HOUSTON BALLET PRESENTS MARGARET ALKEK WILLIAMS JUBILEE OF DANCE: A Celebration of Artistic Director Stanton Welch in His 20th Season

This year’s Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance celebrates the 20th anniversary of Stanton Welch as Artistic Director for one special night only, December 1 at Wortham Theater Center.

In addition to favorites spanning Welch’s two decades as artistic director, audiences will be introduced to three new ballets by Soloist Jacquelyn Long, Demi-Soloist Jack Wolf and Corps de Ballet dancer Jindallae Bernard. Capping off the night audiences will experience a world premiere one-act ballet from Welch. 

“The Jubilee of Dance is a celebration of all things Houston Ballet and of my 20th anniversary as Artistic Director,” says Stanton Welch. “The program is made of a selection of works I have created on the Company over the past two decades, curated by Director of the Academy Jennifer Sommers and General Manager Kelli Gilson. This performance is also a celebration of the new. Three company and school alums create their first works on Houston Ballet, while I also get to create a new work to the extraordinary music of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 played by Principal Pianist Katherine Ciscon. It’s a celebration of classical dance and its bright future.”

Since 2004, the Jubilee has commenced every season as a star-studded celebration, featuring every lead dancer in a one-night-only event of peak performances from Houston Ballet’s repertory. In 2017, Margaret Alkek Williams endowed the annual celebration ensuring its place in the nonprofit’s future. These unparalleled performances throughout Houston Ballet’s rich history have included an array of beloved moments from iconic ballets alongside world-premiere works. 

Showcasing the incredible range of talent at Houston Ballet, the evening will consist of sections from fan favorites such as Welch’s Sylvia, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Marie, La Bayadere, Giselle, Restoration, In Good Company, and more! Welch’s world premiere is the finale of the evening set to one of the most popular concertos ever written.

This year’s program includes four world premieres; in addition to Welch’s new one-act will be the debut of Jindallae Bernard’s Parodie de l’histoire du ballet set to Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Jacquelyn Long’s Illuminate with music by Oliver Davis’s Frontiers, and Jack Wolff’s Category Four danced to Laurie Anderson and the Kronos Quartet’s Landfall.

This evening full of stars is a celebration not to be missed! Visit HoustonBallet.org or call 713.227.ARTS(2787) to reserve your seats today.

Photos courtesy of Houston Ballet