1) Stage mask: Nelson, a former Houston Ballet dancer himself, wore this custom mask to a gala for the company.

2) Travel trinkets: Nelson’s space is adorned with souvenirs from the company’s tour to China in 1995, including a pot and a stone carving he picked up at a market in Beijing.

3) Dance mobile: The kinetic piece of hanging art actually belongs to former Houston Ballet artistic director Ben Stevenson. “Ben left it here, and when he came back, he said, ‘That’s mine.’ I told him I’m just keeping it for him.”

*Not pictured: Houston Ballet promotional posters for past engagements in Hong Kong, Spain and Russia.