Houston Ballet Announces 2026–27 Company Roster 

Media Contact: 
Kirby Jane Landry and Casey Giltner 
klandry@houstonballet.org | cgiltner@houstonballet.org | press@houstonballet.org 

Houston Ballet Announces 2026–27 Company Roster 

A World-Class Company Built on Homegrown Talent and Global Excellence 

HOUSTON, TX — July 29, 2026 — Houston Ballet, one of the nation’s leading ballet  companies, is pleased to announce its Company roster for the 2026–27 season, featuring new  apprentices and dancer promotions. The roster reflects the Company’s dual identity: a home for  homegrown talent and a destination for exceptional artists from around the world. Under the leadership of Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM and Executive  Director and CEO Sonja Kostich, Houston Ballet continues to advance both classical and  contemporary ballet while developing artists who will shape the future of the art form. 

Houston Ballet Academy, which trains more than 1,000 students annually under Academy  Director, Jennifer Sommers, continues to serve as a primary pathway into the Company. This  season, Houston Ballet proudly welcomes three new apprentices from across the country,  including one from Houston. All three advanced through Houston Ballet Academy and Houston  Ballet II before earning their place in the Company. 

Apprentices: 

• Nathaniel Geis (Charlotte, NC) 

• Lexi Utz (Lancaster, OH) 

• Garrett Yut (Houston, TX) 

Season Promotions: 

Principal 

• Danbi Kim 

Corps de Ballet 

• Quinton Brooks 

• Kieryn Brophy 

• Yeva Hrytsak 

• Olivia McBain 

• Edouard Wormser 

These promotions reflect the artistic growth and excellence demonstrated by the dancers throughout their time with Houston Ballet. 

As Houston Ballet looks ahead to the new season, the Company also recognizes the following  artists as they depart, thanking them for their contributions on stage and in the community:

• Alyssa Springer 

• Jordan Long 

• Abigail Brent 

See here for the complete Company roster and bios.  

ABOUT HOUSTON BALLET 

Founded in 1969, Houston Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies — an artistic  force and an important business leader and partner in the Houston region — inspiring  audiences through artistic excellence, bold choreography, and a commitment to the future of  dance. Under the artistic leadership of Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM and  the chief administrative leadership of Executive Director & CEO Sonja Kostich, the Company is  home to the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance, the largest professional dance facility in  the country. Houston Ballet operates with a $47 million annual budget (FY27) and a $134.5  million endowment (as of February 2026), presents a diverse repertory of classical and  contemporary works, and tours internationally with a global reach spanning 116 countries. 

Houston Ballet Academy serves as a leading pipeline for emerging dance talent, training more  than 1,000 students annually—most on scholarship. Through complementary Education and  Community Engagement programs, the Company reaches more than 85,000 people annually,  expanding access to dance across the Houston region. 

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