It is with great disappointment that we announce the cancellation of HBII’s tour to Schweinfurt and Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, previously scheduled for April 21-27. As most of you know, the ash cloud in Iceland has cancelled most flights to and from Europe, and they won’t be able to reschedule our staff and dancers soon enough to make their scheduled performances.
Send us good karma and great vibes that we can reschedule a bigger and better overseas tour for next year!
Guest writer: Jim Nelson, general manager
It is so gratifying to look back over the past few years and see the growth of our second company, Houston Ballet II (HBII).
While so many dance companies say they have a second company, when you look closely they are generally a group of upper level students who sometimes dance with the first company in larger productions like The Nutcracker, Swan Lake or The Sleeping Beauty. Rarely are these junior companies giving their own fully-produced performances in professional venues.
That is what sets Houston Ballet’s second company apart from the majority of dance companies around the globe. In 2006, we took a leap of faith that our second company was ready to give public performances that had less of a graduation concert feel or educational/outreach focus. Our first season on the road included a terrific trip to Monterrey, Mexico as part of the Extremadura Gran Festival Internacional de Danza Contemporanea. Since 2006, HBII has performed internationally in Hungary and China as well as nationally in Louisiana, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma. Additionally, HBII performs regularly in Houston at Wortham Theater Center, Discovery Green, Miller Outdoor Theatre, and the Moores School of Music at The University of Houston.
From April 18-28, I’ll be accompanying HBII to Germany for a five-performance, two-city tour. We’re traveling with 12 dancers, ballet master Claudio Muñoz, and production manager Brian Walker. We will give four performances in Schweinfurt and one performance in Villingen-Schwenningen. We fly from Houston to Frankfurt and then bus to Schweinfurt. The repertoire for this tour is Stanton Welch’s Long and Winding Road and Blue, Garrett Smith’s Den III, and Claudio Muñoz’s staging of excerpts from Raymonda (Act III). And while the dancers are all quite young (16-18), there is nothing junior or watered down when these dancers take the stage.
This tour is a real milestone for HBII, and I’m terribly proud of all they have achieved. The touring component is only one part of the HBII program, but it serves us in providing additional performance opportunities, expanding our national and international presence, and attracting the best dancers we can find to Houston Ballet and the Houston Ballet Academy. The success of the program is the result of the great work of the Houston Ballet Academy, which is led by Stanton Welch, Shelly Power and ballet masters Claudio Muñoz and Sabrina Lenzi. I don’t know of another second company that has the level of dancers we do: three Prix de Lausanne finalists (including a winner) in a group of twelve dancers!
I’ll be sending photo updates and blogs from overseas. Follow us while we embark on this great adventure!
-Jim
Guest writer: Sarah Lam, public relations intern
Ma Cong, Tulsa Ballet resident choreographer and principal dancer, has swiftly risen to become one of America’s most exciting choreographers. He has created many works for Tulsa Ballet and received various awards including 1st prize and Audience Favorite in the 21st Century Choreographic Competition in 2008. Recently, he choreographed an original piece for Houston Ballet II. We chatted with Houston Ballet II dancer Madison Morris to find out about what it was like working with Cong and get the scoop on his new work they will unveil at their Academy Spring Showcase, April 16-17.
How long have you been dancing with Houston Ballet’s Academy?
Five years.
I understand that a choreographer traveled to Houston to create a new piece for Houston Ballet II. Can you tell me about that
Sure. Ma Cong came to Houston in the fall, before The Nutcracker, to work on setting a piece for us. Then he came back for 3 days at the end of March to clean it up, fine-tune, and finish it.
What’s the piece called?
It’s called Calling.
When is it going to be performed?
In our Spring Showcase this Friday and Saturday. Also, when we tour Germany April 21-27 for five shows.
Had you seen any of Cong’s work before he arrived in Houston
We were all curious and looked on YouTube, but it was still difficult to know what to expect because some of his work was on flat, some on pointe. One thing that I noticed that was so unique about his pieces was the music he used.
What music is Calling set to?
It’s set to music by Goran Bregovic and Kroke. He told us he heard it on Chinese iTunes and was struck by inspiration!
What is Calling about?
Good question! It goes through a lot of different emotions. The first movement is very dramatic and sets the mood. The second act is more fun and playful. He told us it’s more of a flamenco feel. Then the third movement is back to serious and dramatic but at the end it shifts into a very fast pace.
So it’s a modern piece?
Yes. We’re not in pointe shoes. We wear ballet flats.
How many dancers is it choreographed for?
Three girls and three boys. The first movement is mainly about the boys then the girls come on later.
What would you say is unique about Calling?
It’s a really unique style and really fun to learn. Actually, it reminded me of a piece we danced last year called Journey. It’s fun to dance something in a style that’s different from classical ballet–more modern with different movement.
What makes Calling challenging to dance?
The hardest part is having the stamina. Two of the couples are on stage the whole piece, so about 10-12 minutes. It’s pretty exhausting. You have to rehearse the piece daily to keep it in the body. What I’m really looking forward to is seeing it with our costumes. We have these long, flowy skirts to wear that we make shapes with.
Was this the first time you had ever worked with the original choreographer of a piece, and how is it a different experience?
Yes. For me this was the first time working with a choreographer that was creating something specifically for Houston Ballet II. Most of the time we’re learning second-hand from a video. When you learn from a video, each dancer may have a different spin on the piece. When you work with the original choreographer, it’s a clean slate from the beginning. With Cong we were able to really see exactly how he wanted it done.
Did having Cong in the studio with you make the process more challenging?
It’s exciting, and it’s also better because you can ask questions. Overall it was fun because it was my first time working with a guest choreographer, and it was great to be a part of the process and help create the ballet.
You can see Ms. Morris dance in Ma Cong’s Calling and other works in the upcoming Academy Spring Showcase, April 16-17.
Madison Morris stretching before rehearsal. Photo by Mitch Walker.
Guest writer: Melissa Seuffert
Corps de ballet member Lauren Ciobanu, a Los Gatos, California native, joined Houston Ballet this season. Ms. Ciobanu trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. and moved up the ranks to principal dancer at Sarasota Ballet before relocating to Houston. Here she tells us a little more about herself:
What age did you start dancing?
3
Did you always love ballet?
Yes
When did you know you wanted to be a professional dancer?
Always, even as a small child I knew this was my path.
What is your favorite part about being on stage?
The euphoria you feel out there, and the sense of accomplishment at tackling a new obstacle and making it my own.
Do you have a ritual before going on stage?
I always have my lucky horseshoe with me when I perform.
Do you have a favorite moment in your dance career?
There are many, and hopefully many more to come. I try to find something to take away from each performance to help me grow as an artist.
What is your most memorable role?
Performing Giselle with Jose Manuel Carreño.
Why?
It was an amazing experience, and to be coached and dance with Mr. Carreño was an honor. I have danced with him several times and was always impressed not only by his artistry and talent, but his willingness to help me become a better artist. Dancing with someone of that caliber was inspiring.
What do you find most challenging as you take on a new role?
It depends on the role, sometimes it’s the technical aspect, or the character or musicality, or a mixture of all these that make a role challenging.
What aspects of dance do you find most satisfying?
Working on a new, challenging role and getting to the point where I know I have danced to the best of my ability and given that role the respect it deserves–then being able to translate that to an audience and have them enjoy my performance.
Do you have any pets? If so, what kind? Names?
2 dogs: Alfie (a 2 year old Bernese mountain dog) and Sadie (an 8 year old chocolate lab) and one cat named Ramona.
What is your favorite thing to do in Houston?
The city is still so new to me, so I am still exploring…
Fondest memory?
Spending time with my family, especially around the holidays.
Proudest moment?
My wedding day
Favorite movie?
Cool Hand Luke or The Philadelphia Story
Favorite book?
On the Road by Jack Kerouac and The Idiot by Dostoyevsky
Favorite TV show?
Seinfeld and Mad Men
Favorite food?
Any dessert
Lauren Ciobanu in Stanton Welch's La Bayadere. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.
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