PRESS ROOM

February 17, 2026 – Houston Ballet is proud to announce its 2026-2027 Season, a bold and compelling lineup that foregrounds the company’s dual commitment to artistic innovation and rich performance traditions. This season highlights mixed repertory programs with world premieres, immersive new storytelling, and iconic narrative ballets — all performed on the Wortham Theater Center stage.

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February 3, 2026 – In a major cultural and arts education milestone for the City, Houston Ballet will host the 2026 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Season Finals in Houston for the first time, bringing the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition—and more than 2,000 of the most talented young dancers from around the world —to Houston. Held May 10 through 18 at the Wortham Theater Center, the week-long event reinforces Houston and Houston Ballet as an international hub for ballet, arts education, and emerging talent.

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January 20, 2026 – This Spring, Houston Ballet brings bold storytelling and powerful movement to the Wortham Theater Center with Broken Wings, a thrilling mixed repertory program running March 12 through 22, 2026. Featuring works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Jiří Kylián, and Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM, the program is a celebration of artistic risk-taking, emotional depth, and technical mastery.

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January 20, 2026 – Houston Ballet reawakens the world of Greek mythology with the return of Sylvia, Stanton Welch AM’s epic tale of love, betrayal, and female heroism. Running February 26 through March 8, 2025, at Wortham Theater Center, this vibrant production blends myth, romance, and action into an unforgettable tale centered around three women whose lives—and hearts—collide across mortal and immortal worlds.

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January 15, 2026 – Houston Ballet is pleased to announce Adama Sall as the organization’s first-ever Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In this newly created role, Adama will lead Houston Ballet’s marketing and brand strategy into a new era as part of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Director. She will begin her role on January 26.

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December 5, 2025 – Houston Ballet is proud to announce the promotion of Tyler Donatelli to Principal Dancer. Formerly a First Soloist, Donatelli was promoted on Friday evening of December 5, 2025, after starring in Houston Ballet’s annual Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance Gala. Donatelli’s elevation follows a standout year defined by major leading roles and breakthrough performances that solidified her as one of the Company’s most captivating and versatile dancers.

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November 21, 2025 – Houston Ballet proudly presents the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance, a one-night-only event that celebrates the artistry, history, and future of one of the country’s leading ballet companies. This year’s performance takes on special significance as it marks the final celebration of former Executive Director James Nelson, who is now retired after more than a decade of visionary leadership. A treasured Houston tradition for 20 years, the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance showcases Houston Ballet’s extraordinary dancers who bring the Company’s legacy to life while spotlighting the promise of rising stars.

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August 4, 2025 – Houston Ballet ignites the stage this fall with Rock, Roll & Tutus, a high-energy mixed repertory program running September 18 through 28, 2025, at the Wortham Theater Center. Featuring four expressive and artistically bold works, this vibrant program fuses classical technique with the rhythm of modern life. With choreography from ISHIDA, Christopher Bruce, Jacquelyn Long, and Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM, it’s an unforgettable blend of emotion, music, and movement.

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August 4, 2025 – Houston Ballet is proud to present the return of John Cranko’s Onegin, running September 5 through 14, 2025, at the Wortham Theater Center. Based on Alexander Pushkin’s beloved verse novel Eugene Onegin, it is a poignant and emotionally rich ballet that has captivated audiences for decades. Set to a deeply expressive score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arranged by Kurt-Heinz Stolze, Onegin brings 19th-century Russia to vivid life as it explores the timeless tale of love, rejection, and regret.

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June 27, 2026 — Houston Ballet is proud to announce the promotion of four company dancers to the esteemed rank of First Soloist. The promoted artists include Eric Best, Aoi Fujiwara, Danbi Kim, and Naazir Muhammad. Each of these exceptional dancers has demonstrated outstanding artistry, dedication, and technical excellence on stage, contributing to Houston Ballet’s continued reputation for excellence and innovation in dance. Their promotions reflect the strength and depth of talent within the Company.

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June 23, 2025 — Houston Ballet is pleased to announce its Company roster for the 2025–26 season, marking a new chapter of artistic excellence and innovation. Under the leadership of Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM, the Company continues its commitment to pushing the boundaries of classical and modern ballet while nurturing the next generation of exceptional artists.

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June 20, 2025 — Houston Ballet announces the retirement of Principal Dancer Soo Youn Cho, whose 13-year tenure with the Company has been marked by grace, strength, and artistic depth. After more than a decade of unforgettable performances and deeply moving portrayals, Cho is stepping away from the stage with profound gratitude and reflection.

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June 10, 2025 — Houston Ballet proudly announces its highly anticipated Summer 2025 Japan Tour, bringing its distinctive blend of technical excellence and storytelling to audiences in Tokyo and Nagoya from July 3 - 12, 2025. This marks the Company's first international tour since 2022. The company will present two programs: a dynamic mixed repertoire and Stanton Welch AM’s critically acclaimed reimagining of Giselle.

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June 2, 2025 — Prepare to be captivated as Houston Ballet announces its last program of the season, Sparrow: A Triple Bill, an enthralling showcase of three one-act ballets by esteemed choreographers spanning generations. This exquisite production celebrates George Balanchine, Houston Ballet Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson O.B.E., and Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM, each contributing to a dazzling evening of dance artistry.

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May 5, 2025 — Houston Ballet is pleased to announce the appointment of Sonja Kostich as the organization’s next Executive Director. Kostich will assume her role in August 2025 and will work closely with Co-Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM to lead the Company forward. She currently serves as President and Executive Director of Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York, a position she has held since 2022.

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April 8, 2025 — Houston Ballet is proud to announce the world premiere of Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM’s Raymonda, running May 29 through June 8. Inspired by other variations, including Marius Petipa's classic, Welch’s opulent adaptation reinvigorates the timeless ballet with a focus on modern themes, dynamic storytelling, and a rich sense of humanity. Welch’s Raymonda will debut at the Wortham Theater Center, accompanied by Alexander Glazunov’s masterful score and stunning designs by acclaimed Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno.

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March 5, 2025 — Houston Ballet invites audiences to an enchanting journey with its revival of The Sleeping Beauty from March 13-23, 2025. Choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson O.B.E. and set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, this timeless masterpiece captures the elegance, grandeur, and magic that have cemented its place in ballet history.

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March 3, 2025 — Houston Ballet is proud to announce the promotion of Harper Watters to Principal Dancer. Formally a First Soloist, Watters was promoted on Saturday evening of March 1, 2025 after starring in Stanton Welch’s Maninyas as the Blue Couple. This achievement marks a defining moment in Watters’ illustrious career and the Company's first promotion to principal since 2018, underscoring the exceptional talent and dedication Harper brings to the stage.

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February 20, 2025 — Houston Ballet proudly unveils its 2025-26 season, curated by Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM. A masterful blend of classics and contemporary works, this upcoming season promises to captivate seasoned ballet enthusiasts and newcomers alike with world premieres, audience favorites, and celebrated guest choreographers.

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February 3, 2025 — Houston Ballet is proud to present In the Night, a mesmerizing triple bill that brings together three compelling ballets blending classical elegance and contemporary vitality from February 27 through March 9, 2025. The program includes Stanton Welch’s striking Maninyas, Jerome Robbins’s evocative In the Night, and Lila York’s high-energy Celts. With breathtaking choreography and rich musical scores, this production explores the intricacies of emotional depth, human connection, and cultural celebration.

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