Houston Met Celebrates Thirty Years of Service

Reaching a thirteenth anniversary milestone is a cause for celebration in any context, but in the world of non-profit dance organizations, the Pear Anniversary is nothing short of a miracle. It’s also a testament to enduring vision, continued reinvention, and the sheer work and commitment of the leaders behind the mission. On Saturday, October 18, Houston Met Dance celebrates thirty years of service with a gala at the organization’s Museum District studio at 4916 Main Street. 

The organization’s founder, Michele Smith, is as frank as ever when it comes to describing Houston Met Dance’s role in the local dance ecosystem over the past three decades. “Our mission actually hasn’t changed,” she says. “The mission has always been to serve the community, teach open classes, do educational work, and present dance to the general public.” Her spaces have also been made available to rent, including subsidized rates for nonprofits and independent choreographers. 

Smith has spent her life in a dance studio. “It was not by choice,” she says. “I was three, and literally the ballet studio was next to the grocery store.” Ballet proved to be a much-needed safe haven, as it was one of the few constants in her young life as an army brat. “It didn’t matter where we were stationed, and we were all over the country, my mom could find a ballet class, and I could feel safe.” As Smith likes to put it, “pliés are pliés, no matter if you’re in California, Texas, Wyoming, or Arkansas.”

Ballet proved to be Smith’s initial guidepost in the world of dance, but a position in a professional company never materialized; height requirements and body standards are often all too uncompromising. But she found support in Arthur Miller who was doing residencies in the Fort Worth area. “He encouraged me to keep going, and I did.” 

When Smith and her husband relocated to the Houston area, she assumed her dancing days were over, but after short stints in several physical forms of activity, she found herself in Gilbert Rome’s ballet class in the suburb of Spring. “There’s somebody who needs to see you,” said Rome, after identifying Smith as a seasoned mover. That someone was Julie Stewart, who was teaching jazz. “I went, this is cool,” she says, “coming from twenty years of restrictive ballet.” At the urging of her new friend, Smith came downtown and was introduced to the Delia Stewart Dance Company and Center where she spearheaded the ballet and children’s programs before ultimately becoming company manager. 

When Stewart retired, she handed the reins over to Smith, who then refashioned the organization into what would be a cornerstone of the Houston dance community for the next three decades. To say that Smith’s Houston Met Dance is beloved would be an understatement. Case in point: the gala on October 18 opens with a 6pm VIP reception honoring acting president and secretary Cecilia Winters-Morris, who has been with the organization for twenty-four years. 

For Smith, thirty years of non-profit leadership has meant the opportunity to watch artists grow. “It’s fun to watch people develop,” she says. “Kids taking class turn into METtoo kids [referencing her former pre-professional company] that are now running schools and departments, and writing.” She references hometown luminary Jasmine Hearn as a perfect example of the trajectory of Houston Met community members. 

Hearn is slated to perform, as is the Houston Met Dance Adult Ballet Ensemble on October 18. General admission opens at 7pm, where guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine in a cocktail-style format, and the aforementioned pop-up performances. There will also be a silent auction, and a dance party from 9pm to midnight. The gala is a fundraiser that kicks off the organization’s campaign to raise $120,000 through March 2026. 

Aside from benefiting the Met’s education work, open public classes, and physical space, the gala will also support Made in Houston, a choreographic initiative that procures creative content and performances. Prior to its current iteration, the Houston Met supported one of the city’s most dynamic contemporary dance companies for twenty-five years. After proving unsustainable, current Director of Programming jhon r. stronks encouraged Smith and her Board to look at other dance organizations across the country that were based in their own facility, but did not have a professional dance company as a public-facing entity. 

Made in Houston is a series of residencies that are practice-based and space-oriented. “As an independent artist myself, those are the things that a lot of artists struggle to find, space and time,” says stronks. “There are plenty of performance opportunities in Houston. You can find that. But how do we create space to actually expand, explore, and animate artist practices? We are taking twenty-five years of production experience towards programming that impacts choreographers individually versus the company model.” 

It’s compelling work, and one that Smith is excited to be spear-heading with her team of instructor/choreographers. But it’s her community and the ability to have reached multiple generations of people that keeps her inspired. “I just had a student I taught fifteen years ago walk into class Tuesday night,” she says. “That’s something that a lot of people can’t say.” In fact, if you’ve been in the Houston dance community for any amount of time, you might find a familiar face or two at any of the studio’s open classes. Several of the Met’s adult students have been taking classes since the 90s. That’s cause for celebration, and flowers.

Or in this case, pearls. 

Proceeds of the Houston Met’s 30th Anniversary Gala will support the nonprofit’s core programs: artist residencies, scholarships, and educational outreach. Tickets and sponsorships are available now at MetDance.org.