“Diversity” is the word that best
describes Houston Ballet’s free evening performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre
in Hermann Park Friday through Sunday, May 7 through 9.
The program begins with
Falling (music by Mozart, choreography by Stanton Welch), a playful classical
piece originally created for the San Francisco Ballet in 2005. Next is the
multilayered In the Upper Room (music by Philip Glass, choreography by Twyla
Tharp), which The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Dance calls “one of Tharp’s most
popular works.” The evening concludes with Jardí Tancat, a passionate
interpretation of Catalonian folk tales sung by Spanish singer Maria del Mar
Bonet and choreographed by Spain’s revered Nacho Duato.
Performances start at 8 pm, but
there’s one caveat: Tickets are available on the day of the performance only,
from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Miller Theatre Box Office. Any remaining tickets
are distributed one hour before curtain — but why take chances? Get there early
to claim up to four free tickets, then enjoy a long afternoon in the Hermann
Park environs before showtime. For more information, visit houstonballet.org or
milleroutdoortheatre.com.
Image: Dancers Kelly Myernick and
Ian Casady in Jardí Tancat, choreographed by Nacho Duato. Photo by Amitava
Sarkar.