Since the onset of the pandemic, Houston Ballet Academy’s world-renowned faculty and staff have adapted and adjusted to ensure their students continue to receive exceptional ballet training. Get to know the individuals who work with these students and how they are prevailing during the ongoing crisis.
Meet the Artists
Melissa Bowman, Academy Director
At fifteen, Melissa Allen Bowman joined the Corps de Ballet of American Ballet Theatre, where she danced for seven years. She later joined the Bern Ballet in Switzerland and the Zurich Ballet with Uwe Scholz. Following Scholz to Leipzig, Germany, Bowman danced soloist and principal roles and became his associate director. She was an advisor for ABT’s National Training Curriculum committee, the Assistant Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT and Artistic Director of the ABT Summer Intensives. Learn more about her career at houstonballet.org.
Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon, Principal Pianist/Music Coordinator
A native of Chicago, Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon received her bachelor’s degree in Piano from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, and a double master’s degree in Piano Performance and Collaborative Arts from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. She was named Principal Pianist of Houston Ballet in 1995 and has also been a vocal coach and visiting artist professor of music at the Moores School of Music. While at Houston Ballet, she has also been featured as a soloist in many works.
Q&A with Melissa Bowman and Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon
In what ways will the adaptations the Academy has made help support them in the future?
Melissa: With all of the virtual adaptations we have made, we are able to continue classes and have the opportunity to reach a much broader group of dancers previously unable to attend classes. We held master classes this summer that reached a worldwide audience. This opportunity also gave a chance to review our curriculum and include classes and subjects that we have wanted to share with more of our students like films and dance history and discussions.
Katherine: One of the greatest challenges for the Academy has been adapting to teaching dance classes online. Both faculty and pianists were scrambling in March to learn the intricacies and issues of Zoom technology. It was while listening to Academy and Company pianists working to improve latency and distortion that the CTO of Northworks Technologies came up with the idea of a box to help with both. Over the following months the technology of the Synchrobox was developed and now the entire Academy and Company has it in use today. With this technology the Academy can continue to stream classes successfully to students around the world.
What has inspired you most during this time?
Melissa: The tenacity and creativity of our Academy. Everyone that stepped up to keep the Academy, dancers and staff alike. Watching the dancers take classes in all of their different situations really showed their incredible love for dance, and the staff were truly incredible in helping keep the school up and running.
Katherine: Watching the teachers of the Academy as they have not only learned new technologies, but also created a whole new language of teaching online.
What is one way you have adapted in the midst of this pandemic?
Melissa: I have been more aware of the time I have with people, online and in-person. Time is more valuable than ever when everyone is struggling with the pandemic.
Katherine: I have gone from being technically illiterate to someone who can record and edit audio and video and have become an expert about Zoom and the Synchrobox system.
What is your favorite part about being an accompanist with Houston Ballet Academy?
Katherine: Finding or creating the music that perfectly fits the rhythm and style of the combination the teacher gives – and seeing their smile as they hear it.
Why is it important for the students to continue their ballet training during this time?
Melissa: The pandemic won’t last forever, and it is important as artists to be ready to perform when it is safe to. Even in the pandemic, where in person classes are not an option, dancers can still grow and improve in their own spaces. This isn’t a break, but rather an opportunity to learn how to survive as artists during difficult situations.
How can people help support Houston Ballet Academy right now?
Katherine: Patience. As a parent of a student, understand that the Zoom/internet platform is under great strain because of the sheer number of users. Glitches will continue to happen. Nevertheless, the students are still learning, and the teachers are able to focus on smaller important details because of reduced space.
Melissa: Houston Ballet has set up a Crisis Relief Fund that people can donate to and share to help us as we navigate COVID-19 as safely as possible.
Help keep Houston Ballet Academy dancing by donating at give.houstonballet.org/academy.