Who we are
Founded in 1973, Houston Ballet Guild has supported Houston Ballet, its Academy and special programs with passion and dedication for more than 50 years. We are committed to furthering the awareness of the art of ballet. And membership has its privileges!
The primary purpose of the Guild is to support the programs, projects, mission and performances of Houston Ballet and its Academy through active volunteer service and financial contributions.
The amazing women and men of Houston Ballet Guild love to celebrate the creativity of ballet. And we are social too! Our members enjoy a rich calendar of events, and there’s something for everyone. The Guild ensures that its members have a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the nation's fourth-largest ballet company.
Click here to view Houston Ballet Foundation's Mission and Diversity Statements.
Events
Guild events are diverse and exciting. These include the incomparable Nutcracker Market, world-class performances by Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet II, intimate gatherings, exclusive in-studio meet and greet evenings, community engagement programs, annual trips, and much more!
Why do you love ballet?
For the classic and beautiful lines of the ballerinas?
The exceptional, inventive choreography?
The stunning and colorful sets and costumes?
The passion, drama and sheer beauty of the performances?
Members of Houston Ballet Guild love ballet
for all these reasons and more!
Officers & Board
OFFICERS
President Renee Humphrey
President-Elect Michelle Iversen Jeffery
Vice President Membership Amber Westman
Corresponding Secretary Cynthia Wolff
Parliamentarian Michelle Maresh
Recording Secretary Michelle Seymour
Treasurer Leslie Alston
BOARD
Bravo Events Traci Bocock • CC Conner • Gayle Kinnie • Christine Sofka
Communication/Social Media Gay Currie • Alison Farb
Directory Brenda Clem • Richard Clem
Fall Kickoff Wendy Burks • Jackie Eubank • Gaylon Gullquist
HBII Birthday Celebrations Nkoyo Essien
Host Committee Cynthia Brown • Jan DeCoux • Abimbola Farinde • Sally Miller • Susan Osterberg • Marilyn Ragsdale • Pam Staples • Jana Stiffel • Adriana Vargas
Houston Ballet Academy & ECE Support Susan Binney • Jennifer Kushner • Mark Loveland • Dannika Simpson
Houston Ballet Docents Leslie Alston • Sharon Roark • Michelle Seymour
Houston Ballet Student Matinees Ann Bean • Traci Bocock • Jean May
Houston Ballet Wortham Boutique Sales Ann Bean • Brian Flaherty • Kristine Flaherty
Houston Ballet Wortham Boutique Workshops Marcie Bristol • Kristine Flaherty • Helen L.- Toombs
Member Recruitment Sarah Davidson • Jacqueline O'Connor • Tracey Williford
Members Trip TBD
Membership Renewal Dede Aronack-Loughran • Carol Howes • Eileen Murphy
Needles En Pointe Casey Rowe
New Member Events Megan Kessler • Paige Trahan • Camille Wieprecht
Nutcracker Market Chairman Katrina Arnim
Nutcracker Market Chairman-Elect Megan Kessler • Tracey Williford
Social Events Mary Bonura • Carol Brant • Tua Burke • Cindy Cook • Joan Dunlap • Dottie Erwin-Legendre • Denise Malone • Liz Schlotzhauer • Rhonda Smith
Special Advisors Ann Bean • Susan Binney • Wendy Burks • Mignon Gill • Jennifer Kushner
Spring Coffee Cecilia Campbell • Jeannie Chandler • Elba Villarreal
Tutu Times Newsletter Susan Inger
JOANNE ISAACMAN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The 2024 Joanne Isaacman Award of Excellence honored C.C. Conner. This award is given annually to a Guild member who best exemplifies the qualities of commitment, dedication, generosity of spirit and sensitivity as demonstrated by Joanne Isaacman in her years of volunteer service to the Guild.
C.C Conner came to Houston Ballet in 1995, bringing a professional background in law and several years managing Chicago's Joffrey Ballet. Under his leadership, Houston Ballet retired its accumulated deficit, quadrupled the company's endowment, and oversaw the building of the Center for Dance. During his 17-year tenure, C.C. organized 12 National and International tours. Those tours greatly raised the company’s artistic profile. Following his retirement in 2012, C.C. continued in an advisory capacity as Managing Director Emeritus.
But this is not why we honor C.C. We honor him because even in retirement, he continues to volunteer and be an active member in the Houston Ballet Guild. He is a very active member of the Docent Committee giving tours of the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance, co-chairs the Bravo Events committee and puts together fabulous experiences for Bravo members, and has been a long time member of the Market Entry committee for the Nutcracker Market. C.C. is never afraid of rolling up his sleeves and doing whatever needs to be done - whether it is serving food to summer intensive students or taking tickets at Nutcracker Market Entry. His dedication to Houston Ballet has continued as a Guild volunteer.
Recently he co-authored a book on the history of Houston Ballet and is a Sugar Plum co-chair for this year's Nutcracker Market.