On Pointe

Houston Ballet pirouettes for spring season with vibrant NYC collab + rarely seen gem

Dance Theatre of Harlem Alexandra Hutchinson, Ingrid Silva and Daphne Lee

Alexandra Hutchinson, Ingrid Silva and Daphne Lee of Dance Theatre of Harlem, which will showcase and Originals show called Orange.

Photo by Rachel Neville

Continued shipping issues and port delays have affected virtually everything over the last year — and the Houston Ballet is no exception.

Houston's premier dance company announced that it has changed up its planned production of Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly and replaced it with a rarely seen gem, citing shipping delays as the reason.

Audiences will have a reprisal of August Bournoville's La Sylphide as the season's closing show, running June 16 through 26. In addition, the ballet announced new works to its Originals program, slated for June 2 through 12.

La Sylphide is the story of James, a young Scotsman betrothed to Effie. On the morning of his wedding day, a slyph wakes him with a kiss. Only James can see the imaginary being, and her existence interferes with the wedding plans.

The show originally premiered in November 1836 by the Royal Danish Ballet, and is considered the first major romantic period ballet. It's also the oldest from that era that's still performed. It was last seen on the Houston Ballet stage 14 seasons ago.

“We are thrilled to announce these excellent additions to our spring programming,” said Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM in a press release announcing the season switch-up. “From our first performance of La Sylphide in more than a decade, to our collaboration with the renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem, this season is only growing with even more world class ballet for our audience to enjoy. We cannot wait for patrons to experience the lineup of incredible performances that await in the coming months.”

In addition to La Sylphide, the ballet will add three other repertory works to Originals. These include Welch's Orange, which will be performed with Dance Theatre of Harlem, along with his Joplin, and a world premiere by Houston Ballet principal dancer Connor Walsh.

Those pieces join the previously announced premiere of a one-act ballet by principal dancer Melody Mennite with music by Rene Aubry, Ezio Bosso, and Max Richter. Walsh's new work features music composed and conducted by Dallas native Quinn Mason. He'll be the first Black conductor to lead the Houston Ballet Orchestra.

Orange marks the first time the Houston Ballet has performed with Dance Theatre of Harlem. The piece is part of Welch's color series, an exploration of the colors of the chakra, where orange embodies maturity. His other color ballets, Blue, Indigo, and Green were set to the works of Vivaldi.

For tickets and more information, visit houstonballet.org.

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Musical theater veteran joins prominent Houston company

Courtesy of Stages

Stages has named Valerie Rachelle as its new associate artist director.

A Houston theater company is adding an accomplished artist to its ranks. Stages announced that Valerie Rachelle will be the company’s new associate artistic director beginning in January 2026.

For more than a decade, Rachelle has been artistic director of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, Oregon, where she oversaw artistic vision and operations. That theater specializes in musical theater performances offered in a cabaret setting.

Rachelle comes to Houston with a career spanning nearly 30 years as a director and choreographer. She has extensive experience in developing new musicals and plays for regional theaters and opera companies across the United States, including the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Sierra Repertory Theatre. She was appointed to her position at Stages following a nationwide search.

“I’m beyond thankful for this opportunity to join this incredible company, and I’m excited to be a part of a creative entity that has a strong mission and vision as Stages,” Rachelle said in a statement.

In her role with Stages, she will support artistic director Derek Charles Livingston with season planning and casting; liaise with artists, press, and staff; and coordinate day-to-day operations for the artistic department. She will also assist with crafting educational materials, direct and choreograph productions, and serve as the primary liaison with theatrical unions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Valerie to Stages in this role,” said Livingston. “I have seen her work as a director and director choreographer — she's excellent. Those skills combined with her experience as a theatre artistic director and manager only further fortify Stages' commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement.”

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Rachelle began her career as a dancer and apprentice ballerina with the Eugene Ballet Company before earning her BFA in acting from California Institute of the Arts. She received her MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine. She has held teaching and directing positions at numerous institutions, including the University of Southern California, Southern Oregon University, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and others. She has also served as a mentor through Statera Arts, an organization dedicated to gender equity in the arts.

Rachelle teaches musical theater, auditioning, and singing at Southern Oregon University when she isn’t on the road as a freelance director and choreographer. She’s also a classically trained singer and toured the world with her parents and their illusionist show as a child.

“Joining the team that has a long-standing reputation of excellence in theater is an honor,” Rachelle added.

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