Houston Ballet 2025-2026 Season, Shows, Reviews

byCherilyn J. Lee

January 1, 2020 - Updated on July 4, 2025

Houston Ballet

♦ Location: Houston, Texas – United States

♦ Artistic Directors: Stanton Welch AM and Julie Kent

♦ Orchestra: Houston Ballet Orchestra

♦ Affiliated School: Houston Ballet Academy

♦ Founded in 1955 by Tatiana Semenova

♦ Official Website of Houston Ballet

Table of Contents

Houston Ballet 2025-2026 Season

The Houston Ballet 2025-2026 season, curated by Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM, is a balance of classical favorites with contemporary innovation including world premieres by Jacquelyn Long, Alice Topp, and Welch.

On May 1, 2025, the company announced the return of Principal Dancer Aaron Robison who comes most recently from San Francisco Ballet.

“I am extremely delighted to be rejoining Houston Ballet this July. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing my growth as an artist under the inspiring leadership of Julie Kent and Stanton Welch. I really look forward to this next chapter, and I can’t wait to perform for the wonderful Houston audiences once again.” – Aaron Robison

John Cranko’s Onegin opens the season, a ballet inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s novel and set to Tchaikovsky’s score. The ballet explores themes of redemption and personal transformation by via a worldly aristocrat who must face the consequences of rejecting a young woman’s love.

Next is Rock, Roll, & Tutus, a program which presents three distinct works:

Houston Ballet Soloist Jacquelyn Long’s Illuminate for a six-dancer cast marks her first company work.
Welch’s Vi et animo, set to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, demonstrates technical precision and dramatic range.
Christopher Bruce’s Rooster combines contemporary ballet with Rolling Stones music.

The perennial holiday tradition The Nutcracker returns as does the one-night only Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance which celebrates the company’s artists and achievements via a gala-like selection from the repertoire.

Welch’s Sylvia returns, a production set to Delibes’ score which centers on three female protagonists: Sylvia the huntress, Artemis the goddess, and Psyche the mortal, each exploring different facets of strength and identity.

The Broken Wings Triple Bill features Welch’s new work set to Mason Bates’ score incorporating marimba, glockenspiel, and natural sounds. Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort pairs six men and women with fencing foils to Mozart’s concertos. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings, with Peter Salem’s original score, interprets Frida Kahlo’s artistic journey.

An Evening With The Stars introduces Australian choreographer Alice Topp to the company with a world premiere. The program also includes Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering set to Chopin’s music and Welch’s Tapestry set to Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 and featuring Holly Hynes’ loom-inspired designs.

The season concludes with Welch’s 2016 production of Giselle. This interpretation of the classical, romantic story of a peasant girl features set and costume designs by Roberta Guidi di Bagno.

Houston Ballet Announces Promotions and New Dancers for the 2025-2026 Season

On June 24, 2025, Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM announced that Aaron Robison will be coming from San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer and Michel Lavoie as a member of the Corps de Ballet.

Houston Ballet is also promoting six dancers from Houston Ballet Academy to apprentices – Quinton Brooks, Jordan Long, Edouard Wormser, Olivia McBain, Kieryn Brophy, and Yeva Hyrtsak. Abigail Brent will also be joining as an apprentice.

Houston Ballet Departures at the End of the 2024-2025 Season

Principal Dancer Soo Youn Cho, a 13-year veteran with Houston Ballet has decided to retire despite recovery from spinal surgery.

“This decision was not made lightly, but with a great deal of reflection and acceptance over the past year,” said Cho. “Since I first began ballet at the age of four, it has been the greatest love of my life. Even through pain and injury, I felt joy and purpose in every moment. I gave my best to every step along the way, and I now leave the stage with a peaceful heart and deep gratitude.”

Other dancers not returning for the 2025-2026 season are: