Houston Ballet is proud to announce the premiere of the filmed ballet, Elapse, now available for streaming on Marquee TV. Elapse marks a historic moment as the company’s first ballet choreographed by a Chinese choreographer, Disha Zhang, marking her first work in the U.S. This production was made possible by the generous underwriting of Anne and Albert Chao.
As part of Houston Ballet’s mission to inspire a lasting love and appreciation for dance through artistic excellence, exhilarating performances, and innovative choreography, Elapse is a reflection of the company’s commitment to making ballet more accessible. The film explores the passage of time through movement, offering an evocative and thought-provoking experience for audiences worldwide. This production represents a significant step toward bringing Houston Ballet to national and international audiences, elevating its presence on the global stage, and ensuring that its performances reach beyond the theater.
“The filming of Elapse is a significant milestone for Houston Ballet, as it is a meaningful way to share our artistry with a global audience,” said Julie Kent, Artistic Director at Houston Ballet. “Marquee TV’s platform allows us to expand access to ballet and introduce new viewers to the depth and beauty of our work.”
It is Houston Ballet’s first collaborative filming effort since Ghost Dances (1991) and represents a bold step toward bringing ballet to the digital space. Elapse is set to launch across all platforms the week of March 10, ensuring timely delivery to Amazon within the 30-day requirement. The film will be available to stream for free with a Marquee TV subscription.
"The team at Marquee TV is very excited to be working with Houston Ballet in our shared mission to introduce the joy of dance to a global audience and to enable that audience to enjoy this wonderful premiere," said Susannah Simons, Director of Performing Arts at Marquee TV.
With this launch, Houston Ballet aims to expand its digital presence, making high-caliber performances more accessible to audiences around the world. The company plans to continue exploring new opportunities in digital storytelling and streaming to engage dance lovers everywhere.
About Houston Ballet
With over 50 years of rich history, Houston Ballet has evolved into a company with a budget of $37.6 million and an endowment of $97.5 million (as of June 2023), making it the country’s fourth-largest ballet company. Its $46.6 million state-of-the-art performance space, the Houston Ballet Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance opened in April 2011. In addition, Houston Ballet's reach is global, touring theaters in Dubai, London, Paris, Moscow, Spain, Montréal, Ottawa, Melbourne, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Tokyo and more.
Australian choreographer Stanton Welch AM has served as Artistic Director of Houston Ballet since 2003. Welch has choreographed 43 new works for Houston Ballet during his tenure while ensuring the growth of the Company’s repertoire by presenting works from George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, John Neumeier, and Jerome Robbins. Welch continues the legacy of Houston Ballet being a choreographic Eden by commissioning over 30 works from world-renowned choreographers including Aszure Barton, Trey McIntyre, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Justin Peck. Julie Kent joined Welch as Artistic Director in 2023, after serving as Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet from 2016 – 2023 and following a storied career as a Principal ballerina of American Ballet Theatre - the longest-tenured dancer in ABT’s 85-year history. Executive Director James Nelson serves as the administrative leader of the organization, a position he assumed in February 2012 after serving as the Company’s General Manager for more than a decade.
Beyond its stage presence, Houston Ballet maintains a strong foothold in continuing to foster a love for dance in future generations. Its Education and Community Engagement program reaches more than 85,000 individuals in the Houston area annually. Houston Ballet Academy trains more than 1,000 students every year, producing more than 60 percent of the extraordinary artists that comprise Houston Ballet’s current Company. For more information on Houston Ballet, visit houstonballet.org
About Marquee TV
Marquee TV is the global streaming platform for arts and culture. Home to hundreds of performances from the world’s leading arts organizations, Marquee TV offers an expertly curated selection of ballet, opera, theater, classical music, dance, visual arts, and documentaries. Available on multiple platforms including iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire, Marquee TV is described by the Financial Times as the ‘Netflix for the arts.’ Learn more at https://marquee.tv/.