After a 15-year hiatus, the internationally renowned Houston Ballet will return to New Orleans on Saturday, October 19, kicking off the New Orleans Ballet Association’s (NOBA) 2024-25 Main Stage Season. The performance, taking place at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m., promises a stunning evening of classical and contemporary dance, underscoring why the Houston Ballet is hailed by The New York Times as “one of the nation’s best ballet companies.”
The program will feature a mix of classical dance and innovative contemporary works from some of the most celebrated choreographers in the dance world. Highlights include George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, a dazzling display of technical mastery, Elapse by Disha Zhang, her first work for an American company, and the hypnotic, all-male Come In by choreographer Aszure Barton, originally created for Mikhail Baryshnikov. The evening will conclude with Stanton Welch’s Velocity, a piece that showcases the extraordinary athleticism of the company’s dancers.
Houston Ballet, under the leadership of Artistic Directors Stanton Welch and Julie Kent, has become a top-tier institution in the world of dance. With a 50-year legacy, the company is now the fourth-largest ballet company in the U.S., boasting a $41.2 million budget and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of ballet while staying rooted in its rich traditions.
This performance marks Houston Ballet’s first return to New Orleans since 2009, offering local audiences a rare opportunity to witness them. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased via the New Orleans Ballet Association’s website.
The program will open with George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, an exhilarating eight-minute display of technical prowess, originally choreographed as part of Swan Lake but rediscovered in the Bolshoi archives in 1953. The piece has since become a celebrated standalone work, showcasing the expansive movement of Balanchine’s dancers.
Next, Disha Zhang’s Elapse, a reflective piece that explores the passage of time and aging, will captivate audiences with its fluid and dynamic choreography, set to an original score by Zeng Xiaogang.
Aszure Barton’s Come In brings 13 male dancers to the stage, blending measured, meditative steps with moments of joy and exuberance. Originally crafted for Barton’s friend Mikhail Baryshnikov, the piece examines the tension between conformity and self-expression, underscored by Barton’s signature eclectic style.
Finally, the evening will conclude with Stanton Welch’s Velocity, a high-octane work that tests the dancers’ speed, agility and precision. Inspired by the sharp angles and clarity of Piet Mondrian’s modernist art, the choreography blends classical technique with explosive twists, set to the vibrant music of American composer Michael Torke.
Founded in 1969, Houston Ballet has grown into a global force, performing at prestigious venues worldwide, including London, Paris, Moscow and Tokyo. Under the artistic leadership of Stanton Welch AM and Julie Kent, the company continues to innovate while honoring classical ballet traditions. The Houston Ballet Academy also plays a crucial role in training the next generation of dancers, with over 1,000 students enrolled annually and more than 60% of the current company dancers having emerged from its ranks.
About NOBA’s 2024-25 Season
Following the Houston Ballet’s performance, NOBA’s season will feature a range of world-class dance companies, including the New Orleans debut of America’s original jazz dance company Giordano Dance Chicago on November 16, Ballet Hispánico with their Picasso-inspired CARMEN.maquia on February 1, and the return of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with two performances on March 21 and 22.
Tickets for Houston Ballet start at $35, with discounts available for seniors, students, and groups. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nobadance.com or call 504.522.0996.
