JOPLIN

Choreography by Stanton Welch AM, for Mark
Music by Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
The Entertainer 

Lexi Utz and Quinton Brooks

-Pause- 

A DANCE IN THE GARDEN OF MIRTH 
Choreography by Stanton Welch AM, for Mark 
Music by Guillaume Dufay
Costume Design by Stanton Welch AM 

Set to music of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, A Dance in the Garden of Mirth was designed to capture the vibrancy and joy present in the music and gatherings associated with time period.  With Garden of Mirth, Welch tells the story of a particular type of music and the way that music can affect people.

The tradition of instrumental music before the thirteenth century is poorly documented.  It fell outside of the traditions of music theorists who were mainly affiliated with church music, and the poet troubadours and trouvères, whose ability to improvise musical accompaniments was legendary.  Few examples of purely instrumental music exist because the tradition was an aural one, passed between itinerant musicians hired on for festive occasions and ceremonies.

The music used for A Dance in the Garden of Mirth comes from two rare collections that include various instrumental sketches along with collections of vocal music.  They are the thirteenth century French Manuscrit du Roi, and a fourteenth century Italian collection.  Their performance is a matter of skillful invention using reproductions of ancient instruments since the music does not indicate specific instrumentation.

OPENING
Kieryn Brophy, Yeva Hrytsak, Olivia McBain, Macy Richter
Quinton Brooks, Nathaniel Geis, Jordan Long, Edouard Wormser 

FEMALE VARIATION
Yeva Hrytsak 

MALE VARIATION
Quinton Brooks 

PAS DE DEUX
Kieryn Brophy and Jordan Long 

PAS DE TROIS
Macy Richter
Nathaniel Geis, Edouard Wormser 

FINALE
Olivia McBain
Kieryn Brophy, Yeva Hrytsak, Olivia McBain, Macy Richter
Quinton Brooks, Nathaniel Geis, Jordan Long, Edouard Wormser

-Intermission-

IN GOOD COMPANY

Generously underwritten by Leticia Loya
Choreography by Stanton Welch AM, for Mark 
Music by The Dead South
In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company 
Achilles
The Recap
Long Gone
The Dead South
Honey You
Ballad for Janoski
All songs performed by The Dead South
Written by Colton Crawford, Nathaniel Hilts, Daniel Kenyon, Scott Matthew Pringle
Published by Peermusic
The Dead South appears courtesy of Six Shooter Records 

IN HELL I'LL BE IN GOOD COMPANY
Macy Richter and Garrett Yut

ACHILLES
 Edouard Wormser and Henry Lichtmacher

 THE RECAP
Kieryn Brophy, Yeva Hrytsak, Ayumi Kobayashi
Olivia McBain, Brett Rule

 LONG GONE
Nathaniel Geis, Jordan Long, Joan Sempere Martinez, Garret Yut

THE DEAD SOUTH
Yeva Hrytsak and Quinton Brooks 

Kieryn Brophy, Nathaniel Geis, Henry Lichtmacher, Jordan Long
Joan Sempere Martinez, Olivia McBain, Macy Richter, Brett Rule, Lexi Utz
Edouard Wormser, Garrett Yut 

and Students from Chautauqua School of Dance 

HONEY YOU
Ayumi Kobayashi 

Quinton Brooks, Kieryn Brophy, Nathaniel Geis, Yeva Hrytsak, 
Henry Lichtmacher, Jordan Long, Joan Sempere Martinez, 
Olivia McBain, Macy Richter, Brett Rule, Lexi Utz,
Edouard Wormser, Garrett Yut 

and Students from Chautauqua School of Dance

BALLAD FOR JANOSKI
Macy Richter and Olivia McBain

Quinton Brooks, Kieryn Brophy, Nathaniel Geis, Yeva Hrytsak, 
Henry Lichtmacher, Jordan Long, Joan Sempere Martinez, 
Olivia McBain, Brett Rule, Edouard Wormser, Garrett Yut

This performance is made possible by The Craig and Cathrine Greene Family Fund.

Houston Ballet II is the second company of Houston Ballet, America’s fourth-largest ballet company. Comprised of a stellar array of ballet students from around the world, Houston Ballet II members perform a diverse range of works, including excerpts from great classics like The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker to contemporary works by Houston Ballet Artistic Director, Stanton Welch AM. 

The mission of Houston Ballet II is three-fold; to provide students the opportunity to dance leading roles in varied repertoire, to allow dancers to develop technically and artistically through performance experience, and to serve the greater Houston community by providing quality, professional performances. The visibility of the excellent training in Houston Ballet II supports the growth of the professional company at large. 

Under the direction of Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM, Artistic Directors, and Jennifer Sommers, Director of the Academy, Houston Ballet II dancers are led by internationally acclaimed coach and teacher Claudio Muñoz, Ballet Master for Houston Ballet II and Houston Ballet’s artistic staff. Houston Ballet II tours nationally and internationally. Most recently, students were invited to participate in Assemblée Internationale 2023, a seven-day festival hosted by Canada’s National Ballet School, along with students and artistic staff from 36 schools from around the globe.

Artistic Directors
Julie Kent & Stanton Welch AM

Director of the Academy
Jennifer Sommers 

Academy Artistic Associate Director
Yahudi Castañeda 

Houston Ballet II Ballet Master
Claudio Muñoz 

Principal Academy Instructor
Kelly Myernick Kubin

Artists of Houston Ballet II
Quinton Brooks, Kieryn Brophy, Nathaniel Geis, Yeva Hrytsak, Ayumi Kobayashi, Henry Lichtmacher, Jordan Long, Joan Sempere Martinez, Olivia McBain, Macy Richter, Edouard Wormser, Lexi Utz, Garrett Yut

Houston Ballet Academy Alumni
Brett Rule

Stage Manager
Eli Walker

Wardrobe Coordinator
Beau Hamilton 

Resident Lighting Designer
Lisa J. Pinkham 

Tour underwriting by Judith Alison Lee

Touring Sponsors
Houston Methodist 
The Fayez Sarofim & Co. Touring Fund
Bank of America 

Acknowledgements

General Counsel: Vinson & Elkins, LLP

Immigration Attorneys: Foster, LLP

The Dancers and Stage Managers of Houston Ballet are represented by The American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.

Houston Ballet is a member of Dance/USA

Touring Representation: IMG Artists

CONTACT
Houston Ballet Academy
601 Preston
Houston, Texas 77002
houstonballetacademy.org
@houstonballetacademy

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