HOUSTON BALLET
Ben Stevenson, Artistic Director
1998 / 1999 SEASON
Call (713) 5-BALLET


Interview with CLARA CRAVEY, Principal of The Houston Ballet Academy.


PEER GYNT. Dancers: Dawn Scannell, Dominic Walsh and Dorio Perez. Photo: Drew Donovan.

PEER GYNT
June 10 - 20, 1999

Music by Edward Grieg
Arranged by John Lanchbery
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
Scenic and Costume Design by Peter Farmer
Lighting Design by Tony Tucci

Peer Gynt traces the adventure of a hot-blooded young peasant boy who breaks out of the stifling confines of his provincial village and sets sail for adventures in the wide-open world, romancing (and deserting) many a young maid in the process.


FOUR LAST SONGS. Dancers: Christopher Veljovic, Rachel Beard and Sean Kelly. Photo: Geoff Winningham.


FOUR LAST SONGS
May 27 - June 06, 1999

Music by Richard Strauss
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
Set & Costume designs by Matthew C. Jacobs
Lighting Design by Tony Tucci

Set to Richard Strauss' poignant, haunting songs of farewell, Four Last Songs has emerged as Ben Stevenson's masterwork. Hailed by The New York Times as "exquisite," the piece has been performed by prestigious dance ensembles across the world, including San Francisco Ballet, Chile's Ballet de Santiago, and London's English National Ballet.

World Premiere by Lila York
A former dancer with the acclaimed Paul Taylor Dance Company, Lila York has come forth as one of the most exciting choreographers on the American scene today. In May 1998, Houston Ballet will present Ms. York's signature piece, Rapture, described by Dance Magazine as "a little piece of heaven." In May 1999, Ms. York will create a world premiere especially for Houston Ballet.

World Premiere by Glen Tetley
Over the past 50 years, Glen Tetley has been acknowledged as one of the most respected choreographers of the 20th century. A number of his works have become recognized as international classics - Pierrot Lunaire, Voluntaries and The Rite of Spring, which electrified Texas audiences when Houston Ballet performed this piece in February 1997. The world premiere of a new piece for Houston Ballet marks a homecoming for Mr. Tetley. It will be the first new work he has created for an American company in seven years.



CULLEN CONTEMPORARY SERIES
Fort Worth Dallas Ballet
April 24 - 25, 1999



THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. Dancers: Christopher Veljovic and Tiekka Schofield. Photo: Geoff Winningham.


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
March 18 - 28, 1999

Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
after Marius Petipa
Set and Costume Designs by Desmond Heeley
Lighting Design by Duane Schuler

One of Houston Ballet's most lavish works, The Sleeping Beauty has captured the imagination of both children
and adults for over two centuries. Elaborate sets and costumes, dramatic choreography and Tchaikovsky's beautiful score bring this well-loved fairy tale to life.

"The Sleeping Beauty is high theater with all the trimmings, eye-popping sets and costumes by Tony Award winning designer Desmond Heeley, a story told with lots of clarity and humor, and lots of witty details."
-----Terry Trucco, Dance Magazing



LA SYLPHIDE. Dancers: Lauren Anderson and Carlos Acosta. Photo: Drew Donovan.

World Premiere by Stanton Welch
LA SYLPHIDE
March 4 - 14, 1999

Music by Herman Lovenskjold
Arranged by John Lanchbery
Choreography by August Bournonville
Staged by Ivan Nagy
Set and Costume Design by David Walker
Lighting Design by Tony Tucci

Australian Ballet Resident Choreographer Stanton Welch is one of the hottest young dance makers on the international scene today. He has created works for some of the world's leading companies, including Australian Ballet, The Birmingham Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and The Royal Danish Ballet. In March, 1999, he will create a world premiere for Houston Ballet.

One of the greatest ballets of the Romantic Era, La Sylphide is the love story of James, a Scotch peasant, who forsakes his fiancee Effie, for the beautiful sylph who has visited him in his dreams and entices him into an enchanted forest.



THE NUTCRACKER. Dancers: Phillip Broomhead and Kathryn Warakomsky. Photo: Geoff Winningham.

THE NUTCRACKER
November 04 - 14, 1999
Houston's Holiday Favorite

Ben Stevenson's The NutCracker is the perfect way for families to ring in the holiday season.
Tickets make Great Gifts!!!

Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
Set and Costume designs by Desmond Heeley
Lighting design by Duane Schuler




GHOST DANCES. Dancers: Tiekka Schofield and Sean Kelly. Photo: Jack Mitchell.


LA BAYADERE
GHOST DANCES
GRADUATION BALL
September 24 - October 04, 1998



DRACULA. Dancers: Timothy O'Keefe and Susan Cummins. Photo: Drew Donovan.

DRACULA
September 10 - 20, 1998

Music by Franz Liszt, Arranged by John Lanchbery
Choreography by Ben Stevenson
Scenic Design by Thomas Boyd
Costume Design by Judanna Lynn
Lighting Design by Timothy Hunter

Houston Ballet will open its 1998 - 1999 season with Ben Stevenson's thrilling full-length production of Dracula. This spectacular ballet brings to life the haunting, nocturnal world in which vampires thrive. Dracula played to sold-out houses and overwhelming national and international critical acclaim at its world premiere in Houston.

"Ben Stevenson's Dracula is spectacle of an order ballet audiences seldom see today. The sets, costumes and lighting are not just lavish, but exquisitely beautiful and atmospheric...For once, $1 million, the cost of Dracula, looks like a million."
-----Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times