the third kind [is] useless

the third kind [is] useless

This ballet was inspired by Machiavelli's book, The Prince. It is an abstract narrative neoclassical ballet done in four movements or scenes to Gabriel Prokofiev’s String Quartet No. 1. The audience follows a Prince who has irrational fears of being abandoned by his subjects. It is gothic, theatrical and ironic in its stylistic presentation.

Set to the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, Epic Short is based on the classical ballet vision scene of The Sleeping Beauty. It explores Karl Jung theory within fairy tales and the process of individuation.

Commissioned for Houston Ballet, Hough focused on using the dancers’ extremely clean technique and execution as the inspiration for much of the vocabulary. Sharp and simple, with, at times, intricate musical phrases. Using classical mime and sign language, as well as the use of coming through and going back into the theatrical “fourth wall” were other inspirations for the work.

Steeped in symbolism, the ballet is a mix of classic stage ideas and contemporary ballet moves. The backdrop, designed by Olav Ryland Myrtvedt, is a simple mountain scape painted on canvas with dancers rolling down the mountain side and disappearing into it. The challenging music of Tchaikovsky drives the piece heavy handedly as the well known story quickly unfolds.

“There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.”

-Niccolo Machiavelli

“There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.”

-Niccolo Machiavelli

Short clips from rehearsals

Short clips from rehearsals

Creative team

Creative team

Choreography and Concept
Melissa Hough

Music
Gabriel Prokofiev’s String Quartet No. 1

Costumes
Monica Guerra

Choreography and Concept
Melissa Hough

Music
Gabriel Prokofiev’s String Quartet No. 1

Costumes
Monica Guerra

Dancers
Connor Walsh
Kelly Myernick
Megumi Takeda
Katelyn May
Christopher Gray
Jim Nowokowski
Derek Dunn
Rhodes Elliott
James Gotesky
Linnar Looris
Shahar Dori
Jacquelyn Long
Soo Youn Cho

Duration
15 minutes

Premier
Houston Ballet, 2013

Dancers
Connor Walsh
Kelly Myernick
Megumi Takeda
Katelyn May
Christopher Gray
Jim Nowokowski
Derek Dunn
Rhodes Elliott
James Gotesky
Linnar Looris
Shahar Dori
Jacquelyn Long
Soo Youn Cho

Duration
15 minutes

Premier
Houston Ballet, 2013