Article by Joe Sioufi - Houston Ballet, the fourth largest ballet company in the country, has been hailed by The New York Times as "...one of the nation's best ballet companies."

Houston Ballet’s spring repertory program will feature a powerhouse of twenty-first century ballet, including a world premiere by the celebrated Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo and company premieres by Christopher Bruce and Christopher Wheeldon. Described by The New York Times as  Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush is anchored around a dazzling pas de deux, and features two principals, four soloists, and a corps de ballet of ten dancers.

Set to music of the same name by the blues guitarist Martin Simpson. Christopher Bruce's Grinning in Your Face evokes a Midwestern American community in the 1940s.

Also on the program is Houston Ballet's first commissioned work by one of Europe's most in-demand dance makers, Jorma Elo, who has created pieces for Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and New York City Ballet, among others.

Date & Time:
7:30 PM on May 26, 28, and June 3, 4, 2011
2:00 PM on May 29 and June 5, 2011

Tickets may be purchased by calling 713.227.2787 or online at www.houstonballet.org

Location: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Avenue at Smith Street,  Houston, TX
The ballet's 115,000-square-foot, $47 million Center for Dance building opened in downtown Houston in April. It is the largest professional dance company facility of its kind constructed in the U.S. The six-story building, designed by Gensler, incorporates sustainable features throughout nine dance studios, a dance lab that seats 200 for performances as well as rehearsals, and artistic, administrative and support facilities. The building more than doubles the space Houston Ballet had at its former home. Very nice architectural building that ads to Houston's downtown a something extra special "Je ne sais pas quoi!"

Image: Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Pam Francis.

Joe Sioufi
www.JoeSioufi.com