Author: artsair

International arts writer/critic for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Press Releases

Cleveland Public Theatre presents DanceWorks 2015, April 2 – May 3

By Cathleen O’Malley Cleveland, OH —Cleveland Public Theater’s Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present DanceWorks 2015, an annual showcase of contemporary dance. DanceWorks 2015 features six dance companies from the Northeast Ohio region, including Inlet Dance Theatre, MorrisonDance, The Movement Project, Cleveland Dance Exchange (CDX), Ohio Dance Theatre and Verb Ballets. Six companies premiere new work and revive popular performances, presented as single … Continue reading Cleveland Public Theatre presents DanceWorks 2015, April 2 – May 3

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Under its new dance chair, Conservatory Dance Company seems headed in a new direction

By Steve Sucato Audiences most often get a feel for a new dance-company director from his or her choices in repertory. In the case of Point Park University’s new dance-department chair, Rubén Graciani, an indication of the direction he’ll take the student dance company can be seen in the Conservatory Dance Company’s annual At the Byham program, in four performances March 20-22. Graciani has said … Continue reading Under its new dance chair, Conservatory Dance Company seems headed in a new direction

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Airings

Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘MOVEMEDIA I’ to feature new contemporary dance works by Sagi Gross, Gina Patterson and Andrew Bartee

By Steve Sucato For the fourth year running, Grand Rapids Ballet’s cutting-edge repertory series MOVEMEDIA returns to GRB’s own Peter Martin Wege Theatre. The first of two programs in the series, MOVEMEDIA I runs March 13-15 and will feature four works that stem from their choreographer’s personal experiences but also speak to universal themes of conflict, disappointment and reflection. The MOVEMEDIA series created by GRB … Continue reading Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘MOVEMEDIA I’ to feature new contemporary dance works by Sagi Gross, Gina Patterson and Andrew Bartee

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre offers 3 masterworks by 3 choreographic giants

By Steve Sucato If Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre‘s 45th-anniversary season were wine, it would be a vintage year: Every production is a most desirable bottle, none more so than PBT Premieres, to be performed with the PBT Orchestra, March 6-8 at the Benedum Center. The program of three masterworks by three choreographic giants ranks among artistic director Terrence Orr’s finest offerings in the 18 years he … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre offers 3 masterworks by 3 choreographic giants

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Cuban troupe Malpaso makes its Pittsburgh debut

By Steve Sucato The members of Havana’s Malpaso Dance Company were still decades from being born when, 54 years ago, the U.S. enacted a trade embargo with Cuba. But the effects of that embargo have overshadowed their lives and the lives of other Cuban artists ever since. But while the two nations, separated by 90 miles of water, have been politically at odds for more … Continue reading Cuban troupe Malpaso makes its Pittsburgh debut

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Attack Theatre co-founders Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope return to the stage

By Steve Sucato For most people, turning 20 is a minor milestone. But for dance companies, whose ages are measured in something more like dog years, it’s a pretty big deal. Attack Theatre’s co-founders, Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope, say their company’s 20th anniversary was the perfect excuse to get the old gang back together on stage. That’s something de la Reza, Kope … Continue reading Attack Theatre co-founders Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope return to the stage

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Glass, Confetti and Funny Faces

By Steve Sucato Fortune smiled on Monica Bill Barnes when she met Ira Glass, host of public radio’s This American Life, in 2012. She and her 18-year-old New York-based dance troupe, Monica Bill Barnes & Company Productions, have since enjoyed life-altering success, teaming with Glass for Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. In its second year of touring, the 90-minute, intermissionless extravaganza blends music, … Continue reading Glass, Confetti and Funny Faces

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Bodiography founder Maria Caruso stages her swan song as performer with her company

By Steve Sucato After 14 years as Bodiography Contemporary Ballet’s most prominent and compelling dancer, Maria Caruso is retiring as a performer with her company. She will take her final bows in the Bodiography program My Journey, Feb. 20 and 21, at the Byham Theater. A fixture on the Pittsburgh dance scene, Caruso will carry on as director/choreographer of the company and school she founded … Continue reading Bodiography founder Maria Caruso stages her swan song as performer with her company

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Dance/USA

Preparing for the Unthinkable: Dealing with Death in the Dance Workforce

By Steve Sucato Dancer Pedro Pupa, a Brazilian native, couldn’t have been more excited about Sarasota Ballet’s upcoming season he told the ballet’s assistant director Margaret Barbieri after a class on the morning of June 4th this past summer. Tragically, within hours of that conversation the energetic and amiable 20-year-old’s hopes for the new season ended after the bicycle he was riding hit a delivery … Continue reading Preparing for the Unthinkable: Dealing with Death in the Dance Workforce

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Ben Sota and Jil Stifel present the hybrid dance event ‘WaywardLand’

By Steve Sucato There are journeys in life, and then there are journeys of being. Jil Stifel and Ben Sota’s new work,WaywardLand, explores the idea that we’re on a journey in our human evolution. The 55-muinute abstract work combines circus, dance and physical theater, says Sota, 34, artistic director of the Zany Umbrella Circus.WaywardLand, part of The New Hazlett Theater’s Community Supported Art Performance Series, … Continue reading Ben Sota and Jil Stifel present the hybrid dance event ‘WaywardLand’

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