Terry Gross

Dr. Zahi Hawass (ZA-hee HA-WAAS), Director of excavations at the ancient cemetery at Bahariya Oasis, 200 miles outside Cairo. Known as “the Valley of the Golden Mummies,” this area in Egypt has yielded over 100 mummies just in the last year. Hawass will talk about these recent archaeological discoveries. Hawass also lead the teams that discovered the tombs of the workmen who built the pyramids. His new book is called “Valley of the Golden Mummies” (Harry N. Abrams Inc.) Hawass is currently a visiting professor at University of California at Los Angeles.

Principal dancer for the Houston Ballet, and the first African-American to be a principal dancer, Lauren Anderson. She began studying at the ballet’s academy at the age of 7, and working with Stevenson at the age of 11 when he was hired by the ballet. Stevenson choreographed “Cleopatra,” for her.

Artistic director for the Houston Ballet, Ben Stevenson. He’s been with the ballet for over 25 years, turning it into a premiere dance company. The New York Times’ dance critic said of Stevenson, (he) “is one of the most original figures in the development of regional ballet in America.” Stevenson’s own choreography for the Houston ballet include the full length works: “Swan Lake,” “Cinderella,” “Peer Gynt,” “Dracula,” and “Cleopatra.” Stevenson is a native of Britain.