Houston Ballet Presents Stanton Welch’s CINDERELLA and BESPOKE
Stanton Welch’s 20th Anniversary Season Continues
Houston Ballet’s celebratory season continues with the much-anticipated return of artistic director Stanton Welch’s Cinderella (February 22 – March 3), an unconventional interpretation that incorporates various versions of the age-old classic fairytale. Originally staged for The Australian Ballet in 1997, Welch’s rendition of Cinderella offers a multi-layered, sometimes dark, yet true-to-herself story of a woman coming into her own.
Following Cinderella is Bespoke (March 7 – 17), a mixed repertory production comprised of three never-before-seen performances on the Wortham Theater stage, including two Houston Ballet premieres; Stanton Welch’s Bespoke and Jiří Kylián’s Overgrown Path, as well as Tim Harbour’s return of Filigree and Shadow.
After its first Houston presentation at the Resilience Theater in the George R. Brown Convention Center post-Hurricane Harvey, Harbour’s physically demanding Filigree and Shadow showcases the strength of the Company’s male dancers. Bursting with dense choreography, the ballet is inspired by the weather phenomena of a cyclone. Welch’s titular ballet Bespoke, created on San Francisco Ballet in 2018, is set to the timeless violin concertos of Johann Sebastian Bach. The ballet delves into the ephemeral nature of being a performer with the theme of time woven throughout the piece. Exemplifying Houston Ballet’s commitment to presenting works by dance legends, Kylián’s Overgrown Path is set to the emotionally charged score by composer Leoš Janáček and carries historical significance promising audiences a deeply moving experience.
“Kylián’s breadth spans so many concepts,” artistic director Julie Kent says of the choreographer. “He is a true game changer in dance. There’s never been anyone quite like him before and people will be inspired by him for time to come.”
Cinderella
Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Sergey Prokofiev from February 22 – March 3, 2024:
At 7:30 PM on February 22, 24 and March 1 & 2, 2024; At 1:30 PM on February 24 and March 2, 2024; At 2:00 PM on February 25 and March 3, 2024
Make no mistake, this is not your childhood Cinderella! More tomboy than princess, Stanton Welch’s title character is a striking woman of substance, determination, and spunk. Not waiting on a prince to rescue her, Cinderella is in control, fighting the will of her evil stepmother with wit and vigor. And when she finds true love she grabs it— and holds on with both hands. Set to Prokofiev’s classic score with spectacular set and costume design by Kristian Frederikson, Welch’s unique spin on the storied classic brings the work into modern times, with a twist to suit the 21st century.
Bespoke
Bespoke (Houston Ballet Premiere) | Choreographer: Stanton Welch AM | Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Overgrown Path (Houston Ballet Premiere) |Choreographer: Jiří Kylián | Music: Leoš Janáček
Filigree and Shadow | Choreographer: Tim Harbour | Music: 48nord (Ulrich Müller and Siegfried Rössert)
March 7 – 17, 2024: At 7:30 PM on March 7, 9, 15, 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM on March 10, 17, 2024
Bespoke brings a fresh mixed repertory program with three ballets never-before-seen on the Wortham Theater stage. Continuing the long-standing commitment to bringing Jiří Kylián’s work to Houston, the program adds another of his works to the Company repertoire with the premiere of Overgrown Path. Set to the deeply moving score from composer Leoš Janáček, the work was created in 1980 for Nederlands Dance Theater in dedication to the legendary choreographer, Antony Tudor.
Making its Houston Ballet debut, Stanton Welch’s Bespoke was created on San Francisco Ballet in 2018.
Set to a series of Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos, the ballet explores dancers’ love for their artform and the fleeting cycle of being a performer, with motifs of time present throughout the piece. Joining the two Houston premieres is Australian choreographer Tim Harbour’s rhythmic, fast-paced Filigree and Shadow, taking the stage at the Company’s home theater for the first time after its debut during the Hometown Tour following Hurricane Harvey in 2018.
Photos courtesy of Houston Ballet