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    Mayor's Race Begins

    Let the mayor's race begin: Candidates tout Houston arts and favorite artists at first forum

    Clifford Pugh
    Jun 4, 2015 | 5:40 am

    Twenty minutes into the first gathering of all seven candidates for Houston mayor on the same stage, former congressman Chris Bell noted an audience member stifling a yawn.

    "It could be a lot worse. This could be a Republican presidential debate," he said, where as many as 20 candidates are expected on stage in a few months.

    While there were not fireworks, the gathering revealed the personalities of some of the candidates and set the stage for the long campaign.

    Indeed, with each candidate taking as long as two minutes to answer a question, the Mayoral Forum on Arts and Culture at the Asia Society Center Texas at times got bogged down with politicians spouting mindless jargon. But as the first of many such forums to come before the November election (two more gatherings are planned this week), it provided the opportunity to get an early idea of what the candidates are like and what they stand for.

    And it showed the importance — and clout — of Houston's arts scene as all candidates touted its impact on the area economy — even if they didn't always answer questions on how to build more affordable housing for artists or find creative ways to tout what the arts community has to offer.

    While there were no fireworks (that is sure to come in later debates), the 90-minute gathering sponsored by Miller Outdoor Theatre, The Houston Museum District, The Theatre District Houston and the Houston Arts Alliance and emceed by KTRK reporter Miya Shay, revealed the personalities of some of the candidates and set the stage for the long campaign.

    Best Question of the Night

    While much of the evening was taken up with policy wonk questions about a cap on the Houston Hotel Occupancy Tax (aka the HOT tax), which funds arts projects around the city, the best — and most humanizing question — came from an audience member, who asked, "Who is your favorite artist and why?" You could almost see the wheels turning in each candidate's head as he scrambled to come up with an unscripted answer.

    Ben Hall had the most unconventional answer— he's mad about Surrealists M.C. Escher and Salvador Dali.

    First up was former Kemah mayor Bill King, who lamely listed Van Gogh, whom he first learned about from his history teacher many years ago. Businessman Marty McVey picked the 13th century poet Rumi for the "great solace" his work provides, which drew applause of one audience member.

    State Rep. Sylvester Turner was the first to turn the discussion to Houston artists — John Biggers and Michelle Barnes are among his favorites, and the other candidates quickly followed his lead, with Bell listing Lamar Briggs, Houston City Council member Stephen Costello mentioning Mark Foyle, muralist Ashley Winn and Justin Garcia, and former sheriff Adrian Garcia picking his daughter along with Project Row Houses founder Rick Lowe.

    Attorney Ben Hall had the most unconventional answer — he's mad about Surrealists M.C. Escher and Salvador Dali. "Read into that what you may," he said cryptically.

    Burning issues

    Four candidates — King, Turner, Bell and McVey — specifically said they would repeal the cap that Mayor Annise Parker has placed on the amount of HOT taxes arts group receive, while the others hedged on the issue, giving answers that left observers unsure where they stood.

    "You can't be a world cultural center with Third World streets," King said.

    On a question about whether they would implement a cultural arts plan for the next 20 years that Parker has commissioned, most candidates took a wait-and-see attitude, preferring to comment when the report is released. But a couple of candidates hinted about where they stood on the plan, which is rumored to call for a city arts commissioner in the mayor's office.

    "If the arts community is vital to this city, there's no better way to demonstrate that than for the mayor to be at the table. I want to be at the table," Turner said. "That's why I applaud (the fact that) this is the first forum. You have the opportunity to shape our ideas. I don't want Houston to be lagging behind and I don't want to wait for other people to do it. I want to push this city to go beyond where it is today and not be at the end. I will push any cultural plan that achieves that objective."

    King said he would not support further concentration of power in the mayor's office on such issues. "The cultural leadership of the city needs to be in the arts community," he said. "The mayor needs to support it but I don't think the mayor necessarily needs to lead it. I certainly wouldn't feel like I have the expertise to do it. The proper role of the mayor's office is to support the direction of the arts community, not try to lead it."

    Arts ideas

    Concrete proposals for the arts were scare, but there were a few intriguing ideas offered by candidates.

    Turner listed several options, including securing more funding from the state legislature for the arts (he bragged on leading the effort to get the current legislature to pony up $10 million for arts groups), establishing an artists-in-residence program and coming up with a way for supporters to easily contribute to the arts, similar to a check-off box on a utility bill.

    Turner also touted emerging arts havens in Spring Branch, Acres Homes and the East End. "East End is like the Montrose of the 1980s," he said. "We need to tell that story."

    Costello brought up the idea of creating a specially-designed arts enclave with discount rates for housing for artists, while Garcia pointed out that during his time in law enforcement, he encouraged gang members with a talent for graffiti to turn to legitimate ways to make a living and some have become renowned artists.

    Candidates also used the opportunity to emphasize other important issues. Noting his support for education, Bell suggested remodeling underused libraries for pre-kindergarten programs while Costello and King touted the importance of fixing Houston's streets.

    "You can't be a world cultural center with Third World streets," King said.

    The theater at the Asia Society Texas Center was filled for the first Mayoral Forum.

    Crowd at Mayor Forum on the Arts
      
    Photo by Marc Newsome
    The theater at the Asia Society Texas Center was filled for the first Mayoral Forum.
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    Salutations, Soon Youn

    Houston Ballet principal dancer announces retirement after 13 years

    Holly Beretto
    Jun 20, 2025 | 10:00 am
    ​Houston Ballet Principal Soo Youn Cho
    Photo by Amitava Sarkar (2016). Courtesy of Houston Ballet.
    Houston Ballet Principal Soo Youn Cho and in Theme and Variations.

    Houston Ballet principal dancer Soon Youn Cho has announced her retirement, after 13 years with the company.

    For more than a decade, she has captivated audiences with her elegance, emotional authenticity, and technical brilliance. Audiences have seen her in roles such as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Kitri in Don Quixote, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, among many others.

    Cho’s retirement follows a period of recovery from spinal surgery prompted by chronic back issues that intensified during and after her pregnancy.

    "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.”

    Cho further said that even before becoming pregnant, she had been managing chronic back issues throughout her career.

    “With dedication, careful conditioning, and the unwavering support of those around me, I was able to continue dancing for many years,” she said. “Despite my best efforts to recover, I’ve come to the difficult realization that I won’t be able to return to dancing at the level I once did. With a heavy but full heart, I’ve decided to retire from the stage.”

    Born in Korea and trained there, as well as in Canada and Germany, Cho danced with Opera Leipzig Ballet in Leipzig, Germany and the Tulsa Ballet in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she was promoted to principal in 2010. She joined the Houston Ballet in 2012 as a demi soloist. She quickly rose through the ranks, promoted to soloist in 2014, then first soloist in 2016. In 2018, she became the Houston Ballet’s first Korean principal.

    Upon achieving the designation, she said, “I feel like I have made an important mark in history, along with other great dancers, for my people in such a great company.”

    Cho’s roles onstage reflected her wide artistic range and commitment to storytelling through dance. Her Houston Ballet colleagues and audiences admire and praise the passion and sincerity she brought to every performance. One of those, Cho’s portrayal of Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, is especially close to her heart, not only for its emotional depth but for the lifelong friendship it sparked with fellow principal Yuriko Kajiya.

    “Becoming part of this Company and working alongside such extraordinary people has been one of the greatest blessings and privileges of my life. I close this chapter with a full heart and immense appreciation for the art, the audiences, and the people who made it all so meaningful.”

    Cho said that while she doesn’t yet know what will come next, she departs the company filled with gratitude.

    “Looking back, I feel nothing but gratitude,” she said. “Gratitude for the incredible colleagues and mentors I’ve shared the studio with. Gratitude for the audiences who supported us performance after performance. And gratitude for the art form itself — so demanding, so beautiful, and so deeply rewarding. I leave the stage with peace in my heart. Because I gave everything I had to this journey, I can move forward without regret.”

    \u200bHouston Ballet Principal Soo Youn Cho
      

    Photo by Amitava Sarkar (2016). Courtesy of Houston Ballet.

    Houston Ballet Principal Soo Youn Cho and in Theme and Variations.

    houston balletsoon youn choperforming-arts
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