Houston Ballet II to perform classic, contemporary pieces at SUNY Oswego

The internationally touring Houston Ballet II -- one of the nation's premier second companies -- will provide a "rare treat" for Central New Yorkers as it performs a diverse range of classic and contemporary works at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, on SUNY Oswego's Waterman Theatre stage.

From the classic "The Sleeping Beauty" to "Joplin," a neoclassical work by the Houston Ballet's artistic director, Stanton Welch, Houston Ballet II's program promises to showcase what Playbill calls "the crème de la crème" of rising professional dancers.

The company has toured in North, South and Central America, plus Europe and Asia, and intends to dazzle an audience in Oswego just as it has internationally, said Miranda Traudt, director of the college's Artswego arts presentation organization.

"It is a rare treat to have the Houston Ballet II travel and perform in a city the size of Oswego," Traudt said. "Furthermore, it is the first time in over 10 years that Artswego has presented a ballet company as part of its performing arts series. It's definitely something you don't want to miss."

Besides "Wedding Pas de Deux" from "The Sleeping Beauty" and Welch's piece set to the ragtime music of Scott Joplin, the program to date shows, among others, Ilya Kozadayev's neoclassical "Molto Espressivo" and Welch's contemporary "A Dance in the Garden of Mirth."

"Not only will the mixed repertoire highlight various technical and artistic abilities of the dancers, but will also showcase favorite classics while introducing us to something new," Traudt said.

The fifth-largest ballet company nationally, the Houston Ballet places top apprentices with a second company to develop technically and artistically through performance experience, providing opportunities to dance leading roles in varied repertoire and represent the city of Houston and its ballet in an educational capacity.

At SUNY Oswego, Houston Ballet II will present a master class the morning of March 24 for 30 students from the college and local dance studios.

Tickets for evening's performance are $25 ($5 for any student) and are available at all SUNY Oswego box offices, online at tickets.oswego.edu or by calling 315-312-2141. Parking is including in the price of a ticket and is available in the employee and commuter lots in front of Culkin Hall and behind Hart and Funnelle residence halls.

People with disabilities needed assistance in order to attend should call 315-312-2141 in advance of the performance.

For more information about performing and fine arts presentations at SUNY Oswego, visit oswego.edu/arts.