Houston Ballet is pleased to present George Balanchine’s Jewels, three distinct works creating a unified evening of dance, often hailed as the first plotless full-length ballet.

Inspired by Claude Arpels’ jewelry, the program takes a multi-faceted look at Romantic, classical, and neo-classical ballet. Each act has a distinct style that matches with scores by three of ballet’s most renowned composers, Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Emeralds feature dancers in clouds of tulle floating on stage, evoking France, the birthplace of Romantic dance and French style. Rubies reflect the carefree spontaneity of American culture, with choreography that dazzles the audience with jazzy movement and the joy of dance. Diamonds evokes the grandeur and precision of the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg with classical elegance, honoring the work and legacy of famed choreographer Marius Petipa.