001.3 - Houston Thomas

001.3 is a deeply personal work by choreographer Houston Thomas, commissioned by the New York Choreographic Institute as part of his ongoing creative journey with the institute. For Thomas, this ballet serves as both a homecoming and a meditation—a chance to revisit the movement language he’s cultivated over years, as if stepping back into an unfinished conversation.

The piece unfolds like a living journal, blending Thomas’s signature musicality with introspective choreography that highlights the dancers as much as the steps themselves. His approach is collaborative, almost conversational, inviting the performers to imprint themselves on the work just as he does.

Our role in 001.3 was to give form to this dialogue through costume. Having worked with Thomas before, we understood the fluidity and intention behind his movement, allowing us to create designs that moved with the dancers—never restricting, always enhancing. The garments balanced structure and spontaneity, much like the choreography itself, ensuring the dancers’ artistry remained at the forefront.

This project marked another chapter in our creative partnership with Thomas, one where familiarity allowed for subtle innovations. The costumes became an extension of the ballet’s themes: continuity and evolution, past and present.

Like 001.3, our contribution was both a reflection and a progression—proof that the most meaningful collaborations are those that feel like coming home.

Production Credits

Choreography: Houston Thomas

Music: Johannes Goldbach 
Dramaturgy: sarah lunnie.  
Featuring dancers of New York City Ballet: Olivia Bell, Meaghan Dutton-O’Hara, Kennard Henson, Alec Knight, KJ Takahashi, Emma Von Enck
Film & Trailer: Quinn Wharton