Houston Ballet

Great theater. The higher up (6^th floor, section K) the harder to see. I would suggest to stay away from those seats if possible. It’s not terrible but could be better.

I love the Houston Ballet. Every performance leaves me anxious for my next visit. My last show was Ghost Dances and Giselle, and the choreography was so spectacular that I did not even want to blink. The costumes were lovely, and fit the themes of the dances. Ghost Dances was a true delight with many dances were so emotionally charged, and unique choreography that left me breathless. I’m anxiously awaiting Sleeping Beauty in February.
Parking at this facility is actually pretty easy for a downtown location. I do not like traveling downtown, and find it difficult to park my large SUV in the compact spaces of the downtown garages, however, the parking is easy to get in and out of… just sometimes have to take my time walking to the car, cause the traffic exiting the facility.
I have sat in the Balcony, the Grand Tier Balcony, and the Orchestra seats. I find the Balcony is too far, but you can still have an enjoyable visit. I do pack small binoculars for these seats, but do not seem to use them for the full show. The Grand Tier balcony is much better than the high balcony seats and is actually quite a lovely place to watch the ballet. The only problem I find with the balcony and grand tier locations is how steep these seats are, you feel like you are going to fall over the balcony, but you are actually secure. If you get a little vertigo or have issues with heights, please find some orchestra seats and enjoy the show.
My favorite is the orchestra seats. I’ve been on both sides and center, and find no bad seat, unless someone quite tall is directly in front of me. I do wish people over six feet tall would learn to slouch in their seats for those behind them. :-)
Bringing my young daughter, age 10, she usually prefers the Grand Tier balcony. She can usually see well in any of the seats. However, the orchestra is a little more hit or miss for her. My usual partner to the ballet is my oldest daughter, who is now 19, so we attempt to get orchestra seats for every show. I have not found any bad seats, or obstructed view seats, I don’t think there are any at this facility.
When you purchase your seats, look around at different dates. You can usually find at least one or two dates that have lower prices, usually weekday shows. What a treat during the week, if you can pull off an evening weekday show without stressing yourself out to get there on time after work.
Oh and don’t be late or expect to get up during the show… not that you’ll want to. The Houston Ballet is a spectacular production, regardless of the show. For those that have only seen the Nutcracker, please go see another show. The Nutcracker, while entertaining, is my least favorite show… you’ll be amazed! :-)

I love Houston ballet I’ve been dancing there Sense I was 4yr old. I is a great group I I’ve always haves fun and never have been a problem! I’ve been in a few shows w/​Houston ballet and always had a GREAT time!

I’m going to be the one that writes the «negativity» as people will claim. Don’t take it negatively, take it as something positive to improve .
I went to the nutcracker this year, for the very first time.
I must say, I was not impressed at all, it was to… mellow. Specially for the sugarplum fairy dance, the costumes were to be left wanting more. Solid pink couple. It lacked, it lacked something.
The choreography
Not the dancers, their form, the steps. All done almost perfect.

This was my first time at the Houston Ballet! I have been waiting 5+ years to attend the Houston Ballet! Tickets were always so expensive, but this time I was able to snag tickets to The Nutcracker!
As a child, I watched the movie and learned the music in my orchestra class. All I remembered prior to the performance was my fear of the Rat King. Luckily, some bravery kicked in as well as pleasant choreography for the Ballet.
It was also pleasant to hear the laughter of children when it’s a production of no words. This experience was tons better than my experience at Stafford Centre. I wish there were more Ballet selections in Houston rather than just seasonally.

This is a fabulous performance, definitely a family tradition to attend. The attention to detail and athleticism by the dancers are first class. It takes more than once visit to absorb the story line.

I simply love the Houston Ballet! It is my absolute favorite thing about Houston. The technique of the company is outstanding. The choreography is always refreshing and new. My favorite ballets have been Giselle, Madame Butterfly, and The Merry Widow. My favorite ballerina is Sara Webb. I think that the scenery is always outstanding, and it takes your breath away. The ballet orchestration is always well done. I love the unique ballets throughout each season. I have had season tickets for four years, and it is one of the best things that I have ever purchased.

I absolutely love the Houston Ballet. I actually use to work for them part time doing calls for yearly subscriptions. I loved every bit of it because I could get free tickets to upcoming shows. Sadly I had to quit and lose that benefit but I love them so much I am happily willing to pay to see performances.
My husband and I attend the Nutcracker every year. It is our one tradition that we have upheld year after year. We are never disappointed and it puts us in such a wonderful mood. We had orchestra tickets this year and I was amazed by what a difference it makes to sit closer. It is a totally different experience. We are planning on seeing Aladdin in the spring.
I am so proud that our city has such an amazing dance company!

My friend and I are part of the Houston Young Professionals Program at the Houston Ballet. I highly recommend it. It combines booze and ballet, what more could you want.
In all seriousness, we got a free drink ticket at Hotel Icon, where we started our day. Then walked over to watch the Merry Widow at the Wortham Theatre. A beautiful theatre. There were people of varying degrees of fanciness from a floor length dress to shorts and t-​shirt. It was pretty amusing. Basically, you can’t go wrong, but I don’t recommend either of those extremes.
As for the ballet, if you are not familiar with the story, I recommend reading up beforehand. Some people understand the subtle nuances of ballet «acting» but I prefer being acquainted with the story beforehand, especially after a glass of wine!
The dancers gave a beautiful performance. Melody Mennite and Connor Walsh stuck out in my mind.

Always masterful. Always artistic. Always perfect.
With a foundation of over $ 100 million, Houston Ballet might rank in the top three ballet companies in the United States, along with, say, New York City and San Francisco; and with the opening of the new Houston Ballet Center for Dance in 2011, Houston now boasts the largest professional dance facility in the United States.
In short, Houston is extremely fortunate to count Houston Ballet as a mainstay in its theater district.
The Houston Ballet offers an annual repertoire of six performances, along with the seasonal Nutcracker, and a host of other smaller performances, all based at its home location in the Brown Theater at the Wortham Center.
Included in this repertoire are three annual large performances, ranging from classics such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, and Romeo and Juliet, to modern originals such as the 2009 world premier of Stanton Welch’s Marie [Antoinette] and 2014’s American premier of David Bintley’s Aladdin.
The other three performances each season tend to consist of three or four short performances, ranging from classical French, to grandiose Russian, to contemporary American, each intended to elicit a unique emotion, from joy to sadness to laughter.
Each performance will treat you to a delightful scene of incredible costumes, gorgeous sets, beautiful music, and masterful technique. But above all, you’d be surprised at how engaging the storylines can be, without the aid of a single word.
In the end, the Houston Ballet is a must for anyone in the greater Houston area. With something for everyone, there is bound to be a performance that will leave you enthralled; and with such a sunny outlook, you can expect even greater performances in the future.

The Houston Ballet is amazing. Their performance for Peter Pan was just absolutely wonderful. Granted… the storyline is sooooo weird. but the performance was superb.
I will definitely try to see another performance. A ballet is something you definitely want to take a loved one because it’s very fancy and romantic. Highly recommend for a date night!

The Houston Ballet has got it going on! A buddy suggested we go see the «Journey with the Masters» production this last weekend. The performance itself was actually three different ballets which covered a whole range of goodness: traditional, modern, and comedic. Yes, they have a sense of humor here, and the whole place was in laughter throughout the last performance. Here are reviews of the individual pieces I saw:
Ballet Imperial. (Traditional.) Adapted from the great Balanchine. This production had the works — fancy backdrop, faux chandeliers, extravagant costuming of Juliette tutus and bedazzled tiaras for each girl. This was a young girl’s fantasy of what her kindergarten ballet classes might eventually lead to. This was a solid performance — a favorite of my friend but not mine.
Sinfonietta. (Modern-​esque.) The backdrop was some oil painting out of MoMA or maybe a Windows desktop wallpaper with gentle but organic lines. The costumes were very plain, simple ombres. I found this piece breathtaking, especially with the focus on the 7 couples. My friend, meanwhile, drifted into slumber. Must have been a favorite among the ballet patrons because many people gave this one a standing ovation.
The Concert. (Comedic.) Oh, this one had me in stitches. How I love Jerome Robbins (choreographer for West Side Story.) The story behind this one was what symphonic concert-​goers must be like. Freakin’ hilarious, and I’m glad to see the HB show their acting chops along with their dancing skill.

Houston has an excellent theater district that is commonly overlooked by visitors. Our ballet continues to pump out traditional favorites as well as cutting edge performances. I have attended both the Rite of Spring and Nutcracker on several occasions, along with random others during the year. Ticket prices are accessible for various levels and many shows cater to all ages.

I’ve been here twice. Once to Madame Butterfly and once for The Nutcracker. The performances are amazing. Seating can be a challenge. We’ve sat in the very top balcony and in the orchestra. Sitting at the top balcony can take your breath away due to the height, but you’re more likely to see the stage. I sat in the orchestra for The Nutcracker and had a 6′ 5″ guy sit right in front of me and totally blocked my view and ruined the performance for me.
I can’t knock the performances. They’re surely not to disappoint. I feel you’re taking a gamble in viewing in the floor seating. These are the more expensive tickets too…

Second visit to the Houston Ballet was this past weekend to see the holiday classic «The Nutcracker».
The show overall was very good and everyone had a great time.
Again, the biggest issue is their concession. Knowing up front that the choices were limited, I wasn’t expecting Veuve Cliquot. But, I was expecting reasonable service. There was nothing wrong with the server, except for the fact that he was ALONE!!!
Did no one tell them that there was an intermission? Did this come as a complete shock? Wow, where did all these people come from??? Hmm?
I mean really people, get it together. Have enough staff to deal with the needs of the patrons attending your venue. And if you don’t have the foresight to be properly staffed, at least have enough business acumen to have pre-​poured a few dozen glasses of wine/​champagne. There are only three times for this revenue opportunity, prior to the show, at the intermission and after the show. The arts are always complaining about funding. At $ 9 glass, for New Mexico «champagne» (I still chuckle every time I think of that) there is some cha-​ching, as well as customer satisfaction, that you are letting escape.
So, maybe instead of the limited staff hanging around doing very little after the initial pre-​show sales, have them be prepared for the next rush. Come on, there are so few choices in beverages to begin with, and with time being of the essence, have them already poured and ready for sale.
The lines were ridiculous and by the time we all got our beverages, the intermission was over.
Just saying!

What is there to say that the name Houston Ballet doesn’t already say itself? Of all our Theater District treasures, Houston Ballet never ceases to blow me away. I love every performance that this world-​class company puts on. The variety of each season is also impressive. Unlike other city companies, Houston Ballet does not just specialize in story ballets. I love The Nutcracker and Cinderella just as much as the next dance enthusiast, but it’s refreshing to see contemporary dance and Modern infused pieces set to this great company. Case in point: This year’s production of Made in America, their annual showcase of American-​bred choreography. Yes, there was the standard Balanchine piece, which was a sight to behold, but they also performed a new work by Nicolo Fonte that was edgy, surprising, and insightful. We’re so lucky to have a company of this caliber in Houston. Can’t wait for Romeo and Juliet!

I have seen the Houston Ballet twice and loved every bit of it. I sat through the who performance with my jaw hanging open I was so into it. I would recommend it as a good Valentines Day date or Christmas celebration.

I recently went to watch the Houston Ballet’s presentation of Body, Soul & Gershwin at Wortham Theater Center.
I have always had my doubts about enjoying ballet, I must say I was not in love with the performance but I did enjoy it. Houston has a very great theatre district and for the price and entertainment value I’d just always pick a broadway type performance over the ballet, that just my personal preference.
It was a sight though, the men are in remarkable shape and the women are so slender and agile. I was in such awe to seem the moves they are able to perform.
The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star review is I feel the ballet is very repetitive. After the first couple of oohs and awws the rest are very similar in style and difficulty. By no means am I a dance expert but just from a commoner’s viewpoint.
This particular show I watched was a good mix of classic ballet and modern ballet. It was 3 performances separated by a 20 minute intermission each.
Overall, a fun and new experience. It’s nice to enjoy a cultural event every once in awhile.

There are many dance troupes that evoke the sweetest memories of childhood outings. The Houston Ballet is at the very top — for their performance of the Nutcracker. I will never, ever tire of seeing this. Just like Alvin Ailey’s dancers, the talent is just there. They have a reputation to uphold, and it shows that they really care about giving each audience member an exhilarating and breathtaking performance — every season. It is a magical and mystical feeling that one gets while waiting for the dancers to take the stage. Art — at its finest.

The Houston Ballet is the home of some of the best dancers in the United States. These dancers know how to show ballet as the true art that it is.
If you’ve never seen a performance by the Houston Ballet, you are really missing out on some spectacular shows. Each of the seasons since I have been in Houston have offered truly excellent line ups that have something for everyone in the family.
At the very least, you must make it to one of the annual performances of The Nutcracker. This is a beautiful holiday ritual and the costuming is breathtaking. For many people attending, this one show is a family tradition and the Houston Ballet performs it every year starting in November.