How it started
Artistic Director and Choreographer Stephen Mills started his Ballet Austin career in 1986 as a dancer for the company. In 2000, Mills was named the lead choreographer and has since played an impactful role in the Austin community through dance.
In his 24 years of directing, Mills has played a part in productions such as "Belle, A Tale of Beauty and the Beast," "The Nutcracker" and "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."
The impact
Ballet Austin’s version of "The Nutcracker" has taken shape over the course of time with dance alterations and updated costume design, he said.
“Some people have grown up with this dance since they were quite young and some of our audience members have been coming for 30 to 35 years,” Mills said. “The most important thing to me is to honor the way [audience members] use dance as part of their holiday experience and make sure it’s as welcoming and pretty as can possibly be.”
For the 2023-2024 season, about 40,000 community members attended a showing of the production.
Dig deeper
Mills draws creative inspiration from his own taste in dance style and the work of choreographers across the world. He said he aspires for his creative choices to expose audiences to the broad range of elements that make up dance.
“Dance isn’t one thing,” Mills said. “It’s not just ‘The Nutcracker.’ It’s a myriad of other things and expressions. My goal is always to help people on their journey to understanding that.”
Check it out
In addition to its performances, Ballet Austin offers workshops and classes for dance and fitness for adults. The nonprofit's Ballet Austin Academy features dance classes of various styles for ages 15 months and up.
The 62nd annual production of "The Nutcracker" will feature 15 performances from Dec. 6 to Dec. 23 at The Long Center. As the longest-running production of the classic in the state of Texas, over two million people have attended the production’s performances in the last six decades, as stated in a news release.
- 501 W. Third St., Austin
- www.balletaustin.org
