Natalie Varnum, in red, with Houston Ballet dancers in front of the Dubai Opera House. Photo Courtesy Varnum.

Vlog Alert: Demi Soloist Natalie Varnum Takes Us Inside Houston Ballet's Tour to Dubai

November 1, 2018

Last week, Houston Ballet toured artistic director Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake to Dubai, making it the first American company to ever dance at the Dubai Opera House. Demi soloist Natalie Varnum covered this historic tour for Pointe through a series of vlogs, taking us from the long plane ride to harrowing camel rides to backstage shenanigans to opening night. Settle in and enjoy!

Part 1: Houston Ballet’s Tour to Dubai with Natalie Varnum
www.youtube.com

Part 2: Houston Ballet’s Tour to Dubai with Natalie Varnum
www.youtube.com

Part 3: Houston Ballet’s Tour to Dubai with Natalie Varnum
www.youtube.com

Part 4: Houston Ballet’s Tour to Dubai with Natalie Varnum
www.youtube.com

dubai dubai opera house harper watters houston ballet natalie varnum tour diary

Profiles

Abigail Brent stands onstage in sus-sous onstage. She holds her arms out to the side, bent at the elbows like a mechanical doll and kisses the air. She wears a red white and blue velvet jacket and short skirt, with a star-spangled cumberband, pink tights, pointe shoes and red crown. She also has red felt circles glued onto her cheeks. Young dancers sit on the floor and watch her dance.

Career

Washington Ballet Studio Company’s Abigail Brent Shares Her Typical Daily Routine

Linnea Swarting

Jonathan Klein holds Emily Hayes up in the air as she arches back, tucking her left leg into passé as she bends her right knee around his ribcage. She holds her hands close to her collarbone and looks out over her right shoulder. Hayes wears a long, blue polka-dotted dress with a large slit up the middle, a dark leotard underneath and pink pointe shoes. Klein wears a dark jacket and white tights.

Career

From Ballet to Business: Jonathan Klein and Emily Hayes Launch Their Own Skin Care Company

Kirsten Evans

Seth Orza performs in a tavern scene from the ballet Don Quizote. He jumps straight up, his right leg in passé back, and holds his right arm up and places his left hand on his left hip. He looks out over his left shoulder and smiles. Orza wears a white peasant blouse, short gray sleeveless vest, black cumberbund, red knickers and white tights and ballet slippers. A long table full of food is in the background, and other dancers sit and mill about. The set backdrop shows a Spanish city.

Career

How an Injury Led Seth Orza to Build a New Ballet Shoe and a Post-Performance Career

Marcie Sillman

Portrait of the choreographer Madame Mariquita seated at a carved wooden desk. Three dancers surround her, wearing white tutus. They are Natalia Trouhanova (left), Marthe Lenclud (to Mariquita's rear) and on the right, Regina Badet, leaning over the desk with her left leg raised in an arabesque.

Career

Rediscovering Madame Mariquita, the Prolific Choreographer Who Helped Modernize French Ballet

Caedra Scott-Flaherty

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!