In preparation of launching a company of professional dancers, The Houston Foundation for Ballet hired Nina Popova, to serve as Artistic Director. Using her students, students from other local companies and securing Carla Fracci & Erik Bruhn from American Ballet Theatre, they mounted what would become Houston Ballet‘s first full length production: Giselle. That was in 1967. Popova continued into the next year selecting and training dancers, and in February 1969, The Houston Ballet launched their first season.
This year — 50 years later — Houston Ballet opened the season with Giselle, and soloist Bridget Kuhns and Ballet Master Amy Fote sat down to discuss the challenges and joys of dancing this historic story ballet.
