Parsons Dance’s Program a Delightful Mix of Current and Classic Works [REVIEW]

Parsons Dance The University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall Akron, Ohio October 12, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Few choreographers begin their careers with what would be their seminal work. David Parsons did just that with his 1982 work “Caught”.  On the greatest hits list of modern dance works of the 20th century, “Caught” was one of five works Parsons Dance performed Saturday night at … Continue reading Parsons Dance’s Program a Delightful Mix of Current and Classic Works [REVIEW]

Cuba’s Malpaso Dance Company Returns to Cleveland with Program of Quiet Brilliance

Malpaso Dance Company Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre Cleveland, Ohio August 10, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato With previous performances in Cleveland in 2016 and 2017, Malpaso Dance Company’s return this past Saturday to Playhouse Square and the Allen Theatre felt like seeing a dear friend again. Presented by DANCECleveland in collaboration with American Dance Festival to close out the third annual American Dance Festival in … Continue reading Cuba’s Malpaso Dance Company Returns to Cleveland with Program of Quiet Brilliance

BalletX Marked the Spot for Great Dance at ADF in CLE

BalletX Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre Cleveland, Ohio July 27, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Philadelphia’s BalletX opened DANCECleveland’s 2019-2020 season this past Saturday as part of year three of the annual American Dance Festival in Cleveland. The contemporary ballet company founded in 2005 by former Pennsylvania Ballet dancers Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan, made its Cleveland debut at Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre in a program … Continue reading BalletX Marked the Spot for Great Dance at ADF in CLE

Joint Bodiography and Graham 2 Program a Triumph

Bodiography and Graham 2 – Horizons Byham Theater Pittsburgh, PA April 26-27, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato For the first-ever collaboration of its kind for both Pittsburgh-based Bodiography Contemporary Ballet and New York’s Graham 2, the joint program Horizons, on April 26 at Pittsburgh’s Byham Theater, offered up a unique look at what each company does best; the ballets of their respective company founders, Maria … Continue reading Joint Bodiography and Graham 2 Program a Triumph

Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘Extremely Close’, Extremely Good [REVIEW]

Grand Rapids Ballet – Extremely Close Peter Martin Wege Theatre Grand Rapids, MI April 12-14, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato In the company’s first season under new artistic director James Sofranko, Grand Rapids Ballet appears to be continuing on the path of upward trajectory begun by former artistic director Patricia Barker now the director of The Royal New Zealand Ballet. The company’s program Extremely Close, … Continue reading Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘Extremely Close’, Extremely Good [REVIEW]

Ailey Magic Returns to Playhouse Square [REVIEW]

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre Cleveland, Ohio April 27, 2019  By Steve Sucato The return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to Northeast, Ohio is always a hotly anticipated event. The company’s 60th anniversary tour performances this past weekend (April 26-28) at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre in Cleveland rewarded that anticipation with memorable works and dancing. Presented by Playhouse … Continue reading Ailey Magic Returns to Playhouse Square [REVIEW]

CorningWorks’ ‘with a shadow of…’ a Muddling of Liminal Space

CorningWorks – with a shadow of… New Hazlett Theater Pittsburgh, PA March 27-31, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato In the lead up to her latest GLUE FACTORY PROJECT work with a shadow of…, dancer/choreographer Beth Corning said “I hope nobody makes any sense of this work; none.” Mission accomplished. Pittsburgh’s queen of metaphor outdid herself with the hourlong collection of mind minutia and movement that … Continue reading CorningWorks’ ‘with a shadow of…’ a Muddling of Liminal Space

Vertigo’s ‘One, One & One’ Leaves Heads Spinning with Delight

Vertigo Dance Company – One, One & OnePlayhouse Square’s Ohio TheatreCleveland, OhioMarch 9, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato The theme of the individual versus the group is nothing new in dance. Countless works have explored some aspect of it. Choreographer Noa Wertheim’s hour-long One, One & One (2017) performed by her Vertigo Dance Company Saturday night at Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre, however, offered up a … Continue reading Vertigo’s ‘One, One & One’ Leaves Heads Spinning with Delight

REVIEW: Verb Ballets Celebrates the Life & Legacy of Ian Horvath

Verb Ballets – Dance Legacy: Celebrating the Life of Ian Horvath The Breen Center for the Performing ArtsCleveland, OhioFebruary 9, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato It’s been nearly three decades since former Cleveland Ballet (predecessor company to the current Cleveland Ballet) co-founder Ian “Ernie” Horvath (1943-1990) lost his battle with AIDS at age 46. The life and career of this Cleveland native who danced with Joffrey … Continue reading REVIEW: Verb Ballets Celebrates the Life & Legacy of Ian Horvath

Poetry, Tai Chi and Shakespeare: Beijing Dance Theater’s Cleveland Debut had Range

Beijing Dance TheaterPlayhouse Square – Ohio TheatreCleveland, OhioFebruary 2, 2019 Reviewed by Steve Sucato As the curtain rose this past Friday at Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre, it revealed a sculptural piece suspended low over the stage looking like a deconstructed top spinning round. That image was soon replaced by dancers clad in black shorts and tops who, as the sculpture was raised slowly into the … Continue reading Poetry, Tai Chi and Shakespeare: Beijing Dance Theater’s Cleveland Debut had Range