I don't recall whether I knew that or not, but I do remember thinking that perhaps the ballet's famous outstretched arm is really a gesture to halt the wind. Now celebrating its 15th season, The Met's brand of high-octane energy easily blasts over the hillside. It's a great way for many people who wouldn't normally come to our other performances to get a chance to see us," says Marlana Walsh-Doyle, the Met's managing director. We turned to each other and said, almost at the same time, "We have got to get them to Miller.
So it's no surprise that Walsh-Doyle and I did a happy dance when we found out that the world-traveling company lands on the Miller Stage on July 2. For founder C. Brian Williams , it's not just a visit to Houston, but a trip home and Step Afrika's first main stage performance in Williams' own backyard. Step Afrika is the first professional company dedicated to this uniquely African-American art form, comprised of percussion footwork and chanting. Step dates back to , with origins in the Black Fraternity system.
We are the dance and we are the music, there's no recorded music used in our show. Step Afrika has performed at outdoor arenas all over the globe. Williams fully expects a lively exchange with the crowd.
Dancing in the great outdoors is also front and center because I' m packing my bags to return to Jacob's Pillow, where I will be a scholar-in-residence for a few weeks. I will also be visiting Houston Ballet artistic director Stanton Welch , while he creates a new work with the Ballet Program students for the Pillow's annual Gala.
The newly rebuilt Henry J. Leir Stage will be just buzzing with dance with free shows Wednesday through Saturday during the season. What a great way for families to be introduced to the art form. So many photos and films of famous dance folk there were taken outside.
