Letter from the Artistic Director

Welcome to LAUNCH, 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.

LAUNCH is a curation of internationally renowned choreographers, Garrett Smith, Ethan Colangelo, Hélène Simoneau plus Houston native, Alana Jones. This evening’s curation features the dynamic professional dancers of Vitacca Ballet and ensures to deliver the highest quality of performance. Also to be seen, the Vitacca Ballet Studio Company in an original work by Ilya Kozadayev and featuring 2025 Prix de Lausanne Candidate, Aubrey Daniels. With the acclaim of “Standout Performance” from Pointe Magazine, Vitacca Ballet is a rare Houston gem not to be missed.

We hope that LAUNCH 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.

LAUNCH

Somewhat Closer

Choreography - Garrett Smith

Music - J.S. Bach and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber

Light Design - Garrett Smith

Costume Design - Barbara Joyce-Evans

Performed by - Ava Dempster, Jordan Hooks, Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Melody Mennite, Joshua Ponton, Coltin Snyder, Aidan Wolf

Choreographer Note: I came across a very upbeat baroque piece that had this energetic and almost club vibe. The high energy rhythm made me want to dance in my apartment. All the other baroque selections easily found their way connecting into the mix. Something about being back in Houston and creating under the roof of Kelly Vitacca and so many familiar faces, and past connections felt like family to me. It made me think about my past, present, and future all at the same time, and feeling “somewhat closer” to the wonderful people I have relationships with in this beautiful community in Houston.

Artistic Director Kelly Ann Vitacca Welcome + Vitacca Ballet 24/25 Season Video

Lighthouse

Choreography - Hélène Simoneau

Music - Poppy Ackroyd and Anne Muller, JLin and Third Coast Percussion

Costume Design - Susan Roemer

Performed by - Ava Dempster, Jordan Hooks, Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Melody Mennite, Joshua Ponton, Coltin Snyder, Aidan Wolf

Pas de Deux from Don Quixote
Vitacca Ballet Studio Company

Choreography - After Marius Petipa

Coached and Staging - Tina Kay Bohnstedt

Music - Ludwig Minkus

Performed by - Aubrey Daniels and Julian Gomez

Within This Facade

Choreography - Alana Jones

Music - Peggy Lee, Eivor, Jaz Karis and Interlude, Solange

Performed by - Ava Dempster, Nikolas Darrough, Jordan Hooks, Elissa Fonseca, Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Melody Mennite, Joshua Ponton, Coltin Snyder, Aidan Wolf

Choreographer Note: I would like to thank the dancers for helping me step into my power again. This was a healing process I didn’t know that I needed. I hope that they can and will tap into the freedom within themselves when life feels heavy or monotonous. I also want to thank Kelly Ann Vitacca for trusting my artistic voice and for allowing me all the freedom I needed to give my best self to her beautiful company. Lastly, I’d like to thank Sean Carmon for producing my music and being in my corner instantly. - Alana Jones

INTERMISSION 10 MINUTES

On Blurred Edges

Premiered at the Copenhagen International Choreography Competition, Copenhagen, DK, July 9, 2022

Choreography - Ethan Colangelo

Music - Original Composition by Ben Waters, Franz Schubert

Performed by - Madison Medina and Nikolas Darrough

La Folia
Vitacca Ballet Studio Company

Choreography - Ilya Kozadayev

Music - Antonio Vivaldi

Performed by - Katharine Andrews, Julian Gomez, Viktoriia Kovyreva, Alyssa Park, Amaris Ponder, Izzy Viloria, Gianna Wahl, Alexa Westman, Mia Westman, Ben Wheeless

Hypnotic Forces

Choreography - Garrett Smith

Music - Nils Frahm

Light Design - Garrett Smith

Costume Design - Barbara Joyce-Evans

Performed by - Nikolas Darrough, Elissa Fonseca, Jordan Hooks, Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Joshua Ponton, Coltin Snyder, Aidan Wolf

Choreographer Note: When it comes to defining the space between classical and electronic music, hardly any other name is mentioned as often as Berlin based pianist, Nils Frahm. This music immediately captivated me. It is the pure driving force for this choreography, and my reaction to it with the bodies and abilities in front of me. I connect to the idea of fusing a classical or structured vocabulary with something new and explored in the moment. I enjoy the harmony that this mixture can produce with choreographic ideas. I like to think of my work as custom built or tailor made for the individuals I work with. It has been a joy to dive deeper into the abilities of these creative dancers at Vitacca Ballet. I am pleased to present to you this talented group of dancers, and what came out of a creative and very collaborative process.

View Company Artists biographies

Leadership

Founder, Artistic Director Kelly Ann Vitacca

Rehearsal Director Andrea Dawn Shelley

Ballet Masters Tina Bohnstedt, Louise Lester, John Henry Reid

Production

Lighting Design Ian Evans

Stage Manager Ian Evans

Wardrobe Gayle Evans Ivy

24/25 Season Film Ashkan Media, Directed by Brandi Garza

Administrative Staff

Associate School Director Jordan Brasfield

Assistant to Director Annika Dalbratt

Assistant Studio Company Director Coltin Snyder

Development Madelyn Martinez

Marketing Shauna Tysor + Smith & Sacco

Office Manager Susie Fallstich, Ava Dempster, Nikolas Darrough

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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