During the 1950s,[1] Houston Ballet Academy was established under the leadership of Tatiana Semenova, a former dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
[citation needed] Shelly Power has been the Academy's director.
[4] Children age seven and older may audition for admission into Levels 1-8 of the Main School program.
Students follow a structured sequence of training stages designed to increase their technical skills, stamina and discipline in accordance with their age and physical development.
Houston Ballet II (HBII) is the top level and pre-professional division of the Academy, and students attend daily class taught by instructors from both the Academy and the Houston Ballet company.