Stevenson Changing Roles At Houston Ballet - Brief Article

Dance Magazine, May, 2001 by Marene Gustin

Artistic Director Ben Stevenson (winner of a 2000 Dance Magazine Award) decided to scale back his Houston Ballet duties, and after a tumultuous few days the Ballet announced he would become co-artistic director in July.

In the middle of his twenty-fifth anniversary season, and just two weeks prior to the company's ballyhooed tour to his native London, Stevenson surprised many by resigning his post as artistic director effective June 30. He announced his decision to the executive committee on February 26 and asked to stay on in a capacity that would keep him in the studio and out of the boardroom. First the company announced that Stevenson would remain on as artist-in-residence, but then it was decided that he would share co-artistic directorship duties with Trinidad Vives, assistant to the artistic director since 1998. The 65-year-old Stevenson said he'd simply grown tired of "the stuff that makes the clock go round." In his new role, he'll continue to teach and choreograph without the interruption of administrative duties and fund-raising.