Ballet Austin
Ballet Austin is a professional ballet company located in Austin, Texas. Under the direction of Artistic Director Stephen Mills, Ballet Austin welcomes people near and far to participate in its "classically innovative" vision for the democratization of dance. The company operates from its urban headquarters at the Butler Dance Education Center and Community School in downtown Austin.
History of Ballet Austin
Founded in 1957, Ballet Austin has participated in many international festivals. In the summer of 2005, at the invitation of the US State Department, the company performed in Italy and Slovenia. In 2002, Artistic Director Stephen Mills led the company to the Kennedy Center to perform to seven sold-out houses of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the Center’s Youth and Family Public Performance Series. Mills was subsequently commissioned by the Center to create The Taming of the Shrew which made its world premiere in Washington, D.C. in 2004—after which The New York Times dubbed him “the bard of ballet.”
The company’s repertoire includes works by Ulysses Dove, Dwight Rhoden, David Parsons, David Nixon, Septime Webre, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp and innovative collaborations such as the 2008 production Cult of Color: Call to Color with artist Trenton Doyle Hancock and composer Graham Reynolds. In 2008 Ballet Austin became a founding resident company for the state-of-the-art Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts.
Additionally, an in-house performance space, the 287-seat AustinVentures StudioTheater, now allows the company to offer intimate and affordable performances in an urban environment.
Artistic Director Stephen Mills
In 1998, Stephen Mills was chosen to represent the U.S. through his work, Ashes, at the Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis in Paris. Most recently, Mills was awarded the Steinberg Award, the top honor at the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur International Choreographic Competition for One/The Body’s Grace.
Mills has created more than 40 works for companies in the United States and abroad. His ballets are in the repertories of such companies as The Hong Kong Ballet, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, The Atlanta Ballet, The Milwaukee Ballet, Washington Ballet, Cuballet in Havana, Cuba, BalletMet Columbus, The Dayton Ballet, The Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Ballet Pacifica, Dallas Black Dance Theater, The Louisville Ballet, The Nashville Ballet, Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet, The Sacramento Ballet and Dance Kaleidoscope. He has worked in collaboration with such luminaries as the eight-time Grammy Award-winning band, Asleep at the Wheel, Shawn Colvin and internationally renowned flamenco artist José Greco II.
As a dancer Mills performed with a wide variety of companies. In addition to his work as a choreographer, Mills is a master teacher committed to developing dancers.
Ballet Austin II
Ballet Austin II was established in 1999. The organization serves as Ballet Austin's apprentice program and second company. Apprentices are employed for 34 weeks. They perform with the main company in larger productions and present a minimum of three independent projects per year in residence at Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater.
Apprentices are contracted with Ballet Austin II for up to two years during which time they receive artistic guidance, career management counseling and job placement assistance. Each spring Ballet Austin brings artistic directors from across the nation to observe and audition Ballet Austin II dancers in class and rehearsal. Ballet Austin II apprentices are recruited through Ballet Austin's Summer Intensive Program and the year-round Trainee Program. 70% of the main company’s current roster are graduates of Ballet Austin II.
Ballet Austin Academy
Ballet Austin Academy is the official ballet school of Ballet Austin, providing dance instruction to many students each year. With more than 800 students, it is one of the largest ballet schools in the United States. The Academy is divided into 4 areas of study. Each area has a syllabus designed to facilitate the maximum physical, mental and emotional development appropriate to the age and physical ability of each student. The Academy's focus is to provide what is necessary for a professional career in dance.
History of Ballet Austin
Founded in 1957, Ballet Austin has participated in many international festivals. In the summer of 2005, at the invitation of the US State Department, the company performed in Italy and Slovenia. In 2002, Artistic Director Stephen Mills led the company to the Kennedy Center to perform to seven sold-out houses of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the Center’s Youth and Family Public Performance Series. Mills was subsequently commissioned by the Center to create The Taming of the Shrew which made its world premiere in Washington, D.C. in 2004—after which The New York Times dubbed him “the bard of ballet.”
The company’s repertoire includes works by Ulysses Dove, Dwight Rhoden, David Parsons, David Nixon, Septime Webre, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp and innovative collaborations such as the 2008 production Cult of Color: Call to Color with artist Trenton Doyle Hancock and composer Graham Reynolds. In 2008 Ballet Austin became a founding resident company for the state-of-the-art Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts.
Additionally, an in-house performance space, the 287-seat AustinVentures StudioTheater, now allows the company to offer intimate and affordable performances in an urban environment.
Artistic Director Stephen Mills
In 1998, Stephen Mills was chosen to represent the U.S. through his work, Ashes, at the Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis in Paris. Most recently, Mills was awarded the Steinberg Award, the top honor at the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur International Choreographic Competition for One/The Body’s Grace.
Mills has created more than 40 works for companies in the United States and abroad. His ballets are in the repertories of such companies as The Hong Kong Ballet, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, The Atlanta Ballet, The Milwaukee Ballet, Washington Ballet, Cuballet in Havana, Cuba, BalletMet Columbus, The Dayton Ballet, The Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Ballet Pacifica, Dallas Black Dance Theater, The Louisville Ballet, The Nashville Ballet, Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet, The Sacramento Ballet and Dance Kaleidoscope. He has worked in collaboration with such luminaries as the eight-time Grammy Award-winning band, Asleep at the Wheel, Shawn Colvin and internationally renowned flamenco artist José Greco II.
As a dancer Mills performed with a wide variety of companies. In addition to his work as a choreographer, Mills is a master teacher committed to developing dancers.
Ballet Austin II
Ballet Austin II was established in 1999. The organization serves as Ballet Austin's apprentice program and second company. Apprentices are employed for 34 weeks. They perform with the main company in larger productions and present a minimum of three independent projects per year in residence at Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater.
Apprentices are contracted with Ballet Austin II for up to two years during which time they receive artistic guidance, career management counseling and job placement assistance. Each spring Ballet Austin brings artistic directors from across the nation to observe and audition Ballet Austin II dancers in class and rehearsal. Ballet Austin II apprentices are recruited through Ballet Austin's Summer Intensive Program and the year-round Trainee Program. 70% of the main company’s current roster are graduates of Ballet Austin II.
Ballet Austin Academy
Ballet Austin Academy is the official ballet school of Ballet Austin, providing dance instruction to many students each year. With more than 800 students, it is one of the largest ballet schools in the United States. The Academy is divided into 4 areas of study. Each area has a syllabus designed to facilitate the maximum physical, mental and emotional development appropriate to the age and physical ability of each student. The Academy's focus is to provide what is necessary for a professional career in dance.
