Letter from the Artistic Director

Welcome to CREATION HOUSE 2, an evening of contemporary ballet exploring the essence of embarking on new artistic journeys, inspired by discovery, adventure, and change. Combining classical ballet with contemporary ideas, it evokes wonder, excitement, and introspection.

CREATION HOUSE 2 is a season audience favorite, Vitacca Ballet Company Artist's bring new work to life within Vitacca Ballet’s creative incubator, CREATION HOUSE. Don’t miss this premiere weekend featuring six original works within an intimate and unique setting at House of Miracles.

CREATION HOUSE 2 marks Vitacca’s annual choreographic platform, designed to nurture our company artists’ creative development while spotlighting their voices both on and off stage.

We hope that CREATION HOUSE 2 is an approachable opportunity for Houston to experience Vitacca Ballet’s developing artistic voice and be a part of an everlasting relationship within our city and beyond. Thank you for joining us.

Kelly Ann Vitacca, Artistic Director & Founder

About Vitacca Ballet

Vitacca Ballet is ranked amongst the most prestigious companies in the country. Pointe Magazine’s Nancy Wozny called out Vitacca Ballet, specifically company artists Jordan Hooks and Joshua Ponton’s performance in Hypnotic Forces by brilliant Resident Choreographer Garrett Smith as one of the “12 Standout Performances of 2023.” Wozny states, “Jordan Hooks and Joshua Ponton delivered a powerful concluding duet that oscillated between tenderness and anxious watchfulness, with a tension that never let up even during its most intimate moments.”

Artistic Director and Founder Kelly Ann Vitacca comments, “We are thrilled to have Vitacca Ballet, and our Resident Choreographer Garrett Smith featured in Pointe Magazine’s “12 Standout Performances of 2023.” This contemporary ballet by Smith incapsulates the type of fresh, progressive, and quality artistry Vitacca Ballet brings to the greater Houston area and beyond.”

Named as “2024 Best Dance Show” by Texas Arts & Cultre Magazine, Vitacca Ballet’s past seasons have included world premieres by Ethan Colangelo, Garrett Smith, Robyn Mineko Williams, Cherice Barton, Tina Kay Bohnstedt, Hélène Simoneau, Micaela Taylor, Sean Aaron Carmon, Alana Jones, Autumn Eckman, Madison Hicks, Beth Twigs, Andrea Dawn Shelley and more. “The choreographic talent Vitacca Ballet brings to Houston is unique and exploratory,” comments Ms. Vitacca. “From returning audience favorites to new choreographers bringing their distinctive perspective to the stage, each season is transformational for the contemporary ballet scene in Houston. We pride ourselves on offering a space of incubation for choreographers to collaborate with our dancers as the creation takes form.

Vitacca Ballet prides itself on supporting the development of the Texas arts scene by offering a home and supporting income to artists from across the globe. Founded in 2020 as the pandemic brought artists home to Houston, Ms. Vitacca strived to keep artists employed, and the Houston arts scene alive with project-based work. This experience laid the framework for the launch of Vitacca Ballet in 2021. “I am motivated by the support Vitacca Ballet has received in the four seasons since its inception. Houston’s passionate arts community has allowed for Vitacca Ballet to grow as a leading organization ensuring the future of professional contemporary ballet with seasoned dancers in the greater Houston area,” comments Ms. Vitacca.

CREATION HOUSE 2

What Remains

“What Remains” is a work inspired by the Holocaust, specifically my grandmother “Adelchi’s” story. Her name was Adina Piment Weiss and she was only 9 years old when the war started. She was a survivor of “Ghetto Warsaw” and one of the famous “Children of Tehran” who were brought to Israel. “What Remains” is a story of hardship, loss, suffering, survival, hope, love and incredible bravery. It is a story of a courageous child’s survival after the loss of her mother and sibling to the ghetto. She then loses her father after a harrowing escape through the countryside’s harsh cold and snow. Adina’s story continues through to her ultimate arrival to Israel to be adopted by a loving family, where she thrived. It is a crucial reminder that there are many Holocaust survivors, each with their own unique and incredible stories that We Must Never Forget.

The choreographer invites you to read excerpts of Adelchi’s story, amongst others, as you enter the space.

Choreography by Khen Kurulkar

Music by Felix Rösch played by the Mondena Quartet, Yehezkel Raz and Sivan Talmor, Sebastian Plano, Matteo Myderwyk

Editing by Joshua Ponton, Khen Kurulkar, Klaire Kurulkar

Nikolas Darrough, Elissa Fonseca, Lucy Merz

Bound by Shadows

My concept for this work depicts the feeling of being followed or having a shadow, whether that be a shadow of doubt, or visual display of ones work to facilitate self-instincts. The work also alludes to an inconspicuous individual you cannot rid yourself of and a toxic love/hate relationship with a sense of dread/fear of the worst. Within this piece, you find the physical embodiment of your shadow and how a reflection of yourself can sometimes demonstrate the parts we aim to hide from the world.

Choreography by Aidan Kohles-Wolf

Music by Josephine Stephenson and 12 Ensemble, Dante Swan, Felix Rösch

Maddie Medina and Joshua Ponton

this new spine

This work is a visceral exploration of transformation through the body. Dancers move as if they are embodying new flesh—unfamiliar, curious, electric. Spines uncoil, skin remembers, limbs speak in a language not yet named. There is a sensual thread that runs beneath it all—soft, pulsing, alive—reminding us that to move is to feel.

Choreography by Maddie Medina

Music by Oneohtrix Point Never, Björk

Aidan Kohles-Wolf and Nikolas Darrough

BRIEF PAUSE

Unmoor

“Unmoor” is an expansion of my former works, Under Reality and Under Reality II. “Unmoor” builds upon the idea of a force that coexists within nature that autonomously pulls at our reality from underneath the surface of life. This coexistence ultimately affects all events that shape our worlds and lives.

Choreography by Joshua Ponton and dancers

Music by Mattia Cupelli

Editing by Joshua Ponton

Nikolas Darrough, Ava Makana Dempster, Elissa Fonseca, Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Lucy Merz

New Found

An abstract emotional journey of tangible, physical language, creating a transformation as a lived, evolving experience in real time. A reflection of self-discovery rooted in curiosity and grounding, with movement that carries a sense of freedom, exploration, and honesty of human feeling.

Choreography by Ava Makana Dempster

Music by Felix Rösch, Terekke, Origamibiro, Martin Roth

Aidan Kohles-Wolf and Joshua Ponton

Vitacca Ballet Season Video

Rats in a cage

"Rats in a cage" is my interpretation of how American work culture has created regimes and divides between the individual and the corporations they associate with. This internal conflict is reflective of the behavior rats exhibit when confined in close quarters.

Choreography by Nikolas Darrough in collaboration with the dancers

Music by Oksana Lutsyshyna (excerpts,) Claude Debussy, Donald Trump, Ocean Therapy, Ketev, Philip Glass

Editing by Nikolas Darrough

Ava Makana Dempster, Elissa Fonseca, Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Lucy Merz, Joshua Ponton, Aidan Kohles-Wolf

View Company Artists biographies

Leadership

Founder, Artistic Director Kelly Ann Vitacca

Rehearsal Director Andrea Dawn Shelley

Ballet Masters Ana Moreira Leal, Louise Lester

Production

Lighting Design Ian Evans

Stage Manager Ian Evans

Wardrobe Andrea Dawn Shelley, Dylan Croy

Vitacca Ballet Season Video Mary Lock @htxartistphotog

Administrative Staff

Development Madelyn Martinez

Marketing Shauna Tysor + Smith & Sacco

Office Manager Susie Fallstich, Ava Dempster, Nikolas Darrough

DANCE WITH US! Summer, Fall, Spring Classes

Ages 3 to Adult! LEARN MORE

Thank You

Vitacca Ballet extends our sincere gratitude to our Donors and Sponsors. Their support aids our organization through this season of growth, and we are forever thankful. Thank you for believing in Vitacca and what we contribute to the Texas arts community!

AMBASSADOR CIRCLE
Douglas Kenaley
Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell
Katherine Stevens

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
Heather Camden
Nicole Seiguer
Kevin + Carissa Sullivan
The Vigil Family

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
Anonymous
Ken Yanowski
The Jefferson Family

ARTISTS CIRCLE
CC Conner
Michael Elliff
Kelly Robinson
Nicole Solari
Andrew Bowen Studios
Anonymous

CORPORATE SONOSORS
Alexis Mendoza + NAN Properties
EVENTS by M + E

Vitacca Ballet presents CREATION HOUSE 2