The 2023 Arts & Lecture Series will offer patrons the opportunity to experience a different side of ballet. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased HERE!
Lecture by the USA IBC Honorary Chairman Ben Stevenson, OBE
Monday, June 12 at 11:00 am
Ben Stevenson trained in dance at the Arts Educational School in London. Upon graduation, he was awarded the prestigious Adeline Genee Gold Medal, the highest award presented to a dancer by the Royal Academy of Dance. Known as one of ballet’s great storytellers, Mr. Stevenson has received numerous awards and the highest accolades for his choreography. After 27 years as the Artistic Director at the Houston Ballet, Stevenson was named Director Emeritus, and the Company’s academy was named for him. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999 for his outstanding contributions to the dance world. Continuing his lifetime of achievement, Mr. Stevenson served as the Artistic Director for the Texas Ballet Theater for eighteen years until his retirement in 2022.
Dancer 12 presented by Jack Howard-Potter
Wednesday, June 14 at 10:00 am
Jack Howard-Potter is a Steel Sculpture Artist from New York. His sculpture, Dancer 10, traveled on loan from the Mathews-Sanders Sculpture Garden at Delta State University to the 2018 USA IBC. The sculpture was so well-received that Howard-Potter was commissioned to create Dancer 12 for the 12th USA IBC competition this June. The large-scale figurative sculpture was installed and unveiled as a permanent fixture on the plaza of Thalia Mara Hall in October 2022. This one-of-a-kind sculpture is sponsored by Downtown Jackson Partners. Additional smaller-scale sculptures by Howard-Potter will be on display at Thalia Mara Hall during the June 10-24 competition dates.
Mr. B: George Balachine’s 20th Century presented by Jennifer Homans
Sunday, June 18 at 2:00 pm
CANCELED
The World of August Bournonville presented by Frank Andersen
Thursday, June 22 at 10:00 am
Frank Andersen trained at the Royal Danish Ballet School at the Royal Theater and was later appointed Principal Dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet during his career with the company. Andersen was the originator of the “Bournonville Group” with principals of the Royal Danish Ballet. The troupe, based on the works and philosophies of French-influenced Danish ballet master and choreographer August Bournonville, toured the world to wide acclaim. Bournonville’s classical ballet creation, La Sylphide, is one of the oldest surviving and most influential works in classical ballet. Andersen, the Commander of Danish Dannebrog Order, has also held many roles as Artistic Director with such companies as the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Swedish Ballet. Mr. Andersen is a 2023 USA IBC jury member.
