Vitacca Ballet presents LAUNCH at Miller Outdoor Theatre 

LAUNCH BY VITACCA BALLET JUNE 6 AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE

Launch into your Summer with Vitacca Ballet!
All performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are FREE!

HOUSTON, TEXAS [May 22, 2025]: Vitacca Ballet’s LAUNCH at Miller Outdoor Theatre on June 6, 2025, at 8:30pm is an evening of contemporary ballet exploring the essence of embarking on new artistic journeys, inspired by discovery, adventure, and change. Combining classical ballet with contemporary ideas, it evokes wonder, excitement, and introspection.

“Fresh off its 2024 title as “Best Dance Show” by Texas Arts & Culture Magazine, Vitacca Ballet is more than just a dance company—it’s a movement. With its fearless blend of classical technique and contemporary storytelling, Vitacca is redefining ballet for the next generation.” Houston Style Magazine, 2025

LAUNCH is a curation of internationally renowned choreographers, Garrett Smith, Ethan Colangelo, Hélène Simoneau plus Houston native, Alana Jones. This evening’s curation features the dynamic professional dancers of Vitacca Ballet and ensures to deliver the highest quality of performance. Also, to be seen, the Vitacca Ballet Studio Company in an original work by Ilya Kozadayev and featuring 2025 Prix de Lausanne Candidate, Aubrey Daniels. With the acclaim of “Standout Performance” from Pointe Magazine, Vitacca Ballet is a rare Houston gem not to be missed.

Vitacca Ballet shares dynamic contemporary ballet performances under Artistic Director Kelly Ann Vitacca. Driven by creation and a progressive ballet lens, Vitacca Ballet nurtures appreciative and curious audiences by contributing entertaining, approachable, and thought-provoking dance works to the Houston arts scene and beyond.

This is a ticketed event for the covered seating area. Free tickets are available (4 per person over age 16 while they last) from our website one day prior to the performance starting at 10:00 AM through noon the day of the show, or until tickets run out. We always reserve plenty of tickets available for in-person pick up at the box office, which opens an hour before the show starts. As always, open seating on the hill. Our shows go on rain or shine!

For more information on tickets and seating visit milleroutdoortheatre.com.

All performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

About Vitacca Ballet’s Success 

Vitacca Ballet is ranked amongst the most prestigious companies in the country. Most recently named “Best Dance Show” of 2024, by Texas Arts & Culture Magazine. Additionally, 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 elated 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 incapsulates 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 with invitations to perform coast to coast.” 

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. 

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Vitacca Ballet LAUNCH Performance Information
Tickets: All performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are FREE!

This is a ticketed event for the covered seating area. Free tickets are available (4 per person over age 16 while they last) from our website one day prior to the performance starting at 10:00 AM through noon the day of the show, or until tickets run out. We always reserve plenty of tickets available for in-person pick up at the box office, which opens an hour before the show starts. As always, open seating on the hill. Our shows go on rain or shine!

Date & Time: Friday, June 6, 2025, 8:30pm

Venue: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030

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

Vitacca Ballet Sponsors
Dance Source Houston, general operations
Fractured Atlas, fiscal sponsor
Funding from the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board

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