Cleveland Ballet’s Lauren Stenroos Takes Her Final Bows As A Company Dancer In ‘Handel’s Messiah’ [INTERVIEW]

By Steve Sucato* After a 20-year professional performance career, Cleveland Ballet’s Lauren Stenroos is retiring from the company as a dancer this weekend, following the company’s performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Cleveland Chamber Choir and BlueWater Chamber Orchestra at KeyBank State Theatre in Cleveland.  A Bath, Ohio native, Stenroos began her dance training at Nan Klinger’s Excellence in Dance and the Cuyahoga Valley Youth … Continue reading Cleveland Ballet’s Lauren Stenroos Takes Her Final Bows As A Company Dancer In ‘Handel’s Messiah’ [INTERVIEW]

Alexei Ratmansky Ballet to Feature in BalletMet’s ‘For the Love of Dance’ [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Hot off the heels of their memorable performances of Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan in February, BalletMet continues its 48th season with For the Love of Dance, March 20-28, 2026, at the Davidson Theatre at The Riffe Center Theatres in Columbus. The mixed-repertory program features a world premiere and two Columbus premieres, including renowned Russian-Ukrainian-American choreographer Alexei Ratmansky’s “Seven Sonatas.” Ratmansky, the former … Continue reading Alexei Ratmansky Ballet to Feature in BalletMet’s ‘For the Love of Dance’ [PREVIEW]

Ballet Excel Ohio Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New ‘Aladdin’ Ballet [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based Ballet Excel Ohio, formerly Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this weekend with the world premiere of choreographer Erich Yetter’s Aladdin at Akron Civic Theatre.  Founded in 1975 by the late Nan Klinger, the pre-professional ballet troupe grew out of Klinger’s widely respected Excellence in Dance Studio. Now led by Artistic Director Mia Klinger, Nan’s daughter, … Continue reading Ballet Excel Ohio Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New ‘Aladdin’ Ballet [PREVIEW]