Imagination Abounds in Two New Nutcracker Productions [PREVIEWS]

By Steve SucatoDecember 8, 2023 ’Tis the season for Nutcracker, and that includes new productions. This month, Milwaukee Ballet and Orlando Ballet each present world premieres that reimagine the holiday ballet’s magical journey with a mix of tradition, cultural sensitivity, and imagination. Milwaukee Ballet Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink reconceptualizes his 2003 The Nutcracker with his new The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer’s Imaginarium. With his new production, Pink set out to solve … Continue reading Imagination Abounds in Two New Nutcracker Productions [PREVIEWS]

Pittsburgh Dance Council 53rd Season Opens With One Of Its Strongest Productions In A Decade [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato After two Covid-related cancellations, Pittsburgh audiences will finally experience the U.S. premiere of contemporary flamenco artist Rocio Molina’s Caída del Cielo (Fallen from Heaven). The one-woman, full-length, multimedia dance-theater piece kicks off the Pittsburgh Dance Council’s 2023-24 season on Saturday, September 23, at the Byham Theater. In it, Molina contrasts light and darkness, celestial and savage. Accompanied by a live band, Caída del Cielo (Contains … Continue reading Pittsburgh Dance Council 53rd Season Opens With One Of Its Strongest Productions In A Decade [PREVIEW]

Popular ‘Carmen’ Ballet Returns to Open Cleveland Ballet’s Ninth Season [PREVIEW]

By Rena Vysnionis (with Steve Sucato) Cleveland Ballet opens its 2023-2024 mainstage season at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace, September 22-23, with the triple bill Carmen & Other Works. Here’s a look: “Pas de Dix” from the 1898 ballet Raymonda features exquisite original choreography by Marius Petipa for five couples to the inspiring score by Alexander Glazunov. It is one of the most performed works by major ballet companies worldwide. Casting: Gabriela Checo, Alexander Guzmán, … Continue reading Popular ‘Carmen’ Ballet Returns to Open Cleveland Ballet’s Ninth Season [PREVIEW]

Gerald Arpino: His time to be celebrated

By Steve Sucato The Joffrey Ballet, co-founded in 1956 by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, is proudly described on the company website as “America’s Company of Firsts.” It was the first dance company to appear on American television, the first to grace the cover of Time magazine, the first to perform at the White House, and the first classical dance company to use multimedia and a rock music … Continue reading Gerald Arpino: His time to be celebrated

Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet Cain Park Program to Celebrate Retiring Dancer Lieneke Matte [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato After a decade with the company, beloved dancer Lieneke Matte is retiring from Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet. The company will recognize Matte with the free program, Celebrating the Career of Lieneke Matte, on June 23 at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheatre. A native of the Bronx, New York, Matte received her early dance training at New York’s Ballet Tech, the School of American … Continue reading Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet Cain Park Program to Celebrate Retiring Dancer Lieneke Matte [PREVIEW]

Paul Vasterling Reflects on His More Than Three-Decade Career at Nashville Ballet

By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine In his 33 years with Nashville Ballet, artistic director Paul Vasterling has left an indelible mark on the organization. This month, he retires from the company, marking the end of an era. A Louisiana-bayou native, Vasterling joined Nashville Ballet in 1989 as a dancer. After a back injury cut short his performance career, he became the company’s ballet master … Continue reading Paul Vasterling Reflects on His More Than Three-Decade Career at Nashville Ballet

Part Two of DanceWorks Series to Feature More of Cleveland’s Dance Stalwarts [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato (with Kim Furganson) In welcoming back eager audiences to re-engage with its annual DanceWorks series again, Cleveland Public Theatre decided on a two-part approach. In Part One of the series that ran from February 23 – March 11, Cleveland mainstay dance company Inlet Dance Theatre was paired with two relatively new dance troupes to Cleveland’s dance scene, MadJax Dance Company, and Reflections Dance Theater. … Continue reading Part Two of DanceWorks Series to Feature More of Cleveland’s Dance Stalwarts [PREVIEW]

‘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

Resurgent DanceWorks Series Set to Challenge and Entertain Audiences Beginning Thursday [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato (with Kim Furganson) Begun in 2004, Cleveland Public Theatre’s annual DanceWorks series is back in a big way this year with seven Northeast Ohio area professional dance troupes performing over seven weekends beginning with Part One of the series launching this Thursday-Saturday with MadJax Dance Company. Over its history, the DanceWorks Series has come to audiences in various configurations including split bill … Continue reading Resurgent DanceWorks Series Set to Challenge and Entertain Audiences Beginning Thursday [PREVIEW]