NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) will launch its 2024-25 Main Stage Season of dance with the highly anticipated return of the Houston Ballet for the first time in 15 years. The performance will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. The program of classical and contemporary masterpieces by celebrated choreographers exemplifies why Houston Ballet, called “one of the nation’s best ballet companies” by The New York Times, is a top-tier dance company and a hub for world-renowned artists.
The “technically precise, emotionally compelling” (Houston Press) repertory chosen for this rare New Orleans performance will showcase the artistic depth, virtuosity and brilliance of the company. George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux offers a breathtaking eight-minute display of technical excellence and ballet bravura, followed by the evocative work Elapse by Disha Zhang, her first work created for an American company. Choreographer Aszure Barton -whose eclectic works have graced countless stages worldwide- sets a hypnotic, meditative tone with the powerful Come In, performed by 13 male dancers and originally crafted for Mikhail Baryshnikov.
The evening closes with Stanton Welch’s Velocity, an electrifying study in speed and rapid precision that showcases the exceptional athleticism of the dancers. With over 50 years of rich history under the leadership of Artistic Directors Stanton Welch and Julie Kent, Houston Ballet has grown into the fourth-largest ballet company in the United States, boasting a $41.2 million budget and an endowment of $110.8 million. Houston Ballet continues to push the boundaries of dance while honoring its rich tradition, as local audiences will witness. (See below for more information on the repertory.)
The 2024-25 season continues NOBA’s mission of showcasing world class dance performance in the region with the New Orleans debut of America’s original jazz dance company Giordano Dance Chicago on Nov. 16, Ballet Hispánico with the Picasso-inspired CARMEN.maquia on Feb. 1, and concluding with the highly anticipated return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with two different programs, March 21 and 22.
Ticket information
Tickets for Houston Ballet start at $35 and are available through the New Orleans Ballet Association at www.nobadance.com or 504-522-0996. Discounts for seniors (65 and over) and students are also available. Groups of 10-19 patrons receive 10% off the regular ticket price, and groups of 20 or more receive 15% off the regular ticket price.
Subscriptions with savings up to 20% and a range of benefits are still available through the Grand Series Subscriptions including four or five performances, or the Build Your Own package of three performances. Both subscriptions options are currently available for purchase at www.nobadance.com. Discounts are available for students with a valid student ID.
###