GHWCC, through the efforts of the Women Driving Arts Education Committee, arranged for internationally acclaimed ballet dancer Lauren Anderson to give a Ballet Talk to students at the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA) in March. Lauren Anderson was first African American Principal Ballerina in a major company in the United States, and one of the few African American ballerinas at the head of a major ballet company anywhere in the world. She performed leading roles in all the great classical ballets, appearing across the world to tremendous critical praise, becoming one of the ballet world’s most beloved stars. She now serves as Associate Director of Houston Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement department where conducts master classes at area schools and lectures to students on dance and her historic career.
Houston Ballet has developed a series of Ballet Talks, each developed around a different story ballet. Lauren’s Ballet Talk to the YWCPA students was about the beautiful ballet Romeo and Juliet. Lauren interacted with the students, discussing the art of dance as displayed through the story of Romeo and Juliet. Lauren guided the students through the ballet by showing video clips of a Houston Ballet stunning production of this beloved ballet, accompanied by her explanations and commentary. Prior to the Ballet Talk, the girls had studied Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet play in depth from the perspective of literature with their English teacher Leo Aguilar, so they were very well prepared for Lauren’s presentation.
After Lauren’s presentation, there was a lively discussion with the students. Theresa Einhorn, a past co-chair of the GHWCC Women Driving Arts Education Committee, attended the presentation, and she reports that the students loved Lauren Anderson and the entire room was full of enthusiasm and excitement! Many thanks to Committee Chair Sandra Porter for her work in arranging the event, and to Lauren Anderson for her inspiring and beautiful presentation and for serving as an inspiring role model for the girls!
The mission of the GHWCC Women Driving Arts Education Committee is to bring the performing and visual arts, and education about the business of the arts, to underserved students in HISD schools. Membership in the Committee is open to all GHWCC members. In addition, all GHWCC members are also invited to support the Committee by joining the Committee’s philanthropic arm, the 100 Women Driving Arts Education Council. To contribute to the Council and became a Council member, use this link: