Houston Ballet proudly presents the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance, a one-night-only event that celebrates the artistry, history, and future of one of the country’s leading ballet companies. This year’s performance takes on special significance as it marks the final celebration of former Executive Director James Nelson, who is now retired after more than a decade of visionary leadership.
A treasured Houston tradition for 20 years, the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance showcases Houston Ballet’s extraordinary dancers who bring the Company’s legacy to life while spotlighting the promise of rising stars. Each piece has been thoughtfully curated to reflect the vitality, versatility, and vision that define Houston Ballet under the artistic leadership of Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM.
“The Jubilee of Dance is a beloved Houston Ballet tradition—a night where we celebrate the spirit of our Company, our dancers, and the community that supports us,” said Sonja Kostich, Executive Director at Houston Ballet. “This year’s program captures both the depth of our repertoire and the excitement of what’s ahead as we honor the remarkable contributions of my predecessor, James Nelson.”
This season’s Jubilee of Dance will feature exhilarating excerpts from Houston Ballet’s repertoire, including:
Act I
Raymonda – Act III Opening Scenes, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Onegin – Act I Bedroom Pas de Deux, choreographed by John Cranko
Rooster – Paint It Black, choreographed by Christopher Bruce
Tapestry – Second Movement, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux – Excerpts, choreographed by George Balanchine
Flames of Paris – Excerpts, choreographed by Vasily Vainonen
Sylvia – Act III Pas de Deux, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Sons de L’ame – Movement Five, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Vi et Animo – Third Movement, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Act II
Echoes, choreographed by Ilya Kozadayev
Dream a Little Dream, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Act III
Theme and Variations, choreographed by Stanton Welch AM
Each Jubilee is an opportunity to witness excerpts of the previous seasons and a sneak peak into what’s to come. Additionally, it’s a chance for audiences to enjoy the revival of rarely seen works pulled from the vault, including Vasily Vainonen’s Flames of Paris, to premieres by emerging choreographers like Ilya Kozadayev who will be debuting his work Echoes with the Houston Ballet Company. And to celebrate James Nelson’s retirement with the Company, Welch has choreographed a special piece to “Dream A Little Dream.”
The Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance is a joyous, fast-paced evening that commemorates Houston Ballet’s rich legacy while spotlighting its promising future.
Performance Details
Jubilee, December 5, 2025
Generously underwritten by Kent and Shara Schaffer.
Schedule: Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Wortham Theater Center
501 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002
Tickets: Visit www.houstonballet.org
ABOUT HOUSTON BALLET
Founded in 1969, Houston Ballet is the fourth-largest ballet company in the U.S., known for its artistic excellence, bold choreography, and exceptional training programs. Under the leadership of Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM, and Executive Director Sonja Kostich, the Company operates with a $44 million budget (FY26) and a $126 million endowment (as of October 2025). In April 2011, it opened the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance, a $46.6 million-dollar state-of-the-art training facility. The Company regularly performs in the Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas, and tours internationally to cities such as London, Tokyo, Paris, and Tokyo. Additionally, its Education and Community Engagement programs reach more than 85,000 people annually, while the Houston Ballet Academy trains over 1,000 students each year, with a majority on scholarship. For more information on Houston Ballet, visit houstonballet.org/explore/history.
PHOTO CREDITS JPG:007A5344-EditHouston Ballet Soloist Jacquelyn Long and Artists of Houston Ballet in Theme and Variations. Choreography by George Balanchine, © The George Balanchine Trust. Photo by Amitava Sarkar(2025). Courtesy of Houston Ballet.