HOUSTON BALLET

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Houston Ballet has established a scholarship fund honoring their first African-American principal dancer Lauren Anderson.

Are you ready to retire those winter clothes for the season? We hope so! Because Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market SPRING is gearing up for its third showing.

The tax filing deadline is less than a month away and many people have questions about delayed tax refunds from last year and what to do if they haven't filed in previous years. But first, we talk with Stanton Welch about the Houston Ballet season debut.

There is one holiday tradition that Houstonians look forward to each year – we’re talking about the Houston Ballet’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’.

Tickets to the nutcracker are on sale now!

Scenery and costumes were expected in Houston this Fall, but won't arrive in time.

Tickets to the nutcracker are on sale now!

The Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market ushers in the twinkliest season of the year. It’s the city’s de facto invitation to cast aside jack-o-lanterns, plastic pumpkins and autumnal decor in favor of tinsel, pine trees and all-things red and green.

The Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market kicked off today, celebrating their 40th anniversary after going virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shoppers from all around were excited to explore the nearly 150 merchant stalls, while showcasing their holiday spirit.

This year, the market is returning in full force with in-person shopping at the NRG Center -- and just in time for the event’s 40th anniversary.

The Houston social-media influencer is a gay Black man with a gift for the absurd. He’s also a star dancer in one of the world’s most rigid, gendered, and segregated art forms.

The Houston social media influencer is a gay Black man with a gift for the absurd and a passion for platform heels. He’s also a star dancer in one of the world’s most rigid, gendered, and segregated art forms.

This year, the market is returning in full force with in-person shopping at the NRG Center -- and just in time for the event’s 40th anniversary.

The Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market is back!

One of Houston’s most popular shopping experience is returning this year in full force.

We preview the Houston Ballet's latest film project, done at the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, by talking with videographer David Rivera about what it was like to film there with 28 dancers. .

After being cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the performing arts are cautiously returning to Houston. The latest example is the Houston Ballet, which returned to live dance earlier this month – with a performance that was powerful both on and off stage.

After two seasons either completely or partially cancelled due to COVID-19, Houston Ballet will be coming back to the stage for the 2021-22 season.

We preview the upcoming performance of Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre by interviewing Principal Connor Walsh.

After having to cancel all events in 2020, the Houston Ballet’s Spring Nutcracker Market is back and ready to welcome shoppers.

Dancers and staff were hours away from their March 12, 2020, opening performance when it was canceled due to the pandemic. Now, the Houston ballet is back and ready to welcome an audience.

Still haven’t bought tickets to this weekend’s Nutcracker Market Spring? Now is the chance to do so.

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The Houston Ballet is proud to present an innovative series of dance films set to music by The Dead South. The films are said to be a celebration of life and community connections. Join “Houston Life” on Friday, March 26 at 3pm to meet the incredible dancers and get a special performance! You can also learn more about the production on the Houston Ballet’s website.

^ Keep Houston Press Free Support Us LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. Support UsBeginning this Wednesday, Houston Ballet will start unveiling a series of filmed dances choreographed by Artistic Director Stanton Welch to music by the Canadian folk-bluegrass group The Dead South. The dancers' outfits were inspired by the singular black and white look The Dead South presents in its recordings. In 2019 she sent a video to Houston Ballet, was invited to company auditions and was offered a contract. Like other dancers who've made the transition to filming instead of live performance during the pandemic, Batista says she has learned to perform differently.

Native Houstonian Lauren Anderson has flourished in one the most detailed artforms in the world -- professional ballet. Her persistence to excel resulted in a remarkable breakthrough in American ballet history. At the age of 18, she joined the Houston Ballet (the fourth-largest professional ballet company in the U.S.) as a ballerina in the Corps de Ballet, which means a group of dancers. The Houston Ballet received pushback for its decision to promote Anderson. However, in a photo that was taken during the Swan Lake performance, Anderson can be seen directly in the center of the formation.

Consumer Expert Amy Davis previews the first ever spring Nutcracker marketHOUSTON – The Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market will make a return for the spring season this April. Keep an eye out in the next few weeks for on sale dates for Nutcracker Market SPRING* General Admission tickets! Though... Posted by Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market on Monday, February 1, 2021Due to capacity restrictions, all guests must purchase a ticket to enter the Market, regardless of age. Ticket purchases and 10% of merchandise proceeds will benefit the Houston Ballet Foundation, its academy, and scholarship programs. IF YOU GOHouston Ballet Nutcracker Market -- SpringWhere: NRG CenterWhen: April 16-18Tickets: $20 per person, regardless of ageTickets can be purchased at any H-E-B Business Center or on Ticketmaster.

^ Keep Houston Press Free Support Us LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. EXPAND Sasha Cooke will join Houston Grand Opera for the first installment of Live from The Cullen in 2021. Steven Reineke will lead the Houston Symphony in In the Mood: A Big Band New Year. ), Reineke will be in town this weekend to lead In the Mood: A Big Band New Year. EXPAND Miranda Herbert, Patricia Duran and Courtney Lomelo in the Mildred's Umbrella production of The Drowning Girls.

The Nutcracker became instead Nutcracker Sweets: an hour-long mixed rep program with an abbreviated version of Welch’s choreographed The Nutcracker and new works for this holiday season. "It's more spur of the moment than ballet dancers are used to being. LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. Miller acknowledged the Houston tradition of so many people coming to The Nutcracker every year. Nutcracker Sweets is scheduled for December 15 through January 8.

Due to the continuing pandemic, Houston Ballet will continue its virtual offerings but has cancelled the remaining performances it was hoping to stage for the 2020-21 season. “Safety remains our top priority during this unprecedented time,” said Jim Nelson, Houston Ballet Executive Director in a press release from the ballet. A mixed rep program Rock, Roll & Tutus was to follow in March and another mixed rep program The Rite of Spring from late May to early June. LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. In terms of digital offerings, Houston Ballet is presenting Nutcracker Sweets from December 15 through January 8.

Houston – The 2020 Nutcracker Market starts this Wednesday, Nov. 11. What: 2020 Virtual Nutcracker MarketThis is the largest annual fundraiser for the Houston Ballet Foundation. When: November 11, 2020 - December 11, 2020Wednesday, November 11: VIP Wells Fargo Early Bird Day $30 (These passes are no longer available). Wear your fun and crazy t-shirts or fun and crazy headbands.”Time to shopThere are 150 vendors this year instead of the 270 at the live Nutcracker Market. Limited edition fabric patterns only for Virtual Nutcracker Market customers.

Calling on more than 60 dancers and crew members, visiting 19 iconic spots across the Houston area, Houston Ballet has put together Restoration, a world premiere choreographed by Artistic Director Stanton Welch to the song "Black Lung" by The Dead South. LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. Houston Ballet has been working very closely with Houston Methodist to follow best health practices, he said. "What I’m hoping people will get out of it is the idea that Houston Ballet is still very much alive and we’ve still being creative in this difficult time. We want people to still have a connection to Houston Ballet and to the arts in general.

The Houston Ballet is back. As a part of the Frame x Frame Film Fest, the Houston Ballet will hold drive-in performances at its Center for Dance parking lot. The experience affords fans the opportunity to safely experience dance in a socially-distanced setting. Frame x Frame Film Fest at the Houston Ballet Drive-In is a month-long event taking place Thursdays through Sundays beginning Thursday, Nov. 5. The festival will show different performances each night ranging from “Singin' In The Rain” to “White Christmas.”Tickets are $10 per vehicle and must be purchased in advance online.

Let’s go out on a limb and say there’s probably no other historic landmark and renowned dance festival with as interesting a name as Jacob’s Pillow. The ballet, commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow for the Houston Ballet’s return to the festival in 2018 after a shocking 39 year absence, tells the story of a couple’s relationship with the music of Pulitzer Prize winner David Lang. EXPAND Artists of Houston Ballet at Jacob’s Pillow in Stanton Welch’s Just. In fact, you might not mind taking this emotional gut punch in the privacy of your own home. A Night at Jacob’s Pillow is available now.

Interested in a thoughtful, thought-provoking conversation about the relationship between the Black and Asian American communities in the United States? Read on to see just how much you can do in cyberspace this week from the comfort of your own couch. An audience Q&A will begin at 7:10 p.m. and admission to the live webcast is free, but registration is required. The Bayou City Art Festival is regularly one of Houston’s best festivals – literally, it’s been named “Best Arts Festival” in the Houston Press Best Of Houston® awards by both us and our readers. The on-demand program will premiere the exclusive performance footage of Just which debuted during the Ballet’s first return to Jacob’s Pillow since 1979.

HOUSTON – Houston Ballet’s biggest fundraiser is going virtual this year. The Nutcracker Market, a monthlong shopping event, features more than 200 merchants. It’s localMore than half of the participating merchants of the Nutcracker Market are based in Texas. Do some Christmas shoppingThe Nutcracker Market will feature many items that will make perfect presents and stocking stuffers this holiday season. You can still celebrate with your friendsYou can your family and friends plan a virtual shopping extravaganza.

Houston Ballet has decided to delve even deeper into the digital world, announcing today that it plans to offer even more performances in that vein than it originally anticipated. As a result, its season opener for the 2020-21 season will be Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch's Just which was premiered in 2018 at Jacob's Pillow, a national historic landmark in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. During the spring, season subscribers were able to view previously recorded digital programming for the rest of the 2019-20 season. Single ticket buyers will be able to watch the three-movement Just it from October 9-18 for $20 on Vimeo. Related Stories Houston Ballet Decides to Close Down the Rest of its 2019-20 SeasonThis will be the first time Houston audiences will be able to see Just in its entirety.

Wings Over Houston Airshow to be a drive-in experience this yearPeople watch as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds perform at the 35th Annual Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Houston Airshow at Ellington Field on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Houston. People watch as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds perform at the 35th Annual Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Houston Airshow at Ellington Field on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Houston. Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Staff Photographer Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Wings Over Houston Airshow to be a drive-in experience this year 1 / 6 Back to GalleryThis year's Wings Over Houston Airshow will take shape as a drive-in experience. The 36th annual Airshow is set for October 10-11 at Houston's Ellington Airport. A production of the Commemorative Air Force, this year's event features the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds, according to the website.

HOUSTON – The Nutcracker Market will be going all virtual this year. The market, which is the largest single fundraiser for the Houston Ballet, will be extended to a monthlong event for online shopping. More than 200 merchants have signed up to participate in the virtual event that will run from Nov. 11 to Dec. 11. The holiday tradition was set to open its 40th year at NRG Center on Nov. 11. A spring version of the Nutcracker Market was launched in 2019.

HOUSTON Houston will not have The Nutcracker this holiday season, the Houston Ballet announced Monday. The performing arts organization announced the change amid its redesigned season for the 2020-2021 year. In a release about the changes the Houston Ballet shared these words about the holiday staple: " The Nutcracker (November 27 December 27, 2020), which generates $5 million in revenue, will not be performed as planned. We are not finished creating, says Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch. They hope to know more in the coming months about alternative programming, after further discussions with artists unions and healthcare partners.

HOUSTON The dancers from the Houston Ballet aren't letting the pandemic get them down. Because of everything that's going on, the Houston Ballet wanted to find a fun way for their dancers to stay connected and moving while spending more time at home. They came up with a group Zoom dance to Billy Joel's classic, "Dancing with Myself." The virtual performances might make you want to even get up on your feet and join them.

The opera, like every other arts venue in town whose performances were cancelled by the coronavirus, still needs further support and to do so, visit hgo.org/helpartists. Meanwhile the HGO continues its weekly radio broadcasts with Houston Public Media, this week featuring Das Rheingold from Wagner's Ring cycle. You can hear Beethoven's Fifth Symphony performed by Mercury chamber orchestra on May 9 at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook or mercuryhouston.org. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston continues its virtual experience offering films, a chance to meet curator Alison de Lima Greene, yogi sessions with Yogi Natasha and a documentary on Orson Welles. Houston Ballet continues to reach out through its website and social media channels, bringing interviews with dancers including how they are continuing to practice dancing and a discussion with Principal Ian Casady.

Houston Ballet has cancelled its scheduled performances and classes for the foreseeable future but isn't ruling out entirely the possibility of resuming at some time much later in the year. "Most advanced students (who lived in the Houston Ballet dorms or apartments) have returned home. About thirteen students who were not able to return home are being well cared for by Houston Ballet staff. Well have artists sharing monologues and songs, designers sharing artwork, directors sharing stories, all via short videos. Collaboration Classes: Short, online theater classes for children or anyone who wants to have a little fun!

In 1972, the Houston Ballet presented their first Nutcracker Ballet, quickly becoming a Houston favorite and a holiday classic. In 2016, Artistic Director Stanton Welch premiered his all new production of The Nutcracker, which continues to thrill audience this year during their 50th Anniversary season.

For 50 years Houston Ballet's dancers have leaped, lifted and toed their way through one program after another. "The idea is that the first portion of the program would take us through the history of the Houston ballet in an artistic, balletic way," Artistic Director Stanton Welch says. "It's like a challenge and a celebration and an explosion of classical ballet and fast, hard steps and this great great piece of music. Dignitaries on hand for the event (which also includes a number of activities throughout the weekend) will include the two former Houston Ballet artistic directors as well as former Principal dancers Mirelle Hassenboehler and Lauren Anderson. "It was created as a star-studded evening of all the great dancers in the company.

Only the most glorious of trees will look appropriate in the magnificent grand hall of downtown's Wortham Theater Center, and organizers Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet and Houston First Corporation never disappoint. For information, visit houstonthanksgivingparade.org. Head over to the newly transformed Post Oak Boulevard with 300 all-new, 20-foot-tall holiday trees that are lining the boulevard from the West Loop to Richmond Avenue. Come view the "Space Age Christmas Trees" and then immerse yourself in "The Space Age Holiday Pad." This is only the fourth time that Houston audiences are being treated to this choreography by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM, set to Tchaikovsky's beautiful score.

Houston ballet dancers are heading to New York City this week to perform a contemporary program at the New York City Center as part of the Houston company's 50th Anniversary celebrations. And, she says, the ballets being performed will show off the wide range of styles of the Houston Ballet dancers. "Reflections is Justin Pecks piece and its a classic Justin Peck ballet with lots of neo classical moments. This is the company's largest engagement in New York since 2013 and their first at City Center since 1986. Performances are scheduled for October 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at the New York City Center, 131 West 55th Street.

This article is sponsored by the Houston Ballet. Well, ballet dancers. Ballet dancers used to be strictly men, as women weren't allowed to dance in public until the late 1600s. Another tidbit about professional ballet dancers is that they typically practice 7 1/2 hours each day. Now through Sunday, the Houston Ballet is putting on "Locally Grown.

Up first on the program is James Kudelkas Passion, which Houston Ballet premiered in 2013. EXPAND Artists of Houston Ballet in Disha Zhangs Elapse. EXPAND Artists of Houston Ballet in Oliver Halkowichs Following. Edwaard Liangs Murmuration, which also premiered at Houston Ballet in 2013, closes the program in style. World Renowned is Houston Ballet at its finest, an innovative, risk-taking organization with a long-standing commitment to new works.