Author: artsair

International arts writer/critic for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Dance Reviews 2013, Pittsburgh City Paper

Another strong outing for Point Park’s ‘Contemporary Choreographers’ showcase

Reviewed by Steve Sucato One thing I have learned over a decade of reviewing Point Park University‘s Conservatory Dance Company’s shows is that they rarely contain a dull moment. The 2013 version of CDC’s annual Contemporary Choreographers program, this past Saturday, was no different. Fate brought former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre soloist Terence Marling back to Pittsburgh — or at least the subject did. Of his new work … Continue reading Another strong outing for Point Park’s ‘Contemporary Choreographers’ showcase

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2013, The Buffalo News

Traditional music and dance of Hungary come alive

By Steve Sucato News Contributing Reviewer The folk music and dance of Hungry lit up the Mainstage Theatre at UB’s Center for the Arts on Tuesday night as Budapest’s Hungarian State Folk Ensemble presented Hungarian Rhapsody, a delightful gypsy-themed journey through centuries of traditional Hungarian song and dance. From the outset, one got the feeling of being transported to an authentic Hungarian village festival where the … Continue reading Traditional music and dance of Hungary come alive

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2013

Case Western Reserve University’s ‘Au Courant’ an Emotional Journey

Case Western Reserve University Department of Dance – Au Courant Mather Dance Center at CWRU Cleveland, Ohio November 1, 2013 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Fervent emotion appeared to be the underlying theme of Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Dance Fall concert Au Courant (aware). The mixed repertory program performed by students, faculty and guest dancers at CWRU’s Mather Dance Center, explored a range of emotions … Continue reading Case Western Reserve University’s ‘Au Courant’ an Emotional Journey

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Pittsburgh City Paper

Experiences with hearing loss inspire Murphy/Smith Dance Collective’s latest dance work

By Steve Sucato Whether it is laughter, birds chirping or the rush of a car as it passes by, sound is integral to life. So what happens when sound is removed from our lives? That question inspired the Murphy/Smith Dance Collective’s new work, See What I Hear, which the company will perform Nov. 15 and 16 at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. The 60-minute multimedia work, choreographed by … Continue reading Experiences with hearing loss inspire Murphy/Smith Dance Collective’s latest dance work

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2013, The Plain Dealer

Verb Ballets’ ‘The Masque,’ based on the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, can’t hide its flaws

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Special to The Plain Dealer  “Disappointing” best describes Verb Ballets’ “The Masque: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe.” The rock opera-styled ballet that had its world premiere at the Breen Center for the Performing Arts at St. Ignatius High School on Friday night had enormous potential, given Verb’s talented dancers, Poe’s iconic poems and stories, and the brilliant musical talents of … Continue reading Verb Ballets’ ‘The Masque,’ based on the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, can’t hide its flaws

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2013, The Plain Dealer

Paul Taylor Dance Company brings joy, humor and genius to PlayhouseSquare

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Special to The Plain Dealer  With a body of work that is as rich and celebrated as choreographer Paul Taylor’s, the question when his namesake company comes to Cleveland is not whether it will be a good program but whether it will be a great one. Saturday night’s performance by the Paul Taylor Dance Company at PlayhouseSquare’s Ohio Theatre was the … Continue reading Paul Taylor Dance Company brings joy, humor and genius to PlayhouseSquare

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Pittsburgh City Paper

Attack Theatre returns to the scene of the crime in ‘The Chalk Line’

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Apparently it wasn’t case closed for Attack Theatre choreographers and artistic directors Peter Kope and Michele De La Reza after their 2011 crime-drama-inspired What?…This is What. Their latest production, The Chalk Line, re-envisions that 2011 dance-theater work. In the Nov. 2 performance, dancer Dane Toney opened the show by running onto the stage to a back wall, where he wrote in chalk, “Season 2 … Continue reading Attack Theatre returns to the scene of the crime in ‘The Chalk Line’

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Ballet opens its season with two modern classics by Twyla Tharp

By Steve Sucato Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre kicks off its 44th season with An Evening of Twyla Tharp, a salute to the irrepressible Emmy- and Tony Award-winning stage and screen choreographer. The Oct. 25-27 program features reprises of two of Tharp’s most popular works. First performed by PBT in 2006, the 35-minute “Nine Sinatra Songs” (1982) has a ballroom setting and features seven couples costumed in gowns and … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet opens its season with two modern classics by Twyla Tharp

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Pittsburgh City Paper

Zurich’s Zimmermann & de Perrot’s ‘Hans was Heiri’ makes U.S. premiere at Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts

By Steve Sucato Martin Zimmermann and Dimitri de Perrot say of their works, “We do everything very seriously, but take nothing seriously.” The award-winning duo’s Zurich-based Zimmermann & de Perrot combines circus arts, dance, theater and a whole lot of wackiness. The troupe makes its Pittsburgh debut with the U.S. premiere of Hans was Heiri, in three Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts shows at the August Wilson Center. On its website, the company describes … Continue reading Zurich’s Zimmermann & de Perrot’s ‘Hans was Heiri’ makes U.S. premiere at Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pittsburgh City Paper

Airings: Geeksdanz offers up chills and thrills in ‘Manifestations’

By Steve Sucato In April, Ellen Deutsch’s Geeksdanz interpreted the high-tech world of video gaming. Now her fledgling troupe explores a much older, low-tech form of entertainment: ghost stories. Manifestations ─ at Shadyside’s intimate Steel City Improv Theater ─ seeks to tingle spines and chill blood. Four dancers will perform to six stories by award-winning storyteller Alan Irvine, drawn from legends, folk tales and literary classics including Bram Stoker‘s “The Judge’s House”. The interpretations range … Continue reading Airings: Geeksdanz offers up chills and thrills in ‘Manifestations’

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment