(483) Stanton Welch and Julie Kent on Houston Ballet’s Creative Culture and the Season Ahead

Stanton Welch and Julie Kent join the Conversations on Dance podcast this week and reflect on nearly three years leading Houston Ballet, praising the dancers’ versatility, focus, and the engaged Houston community, and describing the value of sharing leadership. They discuss how the company’s identity is shaped by having a prolific choreographer as artistic director in Stanton and what they look for in dancers. Looking ahead, they highlight a variety of works still to come this season including Welch’s new 12-minute piece to Mason Bates featuring electronics and live percussion, and they outline how Welch’s Giselle differs musically and dramatically, with expanded characters and staging, while Kent coaches intention and relationships.

For more information on performances still to come this season, visit houstonballet.org.

Houston Ballet 25/27 Season announced here: https://www.houstonballet.org/seasontickets/2026-2027-season-announced/

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Welcome Back Catch Up

02:14 Partnership Leading Together

03:01 Studio Time And Support

04:21 Choreographic Hub Culture

07:54 Auditions Finding Versatility

13:35 Season Variety Story Ballets

18:44 Programming And Identity

21:39 New Work Alice Topp

25:43 Staging Hazards and Effects

25:57 Avatar as Ballet Pitch

26:22 More Dancers on Stage

27:17 New Work Mason Bates

29:08 Reimagining Giselle

31:32 Coaching Story Over Steps

34:39 Technique vs Artistry Debate

38:12 Season Highlights Dances

39:50 Rehearsal Timing and Stamina

41:21 Next Season Tease and Farewell

LINKS:

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Instagram: @conversationsondance

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