With only a few weeks to go before the curtain rises on Houston Ballet's season opener, Madame Butterfly, a troupe of young professionals/balletomanes gathered at The Capitol at St. Germaine to celebrate the upcoming season.
A fashionable crowd of more than 250 twenty- and thirtysomethings (and a few older) schmoozed through the swank supper club as participants in Ballet Barre's season opener. Christine Transier, chair of the young professionals group, welcomed the contingent that included not only a handful of dancers — Oliver Halkowich, Jessica Collado, Melissa Hough, Katherine Precourt and Amy Fote —but also Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson.
"This is our future," he said of the bright young group. "This is our future leadership. This is our future board . . . We are getting them started with us, interested in us and knowing what we do."
Probably the top YP group in the city, Houston Ballet Barre has enjoyed a powerhouse of recent past chairs Kristy Bradshaw, Lindsey Brown and Beth Zdeblick, who excelled in attracting a bright, committed membership.
Among those on hand for the season launch were Chris Transier, Divya Brown, Chris Bradshaw, David Rassin, Sarah Cotting, Lauren Hanks, Michael Coppens, Jo Simmons Jared Lang and Nick Zdeblick.
