Raising the Barre

Raising the Barre, welcomed 200 patrons to Houston's upscale eatery, Caracol, on April 28, 2024. Houston Ballet Company dancers acted as muse and sous chef to top Houston chefs, including Caracol’s own Chef Hugo Ortega of H-Town Restaurant Group, Chef Chris Williams of Lucille’s, Chef Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn, and Pastry Chef Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar. With the help of Houston Ballet Company dancers Skylar Campbell, Eric Best, Zoe Lucich, and Kellen Hornbuckle the pairs delivered a truly one-of-a-kind menu to eager patrons. This year, Chef Chris Shepherd of Southern Smoke Foundation took on a new role. Acting as wine sommelier, Chef Chris paired delicious wines with the unique courses of the evening.

This sold-out event raised over $110,000 to support Houston Ballet’s mission to inspire a lasting love and appreciation for dance. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and special thanks to Raising the Barre Co-Chairs Roslyn & Derrick Mitchell and Heidi & Marcus Smith for their incredible leadership and support.

Photo by Melissa Taylor Design and Photography 

Didn't make it to the event?

Please consider making a gift in support of the Raising the Barre or in honor of sponsoring a dancer or chef.  Your generous contribution supports Houston Ballet’s mission to inspire a lasting love and appreciation for dance through artistic excellence, exhilarating performances, innovative choreography, and superb educational programs.