For immediate release

BLOOM! An evening that roots in fan-favorites & blossoms with a sneak peek at Flower Shop!

April 15, 2026—Ventana Ballet & Austin Camerata till the soil of the Austin arts scene and plant the seeds of a brand-new evening-length work entitled, Flower Shop. Though the world premiere of Flower Shop is scheduled for its blossoming debut in September 2026, these local-favorite arts organizations plan to unfold some secrets and a sneak preview of the ballet at their short, three-show-only event, BLOOM!, which will take place at East Side Performing Arts on April 29th through May 2nd.

BLOOM! is a limited engagement, and if you’ve seen Ventana Ballet or Austin Camerata before, you know that these shows will assuredly sell out. The night grows from the roots of some of the co-company's most beloved works to something no audience has ever seen: Act I of Flower Shop, a brand-new ballet set to an original piano quartet by American composer Michael Alec Rose. Guests of BLOOM! will be among the first to experience this world premiere before its full debut in September 2026.

Ventana Ballet Director, AJ Garcia-Rameau shared, “We are extremely excited to share this new work, inviting the audience to step inside a flower shop where the flowers aren't quite what they seem. It will be an intimate evening of contemporary ballet, live strings, and piano—performed just feet away from our guests at the brand-new black-box theater space at East Side Performing Arts in East Austin.”

“It’s a wonderful honor to play Michael’s music again. We last played his music with Ventana Ballet for our premiere of BEAUTIFUL WORLD in 2022 at KMFA, and it was an exhilarating experience for artists and audience alike,” shared Austin Camerata’s Artistic Director, Daniel Kopp.

Ballet & live music, up-close, not pretentious. Three nights only. A full bar by Tito's Handmade Vodka. And a VIP reception where guests can meet the artists and hear directly from the composer after the show. Easter eggs and secrets revealed for those who plan dive in!

THE EVENING: 7:00pm - Doors Open | 7:30pm - Performance (15-minute intermission) | 8:45pm - VIP Reception & Composer Q&A

THE SHOW: ACT I: Highlights from the Ventana Ballet & Austin Camerata Repertoire Four works from across the collaborative eight-season history, featuring live cello, piano, and string quartet — from the haunting intensity of Schubert to the soaring energy of Vivaldi. | ACT II: A Sneak Peek at Flower Shop An exclusive first look at Ventana Ballet's next full-length ballet, Flower Shop, premiering September 2026. New choreography by AJ Garcia-Rameau. An original score by Michael Alec Rose. A story that starts in a flower shop — and goes somewhere you won't expect.

ONLY 3 SHOWS! Thursday, April 30th | Friday, May 1st | Saturday, May 2nd

TICKETS: Tickets available at 2026bloom.eventbrite.com| VIP* Front Row Seats [Yellow Zone] $50 | VIP* Bar-Height Stools [Green Zone] $40 | General Admission Seats [Blue Zone] $30 | Plus Sales Tax & Ticketing Platform Fee | *Yellow & Green Zone tickets include access to post-show VIP Reception. Additional VIP Reception tickets available!

WHAT TO EXPECT: This is an intimate, up-close experience — not a traditional theater setting. You'll be in the same room as the dancers and musicians, close enough to hear the breath and feel the movement. The bar (sponsored by Tito's Handmade Vodka) is open before the show and during intermission. The vibe is come-as-you-are — dress up and wear something floral & bright, if you'd like , but East Austin casual is perfect! Total runtime: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes (including intermission)

LOCATION & PARKING: East Side Performing Arts (ESPA) 979 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702 | Parking is available behind the building. Enter the lot near Black Feather Vintage, and drive around to the back. We recommend rideshare if you plan to enjoy the bar.

AGE INFO: The recommended ages for these evening-length performances of BLOOM! are 12 & up. However, those guests under age 12 are more than welcome to attend if they are comfortable remaining quiet & courteous for the duration of the 1-hour show.

THE ARTISTS: Dancers: Mariana Alonso, Roberto de Asís Cobos Cantú, Aidan DeWitt, AJ Garcia-Rameau, Lexi Garden, Isabelle Green, Rachael Hanlon, Shelby Higley, Jordan Miller, Brielle Tripke | Musicians: Jordan Bartel (Violin), Daniel Kopp (Cello), Sohee Kwon (Piano), Yung-Hsuan (Sandy) Lo (Violin), Alexander Smith (Viola) | Choreography, Production, & Lighting Design: AJ Garcia-Rameau, Executive Artistic Director of Ventana Ballet | Music Direction: Daniel Kopp, Artistic Director of Austin Camerata | Assistant Production: Daniel Kopp & Navaji David Nava

ABOUT VENTANA BALLET: Ventana Ballet is a professional contemporary ballet company in its 8th season in Austin, TX. Founded by AJ Garcia-Rameau, the company has produced sold-out original productions including KOMOREBI, UNDEAD, and ALLUVIUS. The word ventana, meaning window, embodies the company’s organizational mission and vision, seeking to provide artistically relevant, technically proficient, and publicly accessible dance performance and education opportunities to the community. Ventana Ballet’s mission is to inspire, entertain and educate audiences through disciplined and innovative approaches to presenting next-generation choreographic works as well as create fair-pay opportunities for performing artists and keep ticket prices accessible to the community. More information about Ventana Ballet can be found on the company website at VentanaBallet.com.

ABOUT AUSTIN CAMERATA: Since its founding in 2016, Austin Camerata has emerged as an ensemble leading the way in innovative chamber music performances in central Texas. Hailed for its “unadulterated beauty” by Austin360, Austin Camerata was nominated for “Best Classical Ensemble” by the 2018 Austin Critics Table. Dedicated to broadening the audience for chamber music, Austin Camerata performs an array of repertoire, from the most revered classical masterpieces to newly written, genre-defying works. Each season explores new possibilities for music to collaborate with different art forms. More information can be found at AustinCamerata.com

For more information:
Contact Name: AJ Garcia-Rameau
Phone Number: 512-522-1655
Email: info@ventanaballet.com
Website: www.VentanaBallet.com

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