Singer and songwriter Solange Knowles can soon add ballet composer to her impressive list of accomplishments.
The New York City Ballet announced Monday that Knowles, 36, is composing music for its Fall Fashion Gala, making her the first Black woman to have composed a score for a production. The event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, will debut on Sept. 28 at Lincoln Center in New York City. It will honour actor Sarah Jessica Parker, the ballet’s vice chair.
Knowles, a Houston native whose yet-to-be-titled production includes choreography by Gianna Riesen, shared the news Tuesday on Twitter.
“Very excited to announce I’ve composed an original score for the New York City Ballet,” Knowles tweeted.
After its premiere during the Fashion Gala, the production will be staged later on Oct. 1, 8, 11 and 16 and next year on May 2, 11, 13, 17 and 18. Tickets start at $38 and are available on the New York City Ballet website.
Solange Piaget Knowles was born on June 24, 1986, in Houston, Texas, to Mathew Knowles and Tina Knowles. Her older sister is singer Beyoncé Knowles. Her father, originally from Alabama, is African American, and her mother, originally from Texas, is an African American of Louisiana Creole heritage.
Her maternal grandparents are Lumis Beyincé and Agnéz Deréon, a seamstress. She is also a descendant of Acadian leader Joseph Broussard. Knowles was raised Catholic until the age of four when her family became members of a Methodist church.
As a child, she studied dance and theatre. At the age of five, she made her singing debut at Six Flags AstroWorld, a theme park in Houston. She began writing songs at the age of nine. At 13, she decided to pursue recording, but her parents initially advised her to wait. During Destiny’s Child‘s opening stint for Christina Aguilera‘s 2000 tour, Knowles temporarily replaced member Kelly Rowland after she broke her toes backstage during a costume change. At the age of 15, Knowles replaced a departed dancer and performed with the group on tour.
At age 16, Solange Knowles released her first studio album Solo Star (2002). Between 2004 and 2007, Knowles had several minor acting roles, including the direct-to-video Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) and continued co-writing music for Beyoncé and former Destiny’s Child group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
