From September 5 – 15, Houston Ballet launches it 44th season with Four Premieres, featuring three world premieres and the American premiere of Christopher Bruce’s Intimate Pages. Choreographer Melissa Hough has been hard at work in the studios on her new piece, …the third kind [is] useless. For this week’s blog, Melissa takes time out from rehearsals to explain the sources of inspiration for her ballet.
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Ballet: …the third kind is useless; Dancers: Connor Walsh and Artists of Houston Ballet; Photo: Amitava Sarkar
1.) Tell us about the music you chose for your new work. Who is the composer? Why were you drawn to this particular piece of music?
Melissa Hough: The music I chose is String Quartet No. 1 by Gabriel Prokofiev, grandson of Sergei Prokofiev! I was drawn to this music because of its edginess, rhythmic intricacy and dark sense of humor (all attractive qualities to me).
2.) How many dancers are in your ballet? Does it have a specific structure, with different movements?
Melissa Hough: The ballet is 15 minutes long and has 4 movements. I am using 13 dancers and 4 musicians to create mayhem Image may be NSFW.
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3.) What type of movement vocabulary are you using for your new work? Neoclassical? Contemporary? Will the ladies be on pointe?
Melissa Hough: I am using a wide range of vocabulary. Each movement is completely different from the next, so I used emotional themes to create the style for each movement. There is a bit of a story that goes with my ballet and the arc of the story is what ties it all together. I have everything from a la seconde turns and double tours to the moonwalk and conga!
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Melissa Hough at Houston Ballet; Photo: Amitava Sarkar
4.) Tell us about your choreographic process. Do you enter the rehearsal hall with the steps choreographed in advance and a firm conception of what you want the ballet to look like when it’s finished? Or do you begin working with the dancers with no fixed idea in mind, open to the inspiration of the moment and what comes from your collaboration with the dancers?
Melissa Hough: My process is a little different each time. Often it has to do with how much time I will have to work in the studio. For this particular piece, I knew exactly how many hours I would have to initially create it, which was really helpful! I worked on the concept and story for a long time on my own prior to starting with the dancers. All the steps, however, were made in the moment and then worked and tweaked up over time.
5.) Tell us about the title of your work. Where does it come from? What does it mean?
Melissa Hough: The title is a fraction of a quote by Niccolo Machiavelli, whose work has been a big inspiration for this piece. He talks about how there are three kinds of intelligence and…….the third kind is useless.
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Ballet: …the third kind [is] useless.; Costume Sketch by Monica Guerra
6.) Are there any specific ideas or themes that you are exploring in …the third kind [is] useless.?
Melissa Hough: Containment, auto phobia, the use of classical mime and power.
7.) Is there anything else that you would like the audience to know about …the third kind [is] useless.?
Melissa Hough: I am hoping I’ve created something that is intriguing and interesting. Watch it with an open heart and having had caffeine prior to sitting in your seat because the ballet moves very quickly!
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To learn more about the other works on Four Premieres, running September 5 – 15, watch this video interview with Stanton Welch and
Christopher Bruce about the program. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: http://www.houstonballet.org/Ticketing_Schedule/Season_Calendar/Four_Premieres/
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
