Vitacca Ballet Announces FEM4

Three World Premieres by Leading Women Choreographers
Micaela Taylor, Cherice Barton, and Beth Twigs

November 1 and 3 at The Hobby Center, Zilka Hall, with opening night featuring Curtain & Cocktails

HOUSTON, TEXAS [October 1, 2024]: Vitacca Ballet announces its season opening production titled FEM4 on Friday, November 1 and Sunday, November 3 at The Hobby Center, Zilka Hall (800 Bagby St #300, Houston, TX 77002). A bit taboo and wildly relevant, Vitacca Ballet’s FEM4 features three world premieres by unique female choreographer voices leading breakthroughs in the international dance industry. Headlining the evening are choreographers Micaela Taylor, Cherice Barton, Beth Twigs, and Tina Kay Bohnstedt. Bohnstedt’s remount of audience favorite, In an Apartment (World Premiere, 2023), rounds out the evening. All four works were created on Vitacca Ballet and developed locally in the Montrose/River Oaks area studios.

As part of Vitacca Ballet’s annual Curtain & Cocktails event, all FEM4 ticket holders on Friday, November 1 are welcome to join a post-performance mixer on stage to meet the artists.

Artistic Director Kelly Ann Vitacca remarks, “As a female entrepreneur and artistic leader, I am interested in bringing highly profound works by women creators from across the United States to our hometown Houston. FEM4 further supports Vitacca Ballet’s mission to bring fresh, relevant and approachable works to stage. With FEM4 we are eager to grow our repertoire with a broad artistic perspective, continue to add a twist to the ever-evolving ballet artform, provide the audience with thought provoking work and share these brilliant, women-made world premieres with Houston.”

Each choreographers works provide four unique perspectives on stage from vast careers and family in the dance industry. Micaela Taylor’s choreographic works have premiered internationally on Netherlands Dance Theatre’s stage. Cherice Barton brings a family perspective as the sister of Aszure Barton. The Barton sisters lead in the dance industry’s choreographic voice. Beth Twigs is a familiar Texas favorite having been a former artist of Ballet Austin in Austin, TX. Tina Kay Bohnstedt is a returning Vitacca Ballet audience favorite.

About Vitacca Ballet’s Success

Vitacca Ballet is ranked amongst the most prestigious companies in the country. Pointe Magazine’s Nancy Wozny called out Vitacca Ballet and in specific company artists, Jordan Hooks and Joshua Ponton’s performance in Hypnotic Forces from brilliant Resident Choreographer Garrett Smith as one of the “12 Standout Performances of 2023.” Wozny states,

“Jordan Hooks and Joshua Ponton delivered a powerful concluding duet that oscillated between tenderness and anxious watchfulness, with a tension that never let up even during its most intimate moments.”

Artistic Director and Founder Kelly Ann Vitacca comments, “We are thrilled to have Vitacca Ballet and our Resident Choreographer Garrett Smith featured in Pointe Magazine’s “12 Standout Performances of 2023.” This contemporary ballet by Smith encapsulates the type of fresh, progressive, and quality artistry Vitacca Ballet brings to the greater Houston area and beyond.”

Artists work with internationally renowned choreographers each season. Past seasons choreographers included Ethan Colangelo, Garrett Smith, Robyn Mineko Williams, Tina Kay Bohnstedt, Hélène Simoneau, Sean Aaron Carmon, Alana Jones, Autumn Eckman, Madison Hicks, Shizu Yasuda, Robbie Moore, Roderick George, and Andrea Dawn Shelley. “The choreographic talent Vitacca Ballet brings to Houston is unique and exploratory,” comments Ms. Vitacca. “From returning audience favorites to new choreographers bringing their distinctive perspective to the stage, each season is transformational for the contemporary ballet scene in Houston. We pride ourselves on offering a space of incubation for choreographers to collaborate with our dancers as the creation takes form. This allows for an enriching process and unencumbered dance on stage.”

This season Vitacca Ballet has ten company members. The company offers a 34-week contract on par with the nation’s largest dance organizations. Vitacca Ballet prides itself on supporting the development of the Texas arts scene by offering a home and supporting income to artists from across the globe. Founded in 2020 Vitacca Ballet is a creation-based repertoire company in the Houston area. As the pandemic brought artists home to Houston, Ms. Vitacca strived to keep artists employed, and the Houston arts scene alive with project-based work. This experience laid the framework for the launch of Vitacca Ballet in 2021.

“I am motivated by the support Vitacca Ballet has received in the four seasons since its inception. Houston’s passionate arts community has allowed for Vitacca Ballet to grow as a leading organization ensuring the future of professional contemporary ballet with seasoned dancers in the greater Houston area,” comments Ms. Vitacca. “We have also broadened our reach to different cities in Texas and the United States.”

Vitacca Ballet’s 2024/2025 company roster includes Nikolas Darrough, Ava Dempster, Elissa Fonesca, Jordan Hooks, Joshua Ponton, International Guest Khen Kurulkar, Maddie Medina, Melody Mennite, Coltin Snyder, and Aidan Wolf.

Vitacca Ballet is a proud to be a fiscally sponsored project through Fresh Arts. This allows tax-deductible donations to be made toward Vitacca Ballet’s vision and artistic growth.

For more information about Vitacca Ballet, visit www.VitaccaBallet.org. 

 Vitacca Ballet FEM4 Information

Tickets: $30-$60 www.VitaccaBallet.org

 Dates & Times: Friday, November 1 + Curtains & Cocktails 7:30pm and Sunday, November 3 2:00pm

Description: A bit taboo and wildly relevant, Vitacca Ballet’s FEM4 features three world premieres by unique women choreographer voices leading breakthroughs in the international dance industry. Headlining the evening are choreographers Micaela Taylor, Cherice Barton, Beth Twigs, and Tina Kay Bohnstedt. Ms. Bohnstedt’s remount of audience favorite, In an Apartment, rounds out the evening. All four works were created on Vitacca Ballet and developed locally in the Montrose/River Oaks area studio.

Production Note: World Premiere by Barton is adult in nature featuring mature language via voice overs.

Venue: Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Zilka Hall
800 Bagby St #300, Houston, TX 770

Questions: Contact Vitacca Ballet at 713.205.0355 or Info@VitaccaBallet.org

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