Vitacca Vocational School For Dance

week is upon us and we are elated for Vitacca Ballet & School for Dance Soloist, Melody Zhang to take the stage this week! Please join us as we applaud Melody for her dedication and artistry! We are so proud! Take a moment to learn more about Melody’s journey below. Toi toi toi Melody 💜

About Melody ✨
For 8th-grader Melody, the rhythm of life lies in the balance between two demanding worlds. While many know her for maintaining a place on the High Honor Roll every trimester or her focused presence on the school’s debate team, her heart has long belonged to the ballet studio.

Training 20+ hours a week is a commitment that goes beyond mere practice; for Melody, it is a lesson in discipline and quiet dedication. After reaching the YAGP Finals for the first time in 2023, she encountered a challenge familiar to many young dancers: a significant growth spurt.

This period of physical change was a quiet test of patience. With longer limbs and a new center of gravity, Melody had to relearn her own body essentially. Rather than becoming discouraged, she approached this “rebuilding” phase with the same analytical resilience she brings to her studies—patiently strengthening her coordination and finding her footing once again.

Today, Melody is honored to return to the YAGP Finals. Her journey is not defined by the accolades she receives, but by the perseverance she showed when the path became difficult. Through her training at Vitacca Ballet School & School for Dance, her love for the art form and dream of becoming a professional dancer continue to deepen with each season. Melody is especially elated to represent her hometown of Houston at this year’s Houston YAGP Finals alongside so many inspiring young artists from around the world.

Today we celebrate ALL of the incredible mothers of Vitacca Ballet.

Thank you for the endless hours spent driving to rehearsals, preparing costumes, cheering from the audience, and offering those comforting post-performance hugs. Your love, sacrifice, and unwavering support help make your dancer’s journey possible.

It truly takes a village, and we are so grateful to walk alongside you as part of our artistic family.

Wishing all of our Vitacca mothers a beautiful, restful, and joy-filled day. Happy Mother’s Day! You are all goddesses in our book. 💜

Photo: A rather windy, oceanfront evening with Vitacca Houston Studio Company Mom’s of .ballerina .ponder

We welcome Guest Teacher, Gustavo Ribeiro this week!

Mr. Ribeiro, Brazilian-born principal guest artist, choreographer, and director, has performed internationally with companies including Washington Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet.

With a repertoire spanning Balanchine, Robbins, and Kylián, he is also a certified educator and sought-after coach whose students have excelled at Prix de Lausanne, YAGP, and UBC.

Founder of the Grande Prêmio Internacional de Dança, and UBC panel judge, he continues to shape the next generation of artists worldwide.

Welcome Mr. Ribeiro!

August 2026

Vitacca Ballet introduces a refined approach to classical training,
where mentorship, individualized coaching, and professional pathways align.

Rooted in over a decade of developing artists, our Classical Coaching Program expands into a cohesive, program-wide offering designed for dancers pursuing competitive, collegiate, and professional futures.

Training Pathways include:
— Continuum Path
▪️Prepatory for advanced ages 9 to 11
▪️Pre-professional for advanced ages 12 to 14
▪️Professional for advanced ages 15+
— Curated Path
▪️ For advanced community dancers ages 9-19 seeking supplemental training

A standard of training that extends beyond the studio - cultivating artists, shaping careers, and connecting dancers to opportunity.

▪️ Audition required. UPCOMING AUDITION April 19. Limited acceptance per path. Video submissions accepted while program positions remain.

Inquiries: [email protected]

The Vitacca Ballet Summer Intensive offers 5+ weeks of exceptional training, and we’re thrilled to continue announcing this summer’s faculty.

Mr. Muñoz began his career with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1972, followed by Ballet Internacional de Caracas and Hartford Ballet. In 1980, he was appointed Artistic Director of Ballet del Zulia, leading the company and school to critical success while establishing his legacy as a teacher and coach.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from him and many other inspiring artists this summer.

Final Summer Intensive audition: April 19. Video audition submissions open through June 1. Register in advance.

Honored to represent Houston on the international stage at Finals.

We are incredibly proud of our dancers for the professionalism, artistry, and heart they brought to every moment within studio and stage last week. It was a beautiful representation of the work, discipline, and passion that lives within our Vitacca artists.

A special congratulations to Melody Zhang, who placed in the highest Top 20 (Junior Division) among an elite pool of pre-professional dancers from around the country ✨

We also celebrate Tatum Farmer, Amaris Ponder, and Melody Zhang for receiving multiple scholarships and training opportunities from prestigious institutions—an exciting reflection of their dedication and potential.

Thank you to for providing this platform where young artists can be seen, challenged, and inspired.

And to our Vitacca families - thank you for your continued belief in our vision and mission. It is an honor to mentor and guide these dancers as they grow into the next generation of artists.

The Vitacca Ballet Summer Intensive offers 5+ weeks of exceptional training, and we’re thrilled to continue to announce this summer’s faculty including, Ana Moreira, Vitacca Ballet Faculty.

Ms. Moreira brings a wealth of professional experience to our studios, having danced with Ballet Nacional de Cuba under the direction of prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from her and many other inspiring artists this summer.

Final Summer Intensive audition: April 19. Video audition submissions open through June 1.
Register in advance.

Finals week is upon us!

✨Focused. Prepared. Ready. We are honored to lead our dancers through this prestigious and demanding experience.

Congratulations .ponder .ballerina we can’t wait to watch you represent Houston and shine on stage!

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