The Nutcracker: Home for the Holidays

Ballet Austin's virtual version of the seasonal staple dances you closer to the magic than ever before

"...We could see the flowing grace in everything that Jaime Lynn Witts did: her rise en pointe, her lift..."

Dec. 25, 2020 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Nominees for the 2018-19 Austin Critics Table Awards Announced

The Critics Table's picture-perfect year

"...Culture Texas' Claire Christine Spera (dance); Broadway World Austin's Lynn Beaver (theatre), Frank Benge (theatre), Joni Lorraine (theatre), Lacey..."

May 13, 2019 Arts Post by Robert Faires

Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker

The company’s 56th run at this holiday classic retains its magic – enough beauty and wonder to transport you to enchanting realms

"...was delighted by the scampering mice who, in Judanna Lynn's rustic clothes and full-head masks, looked like they'd wandered..."

Dec. 14, 2018 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Ballet Austin's Masters of Dance

This triple bill of abstract works was a tribute to the piano and its range, excellently performed

"...symbiotic, matter of fact, purposeful. An extended duet between Jaime Lynn Witts and Oliver Greene-Cramer showcased exquisite partnering: sure,..."

Feb. 23, 2018 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Ballet Austin’s Alice (In Wonderland)

In which the young heroine grabs those wild wonderland reins

"...the heroine, danced wonderfully by the comic and earnest Jaime Lynn Witts, was gregarious but prim, in her blue..."

May 19, 2017 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Ballet Austin's Belle Redux: A Tale of Beauty & the Beast

In its striking concept and execution, Stephen Mills' take on the fairy tale was his most fully realized story ballet since Hamlet

"...by the Beast but from the attraction communicated by Jaime Lynn Witts' Belle and Edward Carr's Beast, an attraction..."

Feb. 17, 2017 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Movers & Shakers

A guide to Austin dance

"...Rosario and Erica Gionfriddo, now in its early stages Jaime Lynn Witts..."

Dec. 4, 2015 Arts Feature by Jonelle Seitz

Art Par Excellence

The nominees for the 2014-15 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...Ashley Lynn, Agon..."

May 20, 2015 Arts Post

Director's Choice

Jennifer Hart's first commission for Ballet Austin was this triple bill's highlight

"...Tucci designed the lighting). Left alone with Edward Carr, Jaime Lynn Witts gasped and let something fly from her..."

April 3, 2015 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Top 10 Kicky Linkups in 2014

This year, dance was all about the partnering – some of it unusual, all of it captivating

"...6) JENNIFER HART/ASHLEY LYNN/EDWARD CARR/A LARGE AREA RUG ("On Truth and Love," Performa..."

Jan. 2, 2015 Arts Feature by Jonelle Seitz

Agon and The Firebird

Ballet Austin put the moves on Stravinsky with this double feature

"...it's about sustaining that spirit. Aara Krumpe and Ashley Lynn Sherman each did that by developing individualized qualities: Krumpe's..."

Oct. 3, 2014 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Disagrees With Dance Reviewer

"...continue to enjoy the great performances by Aara Krumpe, Jaime Lynn Witts, James Fuller, and many others right here..."

May 19, 2014 Postmarks

The Sleeping Beauty

This classic's technical challenges were cause for concern, but Ballet Austin's staging boasted wonders as well

"...Bluebird pas de deux. And yet of all yets, Jaime Lynn Witts absolutely defined the role of Lilac Fairy...."

May 16, 2014 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Table Banquet

The nominees for the 2013-2014 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...Roll Along and the Rude Mechanicals’ premiere of Kirk Lynn’s Shakespearean reboot Fixing King John. (Since this author was..."

May 8, 2014 Arts Post by Robert Faires

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Astonishing comedic dancing by the enchanted lovers stole the show in this revival of Stephen Mills' Shakespearean ballet

"...Hermia, and Lysander. Stephen Mills' choreography – performed by Jaime Lynn Witts, Christopher Swaim, Ashley Lynn Gilfix, and Frank..."

Sept. 20, 2013 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Giselle

Several Ballet Austin dancers rose to the challenges of this classic of romantic ballet

"...the hapless girl jilted in Duke Albrecht's amusement-turned-nightmare, Ashley Lynn Gilfix was sweet, and in the second act among..."

May 17, 2013 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

The Rite of Spring

Ballet Austin's triple bill melded classicism, romance, and biology to striking effect

"...joy, but I can't say that the lead couple, Jaime Lynn Witts and Paul Michael Bloodgood, transcended the steps...."

Feb. 22, 2013 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

The Nutcracker

Ballet Austin's warm and decidely unstuffy production deserves to be a family holiday tradition

"...the Flowers, which is too bad because he missed Jaime Lynn Witts' playful and flirtatious Dewdrop weaving intricate patterns..."

Dec. 21, 2012 Arts Review by Dawn Davis Loring

The Taming of the Shrew

A real wedded couple illuminated the roles of Kate and Petruchio in Stephen Mills' well-loved ballet

"...Wedded couple Jaime Lynn Witts and Frank Shott, as Kate and Petruchio,..."

Oct. 12, 2012 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Top of the Line

The nominees for the 2011 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...I've Never Been So Happy, Kirk Lynn and Peter Stopschinski..."

May 27, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

La Sylphide

Ballet Austin's first brush with Bournonville showed his style suiting the dancers

"...as the sylph and Frank Shott as James. (Ashley Lynn Gilfix and Paul Michael Bloodgood performed the roles Saturday.)..."

Feb. 18, 2011 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Top 10 'It's Alive!' Moments in Dance, of Those Events I Happened To See in 2010

Recalling the times in 2010 when contemporary dance and ballet showed a pulse

"...choreographer as well as the versatility and generosity of Jaime Lynn Witts' dancing...."

Jan. 7, 2011 Arts Feature by Jonelle Seitz

Cuando los Disfraces se Cuelgan / Carmina Burana and Kai

Completeness from Delfos Danza Contemporánea, mixed results from Ballet Austin

"...In the lead female role, dancing with Frank Shott, Jaime Lynn Witts was lovely, strong, and fresh. The softness..."

Oct. 1, 2010 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Culture Class

The 2009-2010 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...Jaime Lynn Witts, Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project Ensemble..."

June 11, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

A Year's Cheers

The nominees for the 2010 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...Jaime Lynn Witts, Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project Ensemble..."

May 14, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

'Coppélia'

Stephen Mills programs this comic work to help develop Austin's ballet palate

"...role of Dr. Coppélius, the leads are double-cast: Ashley Lynn Gilfix with Frank Shott, and, with Paul Michael Bloodgood,..."

May 7, 2010 Arts Feature by Jonelle Seitz

New American Talent / Dance

Energy and choreographic craft keep this competition springtime fresh

"...A framework for the piece involves a near-nude Ashley Lynn Gilfix and Joseph Hernandez undulating as some sort of..."

April 2, 2010 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project

This triple bill wasn't all truth or beauty, but it was a good night at the ballet

"...she were trying to avoid contact with the music. Jaime Lynn Witts and Frank Shott were exceptions, and they..."

Feb. 19, 2010 Arts Review by Jonelle Seitz

Director's Choice/Evolution

In Director's Choice/Evolution, the side-by-side presentation of old and new dances by Ballet Austin's Stephen Mills and Gina Patterson revealed two creators maturing and deepening in their art

"...springtime exuberance, as with Anthony Casati sweeping a swooning Jaime Lynn Witts literally off her feet or Michelle Thompson,..."

April 7, 2006 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Swan Lake

As Ballet Austin danced through a mist of blue, 'Swan Lake' cast its spell once more

"...Siegfried's party: Spanish (Margot Brown and Eric Midgley), Italian (Jaime Lynn Witts and Paul Michael Bloodgood), and Russian (Anne..."

May 20, 2005 Arts Review by Ann Ciccolella