“A virtuosic ballet, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux is brief, beautiful, and beloved – an adrenaline rush for both dancers and audiences.”
New York City Ballet

HOUSTON BALLET PROGRAM

tschaikovsky pas de deux

cHOREOGRAPHY BY george Balanchine

MUSIC BY Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux offers a breathtaking eight-minute display of technical excellence and ballet bravura.

The work was choregraphed for two leading dancers to lost music intended for the third act of Swan Lake, rediscovered in 1953 in the Bolshoi archives.

George Balanchine (1904-1983) was a pioneering Russian-American choreographer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in ballet. A co-founder of the New York City Ballet, he revolutionized the art form with his innovative techniques and emphasis on musicality. Balanchine’s signature style blended classical ballet with contemporary elements, producing iconic works like “The Nutcracker” and “Serenade.” His contributions reshaped ballet in the 20th century, establishing him as a key figure in American dance history.

The music for the pas de deux has a fascinating history, having been lost for over 70 years before being rediscovered in the Bolshoi Theater archives in 1953. Tchaikovsky, originally the composer for Swan Lake, created this stunning piece after a request for new choreography, ensuring it matched the structure of the original music by Minkus. This connection to ballet’s rich history adds an extra layer of appreciation for audiences witnessing the revival of this work today.

As you watch the dancers navigate the intricate choreography, you’ll experience an adrenaline rush that resonates with both performers and spectators. The interplay between the male and female roles offers a unique perspective on the evolution of ballet, emphasizing how Balanchine’s vision continues to inspire contemporary interpretations.

Tickets

SAT, OCT 19 | 7:30PM

Mahalia Jackson Theater
New Orleans, Louisiana

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ABOUT HOUSTON BALLET 

With over 50 years of rich history, Houston Ballet has evolved into a company with a budget of $37.6 million and an endowment of $97.5 million (as of June 2023), making it the country’s fourth-largest ballet company. Its $46.6 million state-of-the-art performance space, the Houston Ballet Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance opened in April 2011. In addition, Houston Ballet’s reach is global, touring theaters in Dubai, London, Paris, Moscow, Spain, Montréal, Ottawa, Melbourne, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Tokyo and more.

Australian choreographer Stanton Welch AM has served as Artistic Director of Houston Ballet since 2003. Welch has choreographed 43 new works for Houston Ballet during his tenure while ensuring the growth of the Company’s repertoire by presenting works from George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, John Neumeier, and Jerome Robbins. Welch continues the legacy of Houston Ballet being a choreographic Eden by commissioning over 30 works from world-renowned choreographers including Aszure Barton, Trey McIntyre, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Justin Peck. Julie Kent joined Welch as Artistic Director in 2023, after serving as Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet from 2016 – 2023 and following a storied career as a Principal ballerina of American Ballet Theatre – the longest-tenured dancer in ABT’s 85-year history. Executive Director James Nelson serves as the administrative leader of the organization, a position he assumed in February 2012 after serving as the Company’s General Manager for more than a decade.

Beyond its stage presence, Houston Ballet maintains a strong foothold in continuing to foster a love for dance in future generations. Its Education and Community Engagement program reaches more than 85,000 individuals in the Houston area annually. Houston Ballet Academy trains more than 1,000 students every year, producing more than 60 percent of the extraordinary artists that comprise Houston Ballet’s current Company.

For more information on Houston Ballet, visit houstonballet.org