Houston Ballet Academy boosts profile with new director
Look for Houston Ballet Academy’s already strong international profile to grow another notch when new director Madeleine Onne arrives next summer.
Onne brings decades of experience as a performer and leader to the 61-year-old academy, which trains more than 1,000 students annually.
She was a principal dancer of the Royal Swedish Ballet from 1984-2002, then served six years as that company’s artistic director. A native of Stockholm, Onne is one of only five women to have received the title of “Dancer of the Swedish Royal Court” from King Carl XVI Gustaf.
In 1996, she founded an offshoot of the Royal Swedish Ballet, Stockholm 59 Degrees North, which has appeared in Houston during the annual Dance Salad Festival.
Onne is currently the artistic director of Hong Kong Ballet, which has embarked on 12 tours to China, Japan and North and South America during her tenure. She also has commissioned new ballets for Hong Kong Ballet and significantly expanded its repertoire, working with leading choreographers such as Alexei Ratmansky, Nacho Duato, Fei Bo, Nils Christie, Krzysztof Pastor and Christian Spuck.
Her experience bodes especially well for Houston Ballet II, the junior company chosen from the academy’s top-level students. HBII, as it is popularly called, maintains a busy touring schedule and has its own repertoire of dances, some of which are commissions.
Houston Ballet artistic director Stanton Welch said Onne will bring “an exciting new outlook” to the organization and its academy.
“I can think of no better person to continue the academy’s high standard of educational and artistic excellence,” he said. “Our students will benefit greatly under her guidance and coaching.”
Onne replaces Shelly Power, who is leaving to become artistic director and CEO of the Prix de Lausanne organization.
“The positive, educational atmosphere that Stanton and his team have created makes it clear — Houston Ballet is my new home,” Onne said.
Students from across the world attend the school, especially during its summer sessions. The older ones are hoping for a leg up into Houston Ballet, but getting to that level is still extremely competitive.
Recent star student Madison Young, who placed second in Switzerland’s prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition this year, will appear as an apprentice with Houston Ballet during the 2016-17 season.