

‘Nina-isms’ highlight Cleveland Ballet’s Masterclass with Legendary Ballerina Nina Ananiashvili
By Steve Sucato The week before Nina Ananiashvili’s State Ballet of Georgia’s U.S. tour began, the former Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Houston Ballet star came to Cleveland to fulfill a promise she made to friend Gladisa Guadalupe to teach a masterclass for her Cleveland Ballet. Ananiashvili and Guadalupe became fast friends after meeting as jurors at the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition in 2019. … Continue reading ‘Nina-isms’ highlight Cleveland Ballet’s Masterclass with Legendary Ballerina Nina Ananiashvili

With Steady Growth, Ballet Arkansas Is Making Its Presence Known in Little Rock and Beyond
By Steve Sucato for Pointe + Magazine With roots that can be traced back to 1966, Ballet Arkansas has had an off-and-on history as a professional dance company. During a period in the 1980s, the company had some paid dancers and an academy, and it presented tours by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, Miami City Ballet, and others. “But it was really in 2009 that the organization affirmed … Continue reading With Steady Growth, Ballet Arkansas Is Making Its Presence Known in Little Rock and Beyond

Grand Rapids’ Romeo & Juliet: James Sofranko’s first full-length story ballet [REVIEW]
By Steve Sucato for Dance International Magazine The crown jewel in Grand Rapids Ballet’s 50th anniversary season, artistic director James Sofranko’s Romeo and Juliet, was decidedly a traditional classical ballet take on Shakespeare’s famous tale. The three-act production plus epilogue, the first full-length story ballet the former San Francisco Ballet soloist has choreographed, premiered on February 17 at home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the DeVos Performance Hall. … Continue reading Grand Rapids’ Romeo & Juliet: James Sofranko’s first full-length story ballet [REVIEW]