Vitacca Ballet

▪️26.27 Season Performing Artist Announcement▪️ Vitacca Ballet is delighted to welcome back Melody Mennite to the stage this season

Melody is a Principal Dancer who performed with Houston Ballet for 23 years and now performs internationally as a freelance guest artist. Alongside her performing career, she has simultaneously built an accomplished career as a choreographer, creating more than 22 commissioned works since 2011 for companies and organizations including Kansas City Ballet, Houston Ballet, AVID, Vitacca Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Lake Tahoe Dance Collective, a commission this season for Cincinnati Ballet and HSPVA and Kingwood Dance Theatre, among others.

In 2015, Melody co-founded REACH with fellow Houston Ballet artists Oliver Halkowich and Connor Walsh, a choreographic initiative producing evenings of world premieres while raising funds for arts education in underserved schools. Following the success of REACH, the collaborators created What We Keep for Houston Ballet in 2018. Melody was also the choreographer, lead actor, and dancer in the award-winning short film Self Sabotage.

In addition to her creative work, she practices as an integrative somatic trauma therapy practitioner, bringing a holistic and embodied approach to movement, wellness, coaching, and artistic collaboration. Melody is also a black belt in Chinese martial arts. She’s happy to return back to Houston this Fall and take the stage at the Miller Outdoor Theatre

Image: Ashkan Roayaee

▪️26.27 Performing Artist Announcement▪️Vitacca Ballet is excited to welcome Robbie Moore to the stage this season

Robbie, originally from Los Angeles, California grew up dancing from age six in Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing but and Visual Arts.

In 2010, he was named Presidential Scholar in the Arts and graduated from the Juilliard School in 2014. Robbie toured internationally with L.A. Dance Project, under the direction of Benjamin Millepied, from 2015-2017. In 2019, Robbie moved to Belgium to work for Eastman - Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Robbie joined Opera Ballet Vlaanderen as a demi-soloist in 2019. While there he worked with Damien Jalet, Marina Abramović, Johan Inger, Alexander Ekman, Alan Lucien Øyen and Trisha Brown Dance Company. He currently resides in Houston working as a freelance dancer, Pilates instructor, movement coach and choreographer. Robbie works as Guest Artist with Houston Contemporary Dance Company and continues to work with Eastman on various projects. Robbie takes the stage with Vitacca Ballet this season in October at the Miller Outdoor Theater.

Image: Tati Vice Tati

▪️26.27 Performing Artist Announcement▪️Vitacca Ballet is pleased to welcome Avery Alley this season

Avery’s dance journey began at Vitacca Ballet, where she trained for five formative years under Phillip Broomhead, Tina K. Bohnstedt, Fara Sciulli-Bowen and Kelly Ann Vitacca developing a strong foundation in classical and contemporary technique before continuing her training at Orlando Ballet Academy.

Avery’s professional work began with American Repertory Ballet as Apprentice. During her time with ARB she performed roles within Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Don Quixote, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Spirit of the Highlands. Notable performance experience includes Odile in Act III of Swan Lake, Kitri in Act I of Don Quixote, Little Swans and corps de ballet in Swan Lake Act II, the Wilis in Giselle, Paquita Act III and Wedding Pas, along with numerous corps roles in The Nutcracker.

Avery also holds an Associate of Applied Science. She brings a wealth of versatility and artistry back to her home city. We are proud to welcome Avery back to where her journey began!

▪️26.27 Performing Artist Announcement▪️ Vitacca Ballet is delighted to welcome the return of Nikolas Darrough this season

Nikolas Darrough is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher from Medford, Oregon. He discovered his passion for dance at the age of 17 while attending Crater Renaissance Academy of Arts and Sciences before continuing his training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, as a recipient of the Betsy Friday Endowed Scholarship.

During his time at UNCSA, Nikolas performed a diverse repertoire spanning multiple genres. His notable performance credits include Oceans by Igal Perry, First Impulse by Claudia Schreier, Vital Ground by Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Dreamland by Mariana Oliveira.

Following graduation, Nikolas spent three seasons with Vitacca Ballet under the artistic direction of Kelly Ann Vitacca, performing works by acclaimed choreographers including Garrett Smith, Ethan Colangelo, Robyn Mineko Williams, and many others. He is currently based in Houston, where he works as a freelance performer, choreographer, and teacher.

Alongside his performance career, Nikolas continues to cultivate his choreographic voice. His original works have been presented at festivals in both Texas and North Carolina, as well as through Vitacca Ballet’s “Creation House” productions.

Nikolas is excited to return to Vitacca Ballet for its October concert, and looks forward to helping cultivate another performance of exceptional dance in Houston.

Image Allison Canales