Houston Ballet on new co-artistic director: 'Ballet royalty and immensely talented'

Houston Ballet has named Julie Kent as co-artistic director, according to the company’s Facebook page.

The company added that Kent, who’s currently the artistic director of The Washington Ballet, is the first co-director in its history. 

“I am thrilled to announce that Julie Kent will be joining Houston Ballet as our first ever co-artistic director,” Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch said in the post. “Not only is Julie Kent ballet royalty and immensely talented — both as a dancer, coach, stager and teacher — but there is no one I would rather have as a partner to bring Houston Ballet into this next chapter."

According to Houston Ballet, Kent is a native of Bethesda, Maryland, and is the 83-year-old American Ballet Theatre’s longest-serving ballerina.

“Throughout her decorated career, Julie Kent has showcased her dedication not only to the mastery of ballet, creativity and expression, but also to propelling ballet forward into the 21st century and redefining the image of the American ballerina,” the post said.

In her three-decade tenure with the American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet said, Kent has performed in more than 100 ballets.

Per the En Pointe with Houston Ballet blog, company board president Kristy Bradshaw called the hiring of Kent a “bold strategic investment in our future.”

“Julie Kent is an icon of ballet, and we are excited for her collaboration with our own icon of choreography, Stanton Welch,” Bradshaw said in the entry. “We are confident that this partnership will elevate Houston Ballet further and usher in a new era of growth for our company.”

According to Kent’s biography on The Washington Ballet’s website, she has served as the company’s artistic director since July 2016.

She’s married to Victor Barbee, The Washington Ballet’s associate artistic director, and the couple are parents to two children, the website said.

Houston Ballet said Kent will assume her new position in July 2023.