How First Soloist Harper Watters Creates Neighborhood at Houston Ballet

Naturally drawn to bounce from a younger age, Harper Watters additionally sought out a way of group all through his coaching. The one boy enrolled at his native studio in New Hampshire, Watters ultimately enrolled at Walnut Hill College for the Arts, which introduced him to a life-changing audition for Houston Ballet’s summer season intensive on the age of 15. “I did a variety of auditions, however Houston Ballet was the one one which I laughed in, and it was the one one the place I linked with the trainer, Claudio Muñoz, who ended up being my second firm director,” remembers Watters. “I’d all the time been craving group and feeling like I may flip the quantity up on who I used to be as an individual, and I felt that within the audition,” he explains. “I knew, it doesn’t matter what stage I used to be positioned in, Houston was going to supply me one thing that I wanted.”

Now in his thirteenth season with Houston Ballet, Watters, who was promoted to first soloist in 2021, has discovered himself able to assist create a way of belonging for others. He began a video sequence, “The Pre-Present,” in 2015. “I used to be beginning to peel again the curtain on what it was to be a classical ballet dancer, and I used to be breaking the mildew and shifting peoples’ perceptions of what a classical ballet dancer appears to be like like, who they love, how they act, what pursuits them,” he says. That generally known as for dancing in sky-high heels on a treadmill, and different instances shining a light-weight on the work of Black, queer dancers Watters has been impressed by. “If I authentically share the work that I’m placing into the roles I’m dancing, and the dancers who encourage me, and the issues that I like, then my hope is that possibly that conjures up others to advocate for themselves or different individuals who want it.”

The Preliminary Spark:

“My love of dance really began from watching the Olympics and seeing Dominique Dawes on the steadiness beam. After which one of many first presents my dad and mom obtained me was the New York Metropolis Ballet manufacturing of The Nutcracker with Macaulay Culkin on VHS. That impressed me to placed on little reveals in my front room, and the curiosity about dance and what it was led me to taking lessons.”

An Eye-Opening Second:

“My dad was an English professor on the College of New Hampshire, and we might go see the touring firms that carried out there. When the Alvin Ailey second firm got here, that was a giant second for me as a result of I had cherished dance, I had obsessed over dance, however I had by no means seen anyone the best way that I regarded dance. It felt pure to say, ‘Oh, I’ve to be a contemporary dancer, and that’s the place I’m alleged to be,’ however I feel that’s considerably limiting. The second that I got here to Houston in 2009, that’s when classical ballet felt attainable, as a result of I felt like I had one foot within the door.”

A Memorable Half:

“I had by no means actually thought I used to be a prince or embodied what a prince was, so the journey of dancing my first Prince in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker was a giant second for me. It’s additionally a fantastic alternative to guide a ballet, and I used to be promoted to demi-soloist throughout that point.”

A Dream Function:

“Roles like Romeo which might be of the human expertise and also you’re coping with loss and telling a narrative, they had been fairly intimidating to me. However having danced in and type of touched on roles which might be very character-driven lately, I’d love to bounce Romeo in Romeo & Juliet.”

A Piece of Historical past:

“Each time I revisit Stanton Welch’s Clear, I uncover new issues. I’ve danced it with expensive associates like Chun Wai [Chan], and now I’ve danced it with Naazir [Muhammad] and Eric Finest in New York. With Julie [Kent], who originated the position, now being our co-director, it’s actually particular to have her within the studio working with us.”

His Pre-Efficiency Routine:

“I was somebody, due to my age, the place I may form of stroll into the present and simply hit it. However over the previous few years, I actually need to get my physique prepared for what it’s about to do, and Pilates has been a giant a part of my routine. I love to do it within the morning, and if we’ve reveals, I’ll go in about two hours earlier than and do my Pilates heat as much as actually set my physique up.”