Houston Ballet names director

Stanton Welch, a 32-year-old Australian choreographer who most recently served as artistic associate at BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, will take over as artistic director of Houston Ballet in July.

Welch succeeds Ben Stevenson, who led the Texas company from regional to international prominence during his 27-year tenure.

Houston Ballet will dance a tribute to Stevenson at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston on Sunday. Welch has choreographed about 20 works. He was one of four choreographers who contributed to American Ballet Theatre’s new “Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison,” to be danced at the Orange County Performing Arts Center July 22-24.