded, streamlined, and even inverted the fundamentals of the 400-year- old language of academic dance. This had an inestimable influence on the growth of dance in America. Although at first his style seemed particularly suited to the energy and speed of American dancers, especially those he trained, his ballets are now performed by all the major classical
GEORGE BALANCHINE (1904-1983) Choreographer Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, George Balanchine is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. He came to the United States in late 1933, at the age of 29, accepting the invitation of the young American arts patron Lincoln Kirstein (1907-1996), whose great passions included the dream of creating a ballet company in America. At Balanchine’s behest, Kirstein was also prepared to support the formation of an American academy of ballet that would eventually rival the long-established schools of Europe. This was the School of American Ballet, founded in 1934, the first product of the Balanchine-Kirstein collaboration. Several ballet companies directed by the two were created and dissolved in the years that followed, while Balanchine found other outlets for his choreography. Eventually, with a performance on October 11, 1948, the New York City Ballet was born. Balanchine served as its ballet master and principal choreographer from 1948 until his death in 1983. Balanchine’s more than 400 dance works include Serenade (1934), Concerto Barocco (1941), Le Palais de Cristal, later renamed Symphony in C (1947), Orpheus (1948), The Nutcracker (1954), Agon (1957), Symphony in Three Movements (1972), Stravinsky Violin Concerto (1972), Vienna Waltzes (1977), Ballo della Regina (1978), and Mozartiana (1981). His final ballet, a new version of Stravinsky’s Variations for Orchestra , was created in 1982. He also choreographed for films, operas, revues, and musicals. Among his best known dances for the stage is Slaughter on Tenth Avenue , originally created for Broadway’s On Your Toes (1936). The musical was later made into a
Joan of Arc . Ms. Karinska worked with George Balanchine and New York City Ballet for the duration of her career with Balanchine appointing her as principal costumer of New York City Ballet in 1962. In the same year, Ms. Karinska’s achievements were publicly recognized when she received the Capezio Dance Award for costumes “of unusual beauty for the spectator and complete delight for the dancer.” A true perfectionist, she deserved the compliment paid to her by George Balanchine: “There is Shakespeare for literature and Madame Karinska for costumes.” Ms. Karinska died in New York on October 18, 1983.
ballet companies throughout the world. Copyright @ 2002 The George Balanchine Foundation. Reprinted by permission.
KATHERINE BURKWALL-CISCON Pianist, Rubies
KARINSKA (1886-1983) Costume Designer
Chicago native Katherine Ciscon received her bachelor’s degree in piano from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, and a double master’s degree in both piano performance and collaborative arts from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. She was named Principal Pianist of Houston Ballet in 1995 and has also been a vocal coach and Visiting Artist Professor of Music at the Moores School of Music. While at Houston Ballet, Ms. Ciscon has performed as soloist in the world premieres of Stanton Welch’s Nosotros, Class and The Core , Justin Peck’s Reflections (world premiere of Sufjan Stevens music), Garrett Smith’s Reveal , James Kudelka’s Passion , Ben Stevenson’s Eclipse , and Trey McIntyre’s Bound , among others. She has also been featured as soloist in many works, including Stanton Welch’s Sons de L’âme and Tu Tu , William Forsythe’s Artifact Suite , Mark Morris’s Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes , Jerome Robbins’s The Concert (Or the Perils of Everybody) , and George Balanchine’s Rubies , Ballet Imperial , and The Four Temperaments .
Born Varvara Zhmoudska in Kharov, Ukraine on October 3, 1886, Ms. Karinska began her long career as the highly acclaimed interpreter of designs by such artists as Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, and Marc Chagall; however, it was as principal costumer of New York City Ballet that she made her name. Ms. Karinska’s first costumes were made for nightclub performers and the Comedie-Française, but in 1932 she received a commission from ballet and opera directors Colonel de Basil and Rene Blum to make the costumes for Balanchine’s ballet Cotillon , to designs by Christian Berand. After many more commissions for theater as well as the ballet, she quickly became known as the only costumer able to translate an artist’s sketches into fabric. Ms. Karinska left Paris for New York City in 1939 where she created and designed costumes for opera, dance, and theater. Ms. Karinska also worked in Hollywood creating costumes for film. In 1948, she won an Academy Award for her designs for Ingrid Bergman in
14 HOUSTON BALLET
ORCHESTRA
Houston Ballet Orchestra
Conducted by Simon Thew
FIRST VIOLIN Rachel Shepard, Concertmaster Marisa Ishikawa Luka Sesek Ben Grube Joanna Becker Angela Ryu Sylvia Ouellette
CELLO Esra Sturman, Principal Eleanor Herrera Hyeok Kwon Benjamin Stoehr BASS Curry Duffey*, Principal Greg Garcia*, Assistant Principal FLUTE Monica Barker, Principal Peggy Russell* Colleen Matheu Johnson* PICCOLO Colleen Matheu Johnson*
CLARINET Thomas Frey, Principal Roy Park
BASS TROMBONE RIchard Reeves*
TUBA Ali Jackson, Principal
BASS CLARINET Roman Cisneros
TIMPANI Pedro Fernandez, Principal
BASSOON Julianne Mulvey, Principal Katia Osorio
PERCUSSION Alec Warren, Principal
SECOND VIOLIN Elizabeth Frederick*, Principal Karen Hall Wilkson*, Assistant Principal Jackson Guillen McKenna Jordan Barbara Shreffler* Johnny Chang VIOLA Dawson White, Principal Rainey Weber Megan Wright Miller
HORN James Wilson*, Principal Christopher Shelburne Deborah Harvey Aaron Griffin TRUMPET George Chase, Principal Jason Adams TROMBONE Brian Logan, Principal Michael Warny*
HARP Naomi Hoffmeyer*, Principal
PIANO Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon*
OBOE Katie Hart, Principal Stanley Chyi
*Houston Ballet Orchestra members who have more than 10 years of service
ENGLISH HORN Grace Tice
Hao-Hsuan Lee Troy Stephenson
Acknowledgements
Scenery and costumes courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada
Houston Ballet Orchestra members are represented by Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local 65-699, A.F. of M.
General Counsel: Vinson & Elkins, LLP
Stage Crew personnel are placed by I.A.T.S.E., Local 51.
Immigration Attorneys: Foster, LLP
Wardrobe personnel are placed by I.A.T.S.E., T.W.U. Local 896.
The Dancers and Stage Managers of Houston Ballet are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.
Houston Ballet is a member of Dance/USA
Touring Representation: IMG Artists
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16 HOUSTON BALLET
Artistic Staff Profiles
Stanton Welch AM The Harris Masterson II Artistic Director
an invitation to become The Australian Ballet’s assistant conductor, a position he held until mid 2022. He has also worked as a guest conductor for English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Houston Ballet. Mr. Thew was The Australian Ballet’s Conducting Fellow in 2011 and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship. The Churchill Fellowship enabled him to undertake further professional development opportunities with ballet companies, opera houses and orchestras in London, Birmingham, Vienna, Berlin, and New York across 2012. In 2007, Mr. Thew was awarded the Dame Joan Sutherland/Richard Bonynge Travel Scholarship, which enabled further study in Europe, culminating in his position as musical intern at the Bayreuth Festival in 2008. Mr. Thew was an assistant conductor with Opera Australia from 2007-2010. In 2010, he held the Hephzibah Tintner Fellowship, which gave him performance and mentoring opportunities with The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, and the Sydney Symphony. Mr. Thew undertook studies in Sydney, Vienna, Berlin, and Barcelona with mentors including Sebastian Weigle, Nicolette Fraillon AM, Harry Spence Lyth, Richard Bonynge AC CBE, and John Hopkins AM OBE. Mr. Thew also has an active concert and recording conducting career and is committed to the education of young conductors and instrumentalists. Mr. Thew joins Houston Ballet as Associate Conductor in August 2022 for the 2022-23 season.
Mort, Forgotten Land, and Svadebka ; Jerome Robbins’ The Concert; George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, Serenade , and Theme and Variations ; Ben Stevenson’s Coppélia ; Stanton Welch’s Maninyas, Divergence, Indigo, Play, Velocity, Madame Butterfly, and Falling. In addition, Mr. Coomer has performed featured roles in many works, including: George Balanchine’s Jewels; Stanton Welch’s Tu Tu, Red Earth, Marie, Cinderella, and La Bayadére . Rothbart in Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake; Edwaard Liang’s Murmuration , Gurn in August Bournonville’s La Sylphide ; Sharpless in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly. The role of Tybalt in Stanton Welch’s Romeo and Juliet was choreographed on Mr. Coomer.
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 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).
Amy Fote Ballet Master
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.
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
Ermanno Florio Music Director and Principal Conductor
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
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. Upon his retirement after a 22-year professional career onstage, he joined the artistic staff of Houston Ballet as ballet master in 2020.
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 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 .
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.
Christopher Coomer Ballet Master Christopher Coomer was born in Birkenhead, England, and received his training at Wallasey School of Ballet and Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. He joined Houston Ballet in 2004 as an apprentice and in 2005
became a member of the Corps de Ballet. Mr. Coomer was promoted to Soloist in 2007 following his performance in Stanton Welch’s Clear . He became First Soloist in 2018. He joins the Houston Ballet artistic staff as ballet master as of January 2023, after retiring from an 18-year professional career onstage. Mr. Coomer’s classical and contemporary repertoire includes: Giselle, Onegin, The Nutcracker, Merry Widow; Christopher Bruce’s Rooster, Hush, Sergeant Early’s Dream, and Swan Song ; Mark Morris’s Sandpaper and Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes; Jiří Kylián’s Petite
Simon Thew Associate Conductor
Australian Conductor Simon Thew was a regular guest conductor with The Australian Ballet between 2013 and 2016, conducting performances in most of the company’s seasons during that time. In 2017 he accepted
HOUSTON BALLET
17
Company Profiles
Principals
Skylar Campbell
Soo Youn Cho The Robert F. Parker Principal Dancer
Jessica Collado* The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Principal Dancer Birthplace Coral Springs, Florida
Karina González The Houston Ballet Guild Principal Dancer
Yuriko Kajiya The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Principal Dancer
Birthplace Laguna Beach, California
Birthplace Incheon, South Korea
Birthplace Caracas, Venezuela
Birthplace Aichi, Japan
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 Joined the Company 2012 Promoted to Principal 2018
Dance Training Gwinnett Ballet
Dance Training Gustavo Franklin Ballet School, Caracas, Venezuela
Dance Training Shanghai Dance School, National Ballet School of Canada
Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy, Ballet Nova of South Florida
Joined the Company as Principal 2022
Joined the Company 2004 Promoted to Principal 2017
Joined the Company 2010 Promoted to Principal 2013
Joined the Company 2014 Promoted to Principal 2014
Melody Mennite*
Chase O’Connell
Beckanne Sisk
Connor Walsh*
The Melza M. Barr Principal Dancer
The Anita B. Stude Principal Dancer
The Fondren Foundation Principal Dancer
Birthplace Santa Cruz, California
Birthplace Fredericksburg, Virginia
Birthplace Longview, Texas
Birthplace Fairfax, Virginia
Dance Training Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy
Dance Training Kirov Academy of Ballet, Royal Ballet School
Dance Training Longview Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance
Dance Training Kirov Academy of Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Houston Ballet Academy Joined the Company 2004 Promoted to Principal 2007
Joined the Company 2001 Promoted to Principal 2008
Joined the Company as Principal 2022
Joined the Company as Principal 2022
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
18 HOUSTON BALLET
COMPANY PROFILES
First Soloists
Chandler Dalton*
Tyler Donatelli* The Houston Ballet Guild First Soloist Birthplace Huntington Beach, California Dance Training Southland Ballet Academy, Houston Ballet Academy
Mónica Gómez
Harper Watters*
Birthplace Richmond, Virginia
Birthplace Havana, Cuba
Birthplace Dover, New Hampshire
Dance Training School of Richmond Ballet, Houston Ballet Academy
Dance Training National Ballet School of Cuba
Dance Training Houston Ballet
Academy, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Portsmouth School of Ballet Joined the Company 2011 Promoted to First Soloist 2021
Joined the Company 2016 Promoted to First Soloist 2022
Joined the Company 2014 Promoted to First Soloist 2022
Joined the Company 2015 Promoted to First Soloist 2019
Soloists
Simone Acri
Aoi Fujiwara*
Ryo Kato
Bridget Kuhns*
Birthplace Saitama, Japan
Birthplace Osaka, Japan
Birthplace Saitama, Japan
Birthplace Columbus, Ohio
Jacquelyn Long*
Naazir Muhammad*
Mackenzie Richter* Aaron Daniel Sharratt*
Alyssa Springer*
Birthplace Cleveland, Ohio
Birthplace Brooklyn, New York
Birthplace Warner Robins, Georgia
Birthplace Tuscon, Arizona
Birthplace Orange County, California
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
HOUSTON BALLET
19
COMPANY PROFILES
Demi Soloists
Yumiko Fukuda
Syvert Lorenz Garcia*
Kellen Hornbuckle* Estheysis Menendez
Birthplace Saitama, Japan
Birthplace Oslo, Norway
Birthplace Ann Arbor, Michigan
Birthplace Havana, Cuba
Luzemberg Santana
Elivelton Tomazi
Natalie Varnum*
Jack Wolff*
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
Henrique Barbosa* Gretel Batista
Magnoly Batista*
Jindallae Bernard*
Neal Burks*
Birthplace Maracanaú, CE, Brazil
Birthplace Havana, Cuba
Birthplace Santiago, Dominican Republic
Birthplace New Orleans, Louisiana
Birthplace Jacksonville, Florida
Jaci Doty*
Emma Forrester*
Eli Gruska
Rafaela Henrique*
Danbi Kim*
Birthplace Shenandoah, Iowa
Birthplace Houston, Texas
Birthplace Los Angeles, California
Birthplace Jundiai, SP, Brazil
Birthplace Suwon, Republic of Korea
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
20 HOUSTON BALLET
COMPANY PROFILES
Zoe Lucich
Riley McMurray*
Jackson Miles*
Saul Newport*
Jaclyn Oakley
Birthplace Marin County, California
Birthplace Chicago, Illinois
Birthplace Denver, Colorado
Birthplace London, England
Birthplace Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Samuel Rodriguez Madison Russo*
Song Teng*
Yu Wakizuka
Matthew West*
Birthplace Atlanta, Georgia
Birthplace West Palm Beach, Florida
Birthplace Hunan, China
Birthplace Osaka, Japan
Birthplace Ibaraki, Japan
Apprentices
Eric Best*
Kali Kleiman
Griffin Koehl*
Augustin Lehner*
Birthplace Indianapolis, Indiana
Birthplace Dallas, Texas
Birthplace Harford, Maryland
Birthplace Ľubotín, Slovakia
Amelia Meissner*
Alexandra Walton* Ryan Williams*
Birthplace San Antonio, Texas
Birthplace Sydney, Australia
Birthplace Phoenix, Arizona
* denotes dancers who have trained in the Houston Ballet Academy
HOUSTON BALLET
21
Houston Ballet Staff
ARTISTIC †Stanton Welch AM* Artistic Director Ian Casady* Ballet Master Christopher Coomer* Ballet Master Amy Fote* Ballet Master Steven Woodgate* Ballet Master ADMINISTRATION †James Nelson* Executive Director †Kelli Gilson* General Manager Rachael Cierniakoski Company Manager
Coordinator
Jennifer Estrada Associate Director, Nutcracker Market Stephanie Faulk
Lauren Gayden* Associate Director of Ticketing Services 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, Jordan Daniel, Hannah Kimble, Soledad Lara, Eloisa Perez, Diamond Rector, Ronnie Turner, 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 Cait Dean Properties Master Jonathan Moore Stage Manager Eli Walker Assistant Stage Manager Julia Ridenhour Production Operations Manager Morgan Brochu Production Coordinator Barry Thomas* Master Electrician Paul Gibson
Summerlin Costume Technicians
Sarah DeLeon Laundry Technician
Akihiro Kawasaki Head Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach Lauren Anderson* Associate Director, Education and Community Engagement Alexandra Garza Coordinator, Education & Community Engagement Jamie L. Cegelski Education & Community Engagement Coordinator Carol Anglin, Brittany Bass, Jacquelyne Boe, Durell Comedy, Dwayne Cook, Nell Cunningham, Victoria De Bethencourt, Dawn Dippel, Jeanne Doornbos, Rupert Edwards, Heidi Erickson, Carla Flores Keniston, LaRodney Freeman, Valerie Handy, Spencer Hering, Paige Kutschall, Gabrielle Luna, Ellen Mallon, Lindsey McGill, Elizabeth McMillan, Mallory Mehaffey, Paola Murga Parada, Lucinda Rohrer, Kamryn Spell Part-Time Academy Instructors & Teaching Artists Jocelyn Sierra Academy Resident Dorm Supervisor Kaitlynn Berrones , Abriel Casas, Anna Gould, Lara Hannaford, Cinthya Heyman, Jamela Johns, Destiny Miller, Jesse Serpas, Katherine Wicks Part-Time Academy Class Monitors Pam Blangy, Jacquelyne Boe, Monica Bondi, Brittany Deveau, Danielle Farzanegan, Keith Gacrama, Michelle Gregovic, Nadia Khan, Patricia King, Mallory Littell, Katrina Olson, Lisa Petrozzi, Michelle Phillips, Hilary Schaff, Jennifer Trimmer Wellness Team Kelsey Fyffe Academy Counselor Judy Spong Academy ESL Teacher Emily Hahn Academy Nutritionist Amy Pearl Resident Advisor Trenton Barnett, Nathanial Nakadate*, Peter Nguyen Academic Advisors HOUSTON METHODIST STAFF Carina M. Nasrallah, MS, LAT, ATC, CISSN Head Athletic Trainer Leanne Wonesh Academy Athletic Trainer
Assistant Director, Individual Giving Jackie Forrester Individual Giving Coordinator Jasmine Fuller Cane Assistant Director, Development Communications and Publications Joey Gaona Assistant Director, Institutional Giving Ana Gonzalez* Assistant Director, Tessitura Operations Lucy Graham Assistant Director, Donor Relations Allison Gray Assistant Director, Special Events Colleen Hargraves Annual Fund Manager Kharma Grimes Development Communications Coordinator Lindsey Hurst* Director of Institutional Giving Erika Jordan Director of Individual Giving Susan Lehmann Nutcracker Market Associate Alex Martinez Development Coordinator Katie Waller Special Events Coordinator Kate Wood Development Communications Manager Alexandra Yates Senior Director, Special Events Baylee Zeringue Nutcracker Market Communications Manager
MUSIC †Ermanno Florio*
Music Director and Principal Conductor Simon Thew Associate Conductor Richard Reeves* Orchestra Manager/Music Administrator Theresa Hanebury*
Music Librarian/ Pianists’ Manager Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon* Principal Pianist/Music Coordinator William Patterson Academy Pianist Manager Tyrone Boyle, Jennifer Edmondson, Grecia Lavenderos,* Kuanyi Lu, 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
FINANCE †Kristi Roberts Chief Financial Officer †Rachel Koenig Director of Human Resources Thelma Hearren Controller Denise Guevara Senior Accountant Kay Ross Senior Accountant II Kenneth Knight II Payroll Manager Diamantina Peña* Accounts Payable Coordinator Cheryl Zane* Special Advisor Yeriel Zaragoza Human Resources Coordinator Garth Luther Associate Director, Facilities Patricia Barnes, Natalie Hernandez Receptionists
ACADEMY †Jennifer Sommers* Academy Director Claudio Muñoz* HBII Ballet Master Cheryne Busch* Upper School Principal Beth Everitt*
TECHNOLOGY †MJ Bavaret* Director of IT Alejandro Rivas Associate Director of Networking Joshua Jemio Help Desk Manager Erik Orbe Help Desk Associate I Sy Nguyen Help Desk Associate I Gevais Jefferson IT Project Associate
Assistant Electrician/ Light Board Operator Jason Mathis Assistant Electrician
MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS †Angela Lee* Director of Marketing and
Gregory Stewart Head Carpenter
Lower School Principal & Children’s Ballet Master Orlando Molina Boys’ Coordinator Susan Bryant*, Kelly Myernick Kubin* Academy Principal Instructors Katie Wesche Associate Director of Academy Administration Yahudi Castañeda Academy Associate Director of Artistic Operations Carla Cortez Academy Registrar Dustin Shaw Academy Programs Manager Bryana Bordelon Manager, Student Life Daisy Benedict Academy Artistic Operations Coordinator Tempest McLendon Academy Administrative
Lafayette Andrews Assistant Carpenter Alexa Carlson, Michael Lavin Costume Shop Manager Crystal Breihan Wardrobe Coordinator Drieux Dismukes, Freddy Reymundo Wardrobe Supervisors Meghann Mason Wig and Makeup Supervisor Ashly Martinez, Katie McKinney, Dylan Sulak, Darcie Teasley, Misty Reed Wig and Makeup Technicians Kendall Sarro Wardrobe Admin Assistant Glinda Andersen, Allison Duke, Samira Craig, Michael Farris, Alfredo Gonzalez, Monica Guerra, Beau Hamilton, Ashley Jones, Serge Ovechko, Marcus Pontello, Matthew Smith, Chandler
Public Relations Tory Lieberman Associate Director of Marketing Elizabeth Sosa Bailey Public Relations Manager Jared Murphy Graphic Designer Lynn Chung*
DEVELOPMENT †Angie Lane Chief Development Officer Haley Calvert Development Manager and Guild Liason Sydney Cooke Institutional Giving Coordinator Sofia Del Villar Nutcracker Market Coordinator Victoria Deleon Development Process Coordinator
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 Aaron Thomas Audio Visual Assistant
*Houston Ballet staff who have more than 10 years of service †Senior leadership
22 HOUSTON BALLET
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.
Étoile $100,000 OR MORE
Melza and Ted Barr Gary V. Beauchamp and Marian Wilfert Beauchamp The Brown Foundation, Inc. ConocoPhillips The Cullen Foundation
KPRC Ms. Leticia Loya Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh The Sarofim Foundation Allison and Troy Thacker Ann Trammell Stephanie and Frank Tsuru Phoebe and Bobby Tudor Hallie Vanderhider Margaret Alkek Williams The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation
The Events Company Houston Ballet Guild
Houston Methodist Mr. Jesse H. Jones II Deborah and Edward Koehler
Directors Circle $50,000-$99,999
Friend of Houston Ballet Myra Brown Anne and Albert Chao Mrs. Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Mr. Victor Costa
Lori Gallagher and Curtis Huff Mr. and Mrs. Reginald R. Smith Mr. Mike S. Stude Lynn Wyatt
Artists Circle $25,000-$49,999 Marvin and Martha McMurrey Mr. Dee S. Osborne Cabrina and Steven Owsley Kent and Shara Schaffer
Friends of Houston Ballet Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bradshaw Mignon and Stephen Gill Dr. Michael Hawkins and Dr. Liliana Soltero
S. Shawn Stephens and James M. Jordan Mr. and Mrs. David M. Underwood, Jr. Bonnie Weekley
Presidents Circle $15,000-$24,999
Dr. Julia Andrieni and Dr. Robert Phillips Jack Bell Dr. and Mrs. Devinder Bhatia Sasha Davis and Joseph Matulevich Bastiaan and Nathalie de Zeeuw Twana and Kelly Faykus Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Hafner, Jr. Claudia and David Hatcher Mrs. Nancy Ferguson Haywood
Mr. and Mrs. Russell C. Joseph D. M. Marcinek Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. May, Jr. Kris and Richard McGee Marsha L. Montemayor Ms. Nancy Powell Moore James Nelson and Richard Lapin Kevin S. Potter Elisa and Cris Pye
Bradley and Monica Radoff Carroll and Hugh Ray Macey and Harry Reasoner Mike Rydin Ms. Elizabeth Schwarze Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas L. Swyka J. Michael and Ileana Treviño Mary and Greg Whalley
23 HOUSTON BALLET
ANNUAL SUPPORT
IMPRESARIO $10,000-$14,999 Friends of Houston Ballet Mr. Cameron Alguire & Mrs. Ashley Hughey Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bazelides Ms. Ann Bean Dr. Patrick Benge Gary and Susan Binney Mr. and Mrs. Jack S. Blanton, Jr. C. Robert Bunch and Lilia D. Khakimova Lenni and Bill Burke Carol Butler Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mrs. Rosanette S. Cullen Marsha and Sam Dodson Bruce and Pamela Earthman Sharon F. Erskine Mr. and Mrs. Richard Finger The Friedkin Group/Marc and Brenda Watts Mr. and Mrs. James E. Furr Mitchell B. George and Stanley Curtis, Jr. Sandy and Lee Godfrey Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Graham Mr.† and Mrs. Donald M. Graubart Hope Huber Ms. Melissa Holman Juneau Donna Kaplan and Richard Lydecker Elizabeth and Bill Kroger Ms. Melanie Lawson and Mr. John F. Guess, Jr. Dr. Bridgitte Shen Lee and Mr. Eugene E. Lee Evelyn Leightman Elizabeth and Charlie Leykum Eugene F. Loveland
Mr. and Mrs. † W. Kendall Adam Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins Stanford† and Joan Alexander Nancy C. Allen Leslie Alston and Michael Zenker Maida and Paul Asofsky Dr. Saul and Ursula Balagura
Susan Lapin Stephanie Larsen and Bryn Kristen Larsen Ms. Tracy N. LeRoy Chad Libertus Ms. Judy Liu Stephen and Chris Lukin Mrs. Jordan Macha and Mr. Kent Hemphill Dr. and Mrs. Michael Mann Melanie and Jerry Martin Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Matiuk Tom Mays Bill, Julie, and Jason McClung Warren and Yana McFatter Mimi Reed McGehee Vickie Milazzo and Thomas Ziemba Miller Theatre Advisory Board Mr. and Mrs. Jordan H. Mintz Mr. and Mrs. James M. Nicklos Peggy Pennington O’Connor Mr. Michael and Mrs. Catherine Oestmann Martha Farish Oti Robert and Mireille Patman Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Alexander Pincu Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Plaeger II Mr. Vsevolod Popov Ms. Lori Fultz Priess Mr. and Mrs. William E. Pritchard III Joan and Lou Pucher Isla and T.R. Reckling Fay and George A. Rizzo Sharon Roark Joseph Henry Rose Michele and Robert Ryan Ms. Jaleh Sallee Bob Scott and Susan Bickley Sarah and Tom Scott Linda and Charles Shearouse Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Simmons Michael B. Smith Mrs. Christine Sofka James Stafford and Deborah Keyser Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stibolt Summit Dental Center-Dr. Essa A. Kawaja Dr. Jeffrey Sweterlitsch Stanton Welch AM Mrs. Sara E. White Susan Whitfield Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski Loretta and Lawrence Williams Helen B. Wils and Leonard A. Goldstein David and Mary Montague Brad and Lauren Morgan Dr. Jeff and Erin Thompson Paul and Sherry Vaughan
Muffet Blake Nancy Boruta Anne Orton Boss Ms. Michaela Botha
Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Brinsden Mr. and Mrs. David A. Bristol, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Brookner Lindsey Brown Judy Gray Brunk Reagan and Claudia Burch Kim Cagle and Tim Mullin Jess and Patricia Carnes Beth and Michael Chambers Nada Chandler Mr. Robert Chanon
Keiko Chevray Donna Collins Mr. Michael Collins and Dr. Michael Evans
Mr. Robert and Dr. Carol Collins C.C. Conner, Jr. and David Groover Andrew and Mary Allen Cope
Ramon Creixell Rochelle Cyprus
David and Lynne Devine Mr. and Mrs. Cody Dick Sandra Didlake Cynthia A. Diller Ms. Jane DiPaolo Dr. and Mrs. Donohue Mrs. Carol Drawe
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Loveland Stephen and Kelley Lubanko Marilyn G. Lummis Joseph and Jenifer Matula Judy and Dan McClure Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mithoff Ms. Beth Muecke Mrs. Patti A. Murphy Drs. Duyen and Marc Nguyen Tammy and Wayne Nguyen
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 Marla and Stewart Feldman Perry and Cinda Forrester Joe and Laura Freudenberger Prince and Princess Piotr and Maria-Anna Galitzine David & Anita Garten Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Marianne Geagea Cynthia and Ty Geiger Dr. Eugenia George Beth and Wayne Gibbens Vicki Faulkner Sidney Faust
Sara and James Parr Ms. Samira A. Salman Helen and Jim Shaffer Dannika E. Simpson
Heidi and Marcus Smith Erika and John Toussaint Jessica Trincanello and Jeremy Griggs Mrs. Kelli Weinzierl Dow and Meredith Zabolio Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Zdeblick
Syma and Walter Zerkow Rini and Edward Ziegler VIRTUOSO $7,500-$9,999 Friend of Houston Ballet Anne Morgan Barrett Zachary and Karen Bell Sylvie and Gary Crum
Dr. and Mrs. George S. Glass Mr. and Mrs. Joel Grossman William and Jane Guest Mr. Brent Hallmark Linda Lloyd Hart Susan and Michael Hawes Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hibbert
Gaddis and Susan Wittjen Steve and Patricia Yatauro Mr. John L. Zipprich II
YOUNG AMBASSADORS $2,000 Friend of Houston Ballet Renee Anderson Nicholas Baran Katherine Brooker and Thomas Stenack Sara Carbo, River Oaks Dance
Tami Hiraoka Gillian Hobson Gary Hollingsworth and Ken Hyde Lonnie Hoogeboom and Betsy Strauch Mrs. James E. Hooks Sandra and Richard Jackson Swagelok Texas Mid-Coast Katie Jurgielewicz Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kaufman Mrs. Neale W. Kempner John Atterbury Kendall Susan and Michael Klaveness Dr. Dale G. Konicek and Susan Konicek Ms. Ann Koster Mrs. Warren W. Kreft
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Doneker Marcia and Tom Faschingbauer Marion and Caroline Freeman Marion and Gary Glober Mr. Samuel F. Gorman
Devon and Jim Furl Victoria Gutierrez Stuart and Meghan Humphries Ms. Mariya Idenova Karen Kwok
Mr. and Mrs. Brian B. Hughes Dr. Raymond and Leora Kahn Ginni and Richard Mithoff Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer Dr. David W. Reininger and Laura Lee Jones
Shane A. Miller David Moyer II R. Trevor Myers Melissa L. Nance P.E.
Susan and Ed Septimus Mr. Timothy Wampler
Elizabeth Price Melissa Reihle Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ritchie Kristiann Rushton Dr. Addy Satija
AMBASSADOR $4,000-$7,499
Jake and Jennifer Kushner Angie Lane and Nick Eoff Dr. Claire Langston
Friends of Houston Ballet Dr. and Mrs. George J. Abdo
24 HOUSTON BALLET
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