Janie Parker
Former Principal Dancer with Houston Ballet.
Janie Parker danced professionally for 23 years, 3 with Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève in Switzerland and 20 with Houston Ballet. She has performed leading roles in many of the classics including Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Les Sylphides – as well as nearly 100 other pieces by contemporary choreographers, such as Balanchine, Stevenson, Robbins, Tomasson, Tetley, Hynd, Ashton, MacMillan, Tudor, van Manen and van Dantzig.
Ms. Parker was the first American to win a gold medal at the USA International Ballet Competition. After her win in 1982, she returned as a guest artist for the 1994 USA IBC Opening Ceremonies. In the full-length film produced at the 1982 competition, To Dance For Gold, she was seen worldwide and became a popular performer, dancing in Mexico, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Cuba, China, Japan, Indonesia, Chile and Guam. Parker’s career began in 1973 with Les Grand Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve, a Balanchine satellite company. Three years later, she became a soloist at the Houston Ballet. As a soloist and principal dancer with Houston Ballet from 1976 until 1996, Parker danced leading roles in all the classic works. During her career, she has danced before Princess Margaret, Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Grace, King Olav and Fidel Castro. She has also danced with the International Ballet Festival in Cuba and performed at the Sadler’s Wells Royal Gala. In 1998, she served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the sixth USA International Ballet Competition.
Since she retired from the stage in 1996, Ms. Parker has been coaching and resetting some of Mr. Stevenson’s ballets around the world as well as teaching pilates.
Return to 2008 Summer Intensive
Photo Credit
Dancer: Lonnie Weeks, Michelle LeBoeuf. Photo: Warren McCoy.