Ballet is as big as everything else in Texas, the Lone Star State known for guns, oil, and cowboys. That’s right y’all, find out what a broken down bus of Russian dancers has to do with the rich ballet history in the state’s three big cities, Houston, Dallas, and Austin, and which college created the first ballet major program in the U.S.
Stanton Welch
Attitude and Strong Technique Make Allison Miller One To Watch
Allison Miller, chosen as one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch in 2011, talks about the importance of a positive outlook, her early training and studies at North Carolina School of the Arts, and about making the awkward leap from student to professional.
Melissa Hough On Competition, Rubies, and Being a “Newbie” at Houston Ballet
![[Photo] New Houston Ballet Soloist, Melissa Hough in rehearsal](https://www.danceadvantage.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/MelissaHough-133x200.jpg)
“When I became more serious about which direction I wanted to focus on, I auditioned for the year round program at Kirov Academy. I lived at the school for four years, while still taking my jazz, tap, lyrical classes and participating in competitions, and working on summer correspondence courses so I could graduate early. I also took some voice lessons, because for a long time I wanted to be on Broadway, but during my time at Kirov I decided I wanted to go for it- try to be a ballerina. My (Russian) teachers never thought I’d go very far in a ballet company. They felt I was more suited for contemporary, which at the time I was.”
Sweet Exchange with a Sugar Plum Fairy
Performing at such a young age in a huge theater with professional dancers helped to start my love of performing, as well as making me more comfortable on stage early on in my training. Also, it was after participating in those two summer programs in Houston that I realized I wanted to pursue dance professionally.
Gracing the Stage — My Interview with Houston Ballet’s Joseph Walsh
I do a bit of writing and reviewing in Houston and it has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to interview some of the area’s finest dance talent. I don’t always cross-post my stuff here but when I get to talk with someone about their training and experiences, I like to share that with […]
