Author: artsair

International arts writer/critic for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Dance Reviews 2021

Verb Ballets gives all in Jam-packed ‘Going Solo’

Verb BalletsGoing SoloDigital Stage ProductionFebruary 26, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Popular catch phrase, “make it work,” used by fashion guru Tim Gunn of Television’s Project Runway was often uttered to motivate the show’s designer contestants to overcome obstacles in the creation of their works. Verb Ballet’s has seemingly also adopted that mantra in overcoming the obstacles presented to the company by the current global … Continue reading Verb Ballets gives all in Jam-packed ‘Going Solo’

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Press Releases

DANCECleveland Names Sarah Sumbrum New Artistic Director

(Cleveland, Ohio – April 13, 2021) – DANCECleveland announced the appointment of Sarah Sumbrum as Artistic Director. This newly created position will be responsible for curating the organization’s programming, including its annual world-class performance series.   Sumbrum has been with DANCECleveland for over a decade in many positions that most recently have include Marketing and Associate Artistic Director.   Pam Young, the Executive and Artistic Director for … Continue reading DANCECleveland Names Sarah Sumbrum New Artistic Director

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Press Releases

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Mobile Stage debuts Open Air Series at Schenley Park

By Katie Drozynski Over 20 local performing arts organizations will be part of the two-week series May 18-31, 2021. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – PITTSBURGH, PA (March 24, 2021) – After a year of darkened theaters Downtown, Pittsburgh’s performing artists are stepping out into the light. Thanks to a new mobile stage purchased by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT), they will debut an “Open Air” series … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Mobile Stage debuts Open Air Series at Schenley Park

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Press Releases

OZ Arts Nashville Announces Premiere of PRISM, a Live Theatrical Performance for a Socially Distanced Audience

BY BRI CARLESIMO The vast OZ Arts Warehouse is transformed for this live performance experience featuring original choreography by Nashville’s David Flores and original music performed live under the direction of George Miller Nashville, TN – March, 2021 – Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville today announced that performances of PRISM, a provocative installation experience created for a physically distanced audience in a vast creative warehouse, will take place … Continue reading OZ Arts Nashville Announces Premiere of PRISM, a Live Theatrical Performance for a Socially Distanced Audience

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Dance Reviews 2021

Prejudices, Curiosities and Sexual Power Explored in Cincinnati Ballet’s Latest ‘Kaplan New Works Series’ Production [REVIEW]

Cincinnati BalletThe Kaplan New Works SeriesDigital Stage ProductionFebruary 25-28 & March 5-7, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Like the classic late 1970’s Heinz Ketchup commercials featuring Carly Simon’s song “Anticipation,” dance fans, because of the global pandemic, have been anxiously anticipating new programming from their favorite dance artists. For fans of Victoria Morgan’s Cincinnati Ballet, that new programming came in the form of this past … Continue reading Prejudices, Curiosities and Sexual Power Explored in Cincinnati Ballet’s Latest ‘Kaplan New Works Series’ Production [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

Daring ‘To The Pointe’ Opens Milwaukee Ballet’s 2020-21 Season in Style [REVIEW]

Milwaukee BalletTo The PointeOn Demand Digital Stage ProductionFebruary 25 – March 7, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Coming on the heels of a year disrupted by pandemic, Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink made the bold decision to open the company’s 2020-21 season with a program of challenging classical ballet works. Not fearing dancer technique rust from the sporadic training schedules that have been the … Continue reading Daring ‘To The Pointe’ Opens Milwaukee Ballet’s 2020-21 Season in Style [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2020

PNB’s Rep 2 Highlighted by Lang’s Brilliant ‘Ghost Variations’ [REVIEW]

Pacific Northwest BalletRep 2Digital Stage PerformanceNovember 12-16, 2020Reviewed by Steve Sucato Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Rep 2 digital stage production began with a “Five Minute Call,” a short film by principal dancer Dylan Wald. The film was a candid, behind-the-scenes look at PNB company members and musicians preparing to perform Rep 2. Most entertaining were scenes of dancers goofing off in the dressing rooms and hallways … Continue reading PNB’s Rep 2 Highlighted by Lang’s Brilliant ‘Ghost Variations’ [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

EVIDENCE makes it clear; Choreographer Ronald K. Brown is the King of Smooth [REVIEW]

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCELivestream – The Joyce Theater, New YorkFebruary 18, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Brooklyn-based Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE’s livestream performance from The Joyce Theater Thursday night was like many pandemic produced programs these days in that it was a collection of mostly solos and duets. A continuation of the company’s 35th anniversary celebration, the program nonetheless left a lasting impression of award-winning choreographer Ronald … Continue reading EVIDENCE makes it clear; Choreographer Ronald K. Brown is the King of Smooth [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2020

Verb Ballets: ‘Carnival Macabre’, ‘Building Bridges Together’ [REVIEWS]

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Carnival MacabreVerb Ballets with Neil ZazaVirtual PerformanceOctober 30, 2020 Created as a stand-in for Verb Ballets and guitarist Neil Zaza’s popular One Dark Night…, A Rock Symphony of the Macabre (2019), Carnival Macabre (2020) was a made for the internet short film seeking to capture the spirit of One Dark Night’s Halloween rock symphony live show. The October 30 pay-to-view virtual … Continue reading Verb Ballets: ‘Carnival Macabre’, ‘Building Bridges Together’ [REVIEWS]

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Airings

Pivoting and Pitfalls: BalletMet’s Edwaard Liang Talks Programming a New Season in a Time of Pandemic

By Steve Sucato With uncertainty being the underlying theme of 2020, Columbus, Ohio’s BalletMet has taken a wait and see approach to announcing its new 2020-21 dance season. While many ballet companies in the U.S. have given into the inevitability of having to conduct their seasons in the virtual world and have announced their new season, BalletMet artistic director Edwaard Liang and staff have chosen … Continue reading Pivoting and Pitfalls: BalletMet’s Edwaard Liang Talks Programming a New Season in a Time of Pandemic

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