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FOR RELEASE FEB. 1, 2010
CONTACT: SHAUNA TYSOR
KIM ESPINOSA
713 535 3226
pr@houstonballet.org
HOUSTON BALLET DANCER JOSEPH WALSH
PROMOTED TO SOLOIST
Houston, Texas -- Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch promoted Joseph Walsh to the rank of soloist dancer.
"Joseph is an impeccable dancer. He has beautiful technique, is very versatile, and a hard worker," commented Mr.Welch on his promotion of Mr. Walsh. "He auditioned for us in New York several years ago and right from the start, we knew he was a talented dancer who would develop and go far in our company. This promotion is especially great for the staff since we have watched him from the very beginning of his professional career."
"We promoted Joe after his consistent and strong performances of the Prince in The Nutcracker. He danced at an amazing level and even picked up extra shows," observed Mr. Welch. "In September 2009, he also had a beautiful debut as Des Grieux in Manon, which at his age is extraordinary, and in September 2008, he danced a wonderful Lensky in Onegin."
In August 2009 Joseph Walsh was awarded a prestigious Princess Grace Award by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. Mr. Walsh traveled to New York City for the glittering Princess Grace Awards gala in October, hosted by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Mr. Walsh joined a small group of five former Houston Ballet dancers who have won a Princess Grace Award. Previous Houston Ballet winners include Yin Le (1998), Carlos Acosta (1995), Tiekka Schofield (1988), Li Cunxin (1986) and Martha Butler (1984).
Of his recent accomplishments Joseph Walsh explains, "Last year was just absolutely amazing with both Princess Grace and now the promotion to soloist. I could not have asked for anything more and hope the new year brings new and exciting opportunities."
Originally from Pennsylvania, Mr. Walsh trained at Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, American Ballet Theatre and Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy. Walsh was a member of Houston Ballet II prior to joining the professional company in 2007.
Since then, Mr. Walsh has been featured in a variety of roles, both contemporary and classical, including Lensky in John Cranko's Onegin, Hans van Manen's Solo, Gopak in Ben Stevenson's The Nutcracker, Charles d'Artoise in Stanton Welch's Marie, first pas de deux in Antony Tudor's The Leaves are Fading, William Forsythe's The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, Jiří Kylián's Soldiers' Mass and the first and seventh pas de deux in Mr. Welch's Nosotros. Mr. Walsh will also perform a leading role in the company's upcoming production of Manon.
Reviewing Houston Ballet's performance of Welch's Swan Lake in Houston Artsweek in June 2009, dance critic Nancy Wozny observed, "Other standouts include Joseph Walsh as one of the Prince's friends. Walsh has had a great season and is most certainly one to watch."
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