- Ben Stevenson
Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., is a native of
Portsmouth, England , along with being a former ballet dancer with Britain'sRoyal Ballet andEnglish National Ballet , co-director ofNational Ballet inWashington, D.C. (1971-1975), artistic director ofHouston Ballet (1976-2003), and current artistic director ofTexas Ballet Theater (2003-present). Stevenson is most noted for his choreography for the "La Esmeralda Pas de Deux " (1982), which is today a repertory staple with ballet companies all over the world.Stevenson received his dance training at the
Arts Educational School in London. Upon his graduation, Mr. Stevenson was awarded the prestigious Adeline Genee Gold Medal, the highest award give to a dancer by the Royal Academy of Dancing. At the age of eighteen, Mr. Stevenson was invited to join the Sadler's WellsRoyal Ballet by DameNinette de Valois . A few years later, SirAnton Dolin invited him to dance with theLondon Festival Ballet , where, as a principal dancer, he performed leading roles in all the classics. [http://www.abt.org/education/archive/choreographers/stevenson_b.html]After choreographing "Cinderella" in 1970 for the
National Ballet inWashington, D.C. , he joined the company in 1971 as co-director withFrederick Franklin . That same year, he staged a new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in observance of the inaugural season of theJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. [http://www.abt.org/education/archive/choreographers/stevenson_b.html]In 1976, Mr. Stevenson was appointed Artistic Director of the
Houston Ballet , which he developed into one of America's leading ballet companies. During his tenure, he expanded the company's repertory by acquiring the works of the world's most respected choreographers, commissioning new works, staging the classics and choreographing original works. In 2003, he was named Director Emeritus ofHouston Ballet and the company's academy was renamed theBen Stevenson Academy . [http://www.houstonballet.org/Inside_Houston_Ballet/History/]In 2004, Mr. Stevenson accepted the position of Artistic Director of
Texas Ballet Theater inFort Worth, Texas . [http://www.texasballettheater.org/about/companyhistory.htm]
"In nature there's no blemish but the mind;"
"None can be call'd deform'd but the unkind:"
"Virtue is beauty; but the beauteous-evil"
"Are empty trunks, o'erflourished by the devil."
Mr. Stevenson has received numerous awards for his choreography, including three gold medals at theInternational Ballet Competition s of 1972, 1982, and 1986. In addition, he has staged his ballets for theEnglish National Ballet ,American Ballet Theatre , theParis Opera Ballet ,La Scala inMilan , theMunich State Opera Ballet , TheJoffrey Ballet ,London City Ballet ,Ballet de Santiago , and for many companies in the United States. [http://www.abt.org/education/archive/choreographers/stevenson_b.html]Notable work
Stevenson choreographed a new version of the "
La Esmeralda Pas de deux " for the dancers Janie Parker and William Pizzuto, who performed it for the first time on July 3, 1982 at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Steveson's choregraphy has since become the standard version of this piece, and is a repertory staple with ballet companies around the world.Another popular repertory which Stevenson rechoreographed is the "
Harlequinade Pas de deux ". His version was first performed at the Varna Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria by the dancers Christine O'Neal and Kirk Peterson on July 10, 1970. It is now danced by many ballet companies, though many opt to perform the traditional russian version.References
[http://www.abt.org/education/archive/choreographers/stevenson_b.html Ben Stevenson Bio at American Ballet Theater]
[http://www.houstonballet.org/Inside_Houston_Ballet/History/ Houston Ballet History]
[http://www.texasballettheater.org/about/companyhistory.htm Texas Ballet Theater History]External links
* [http://www.houstonballet.org Houston Ballet]
* [http://www.texasballettheater.org Texas Theater Ballet]
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