Step into a world where dreams twinkle like winter stars and love endures through timeless tales. Ballet Austin invites you on an enchanting journey across four spectacular performances, each offering a unique blend of music, dance, and storytelling. From the classic charm of 'The Nutcracker' to the dramatic elegance of 'Romeo & Juliet', these ballets are set to captivate audiences at The Long Center for the Performing Arts. With live orchestral accompaniment, exquisite choreography, and mesmerizing sets, this season promises to warm hearts and inspire imaginations.

A Ballet Journey: From Winter Wonderlands to Star-Crossed Lovers

Experience a captivating journey through the world of ballet with Ballet Austin's upcoming season featuring three distinct productions: Hearts Desire, Love’s Gentle Spring, and the classic Romeo & Juliet. These performances showcase the innovative choreography, stunning music, and powerful storytelling that define the art of dance. From the groundbreaking contemporary ballet of Hearts Desire, paired with the intricate compositions of György Ligeti, to the vibrant melodies of Dvořák in Love’s Gentle Spring, and finally the timeless love saga of Romeo & Juliet, each event promises to captivate and inspire audiences at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas.

A Journey Through Ballet: Discovering Hearts Desire, Love’s Gentle Spring, and Romeo & Juliet

Ballet Austin is set to captivate audiences with a series of compelling performances that delve into the depths of human emotions and artistry. Opening with 'Hearts Desire', the dancers will interpret Christopher Wheeldon’s groundbreaking piece 'Polyphonia', set to György Ligeti’s complex compositions. Following this, 'Love’s Gentle Spring' will embrace Antonín Dvořák’s vibrant melodies, encapsulating the essence of renewal. Finally, 'Romeo & Juliet' will bring Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love to life, with Stephen Mills’ choreography and Prokofiev’s emotive score. These performances promise a rich tapestry of dance, music, and drama.

Dance of the Heart: A Ballet Journey with Ballet Austin

We close the season on Mother’s Day Weekend with the most enduring story of young love, Romeo & Juliet. Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s unforgettable score, performed live by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, this time-honored tale of “star-crossed lovers” leaves us believing in the sweet promise of first love. Tommy Bourgeois designed stunningly beautiful, period-appropriate costumes and a set brilliantly illuminated by an Italianate tapestry of stained-glass colors, both of which paired exquisitely with Stephen Mills’ classic choreography. Shakespeare’s magnificent story comes to life in an elegant, dramatic, and simply gorgeous ballet.

EPSG:4326

Romeo & Juliet

The Long Center for the Performing Arts

The first work is set to Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s “String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96.” Nicknamed the American Quartet, Dvořák wrote this piece while enjoying a summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa. Completed in only thirteen days, this was Dvořák’s second attempt at writing a quartet in F major. Featuring live accompaniment by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the moving melodies of Dvořák’s composition evoke the exuberant feelings of springtime.

Love’s Gentle Spring

Polyphonia, considered Christopher Wheeldon’s breakthrough contemporary ballet, pairs four couples to the spiky and complex music of Hungarian composer György Ligeti. The work is described by dancers as “the curtain goes up and it’s like being shot out of a cannon.” Incorporating this music made famous by Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 thriller Eyes Wide Shut, Wheeldon’s Polyphonia made its premiere in 2001 with the New York City Ballet.

Hearts Desire

Join us for this timeless story of a young girl, Clara, as she follows her dream-inspired adventures through a twinkling winter wonderland to the Court of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Featuring exquisite costumes and astonishing sets, enjoy the artistry of a cast of more than one hundred artists on stage. With live accompaniment by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s timeless score comes to life with music and choreography sure to warm the season and create lasting magical memories!

The Nutcracker 62nd Annual Presentation

Stephen Mills creates a provocative and sensual retelling of this fairytale romance. Heavily influenced by French filmmaker Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film La Belle et la Bête, the design and stylistic elements reflect the magic and mystery of that ground-breaking movie. Striking sets and fantastical, Alexander McQueen-inspired costumes, both designed by Michael B. Raiford, create an other-worldly setting for this story that redefines true beauty and the search for love. Graham Reynolds’ filmic score blends classical instruments with industrial sounds to create a remarkable auditory setting that is achingly beautiful and hopelessly romantic.

Belle A Tale Of Beauty & The Beast

Ballet Austin awakens the beloved fairy tale, The Sleeping Beauty, with four performances over Mother’s Day weekend! Tchaikovsky’s fabulous and familiar score comes to life in one of the most memorable classical ballets of all time, performed live by the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Designed and constructed in England, this gorgeous production features exquisite sets, glittering costumes, and familiar storybook characters like Puss-in-Boots and Little Red Riding Hood. Let Ballet Austin transport you to a dream world of fairy godmothers, storybook creatures, and Prince Charming’s fairytale kiss!

The Sleeping Beauty

Austin PBS Media Center

Following the unprecedented success of Grimm Tales, the first ballet commissioned by The Butler New Choreography Endowment, join us for the second offering as Stephen Mills explores the haunted life and works of celebrated author Edgar Allen Poe in his latest world premiere. With a newly commissioned score by award-winning composer Graham Reynolds, and libretto by Shawn Sides, this World Premiere work shares a perspective of the blurred lines between Poe’s chilling tales and complex life.

Poe / A Tale of Madness

Three mesmerizing dance works come to life for Valentine’s Day. The beauty of George Balanchine’s neoclassical ballet, Concerto Barocco, combines with a contemporary work by choreographer Amy Seiwert, titled Renaissance, and the rich modernism of Stephen Mills’ CARBON53.

TRIAD: Three Bold Dances

From the twinkling lights, whirling snowflakes, and sparkling beauty of the exquisite sets and costumes comes the heart-warming story of young Clara and her nutcracker. Bringing the magic of the holiday season, the 61st annual production of The Nutcracker remains Austin’s longest-running live production.

Join us as we share this beloved and enduring story, featuring live accompaniment of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score performed by the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Experience the enchantment of the holiday season!

The Nutcracker

Stephen Mills’ critically acclaimed production of Hamlet is a contemporary, bold version of Shakespeare’s timeless tale of revenge, grief, and love. Set to the richly textured music of American composer Philip Glass, Hamlet features costumes inspired by designer Giorgio Armani, visually-arresting sets, and a gripping portrayal of one of the greatest tragedies of all time.

Hamlet

A BELOVED FAIRY TALE FIT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Stephen Mills brings this treasured fairy tale of perseverance and love to life, with a compiled score from Alexander Glazunov and live accompaniment. Add a dose of humor to the majesty of classical ballet, and Cinderella becomes the perfect way to close Ballet Austin’s 2022/23 Season with four performances on Mother’s Day weekend. 

Ballet Austin

9 - 11 May, 2025

Romeo & Juliet

28 - 30 Mar, 2025

Love’s Gentle Spring

Articles & News

Ballet Austin