Category: Dance Reviews 2021

Dance Reviews 2021, DANCECleveland

Dance, Sports, Tragedy and Triumph, ‘The Running Show’ is a Winner [REVIEW]

Monica Bill Barnes & CompanyThe Running ShowThe University of Akron’s E. J. Thomas Performing Arts HallAkron, OH September 25, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Billed as an athletic, humorous and insightful dance-theater work/live documentary that looks at the life of a dancer as athlete/sports figure, Monica Bill Barnes & Company’s The Running Show did that as well as creating a glorious and touching metaphor for … Continue reading Dance, Sports, Tragedy and Triumph, ‘The Running Show’ is a Winner [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

Within RNZB’s Dystopian ‘The Firebird’ Ballet lies a Cautionary Tale [REVIEW]

Royal New Zealand BalletThe FirebirdDigital Stage ProductionAugust 27 – September 6, 2021 Reviewed by Steve SucatoLike a Greta Thunberg nightmare future come to life, Royal New Zealand Ballet choreographer-in-residence Loughlan Prior’s new production of The Firebird for the company, depicts a future where humans have destroyed the earth’s environment to the point of reducing the species to Mad Max-like movie characters that roam a barren … Continue reading Within RNZB’s Dystopian ‘The Firebird’ Ballet lies a Cautionary Tale [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

Lone Group Work Highlights Simmons Dance’s Solos Program [REVIEW]

Shana Simmons DanceSpring for SolosPittsburgh Ballet Theatre Stage at Flagstaff HillSchenley Park, Pittsburgh PAMay 20, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato A part of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s inaugural Open Air series at Schenley Park’s Flagstaff Hill stage, Shana Simmons Dance offered up the 50-minute program Spring for Solos. The collection of mostly solo works from the company’s repertory began with artistic director/choreographer Shana Simmons performing her … Continue reading Lone Group Work Highlights Simmons Dance’s Solos Program [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

Martinez’s ‘World of Another’ Pure Gold in Verb’s Contemporary Creations Program [REVIEW]

Verb BalletsContemporary CreationsDigital Stage ProductionMay 14, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato For the latest program in Verb Ballet’s 2020-21 virtual dance season, the company offered up a trio of works including two world-premieres that were created on the company. Filmed at Verb’s Shaker Heights, Ohio studio/performance space with Verb’s dancers masked up per usual adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols, the digital stage production opened with … Continue reading Martinez’s ‘World of Another’ Pure Gold in Verb’s Contemporary Creations Program [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

Good Vibes Permeate Inaugural ‘Open Air’ Artist Showcase [REVIEW]

OPEN AIR SERIES 2021 Artists ShowcaseCurated by Richard ParsakianPittsburgh Ballet Theatre Stage at Flagstaff HillSchenley Park, Pittsburgh PAMay 20, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Terpsichorean Richard Parsakian’s curated dance showcase for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s inaugural Open Air Series followed a similar format to his highly successful Pittsburgh Pride dance showcases of years past.  A stylistic variety of small dance works from ten mostly local artists … Continue reading Good Vibes Permeate Inaugural ‘Open Air’ Artist Showcase [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

BalletMet’s Return to Live Performance Unlocks Some Killer Works and Performances [REVIEW]

BalletMetUnlockedProgram A – May 16, 2021Program B – May 8, 2021Columbus, OH Reviewed by Steve Sucato BalletMet made its long-awaited return to live performance with Unlocked at the company’s Performance Space located adjacent to their main studio facility in Columbus. In May, the company launched performances of Unlocked’s two hourlong and varied repertory programs for select audiences made up of financial donors and season ticket … Continue reading BalletMet’s Return to Live Performance Unlocks Some Killer Works and Performances [REVIEW]

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CriticalDance.org, Dance Reviews 2021

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: Distinction and Delight [REVIEW]

Pittsburgh Ballet TheatreOpen Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing ArtsPrograms A and BMay 21 and 22, 2021 Flagstaff Hill at Schenley ParkPittsburgh, PA Steve Sucato As the hosts of the much-anticipated “Open Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing Arts,” Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) gave audiences a heaping helping of the kind of repertory new artistic director Susan Jaffe will be bringing to … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: Distinction and Delight [REVIEW]

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Dance Reviews 2021

Apocalyptic Winter of Discontent

Louisville Ballet – The Rite of SpringStreaming Digital PerformanceApril 22 – May 31, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato A frozen post-apocalyptic world where a seeded band of humans battle a viral plague to survive. That’s the plot of Louisville Ballet resident choreographer Andrea Schermoly’s re-interpretation of Vaslav Nijinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring. Part of Louisville Ballet’s all-digital 2020-21 Season of Illumination, the ballet art … Continue reading Apocalyptic Winter of Discontent

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Dance Reviews 2021

Results Somewhat Lacking in ‘Garage Experiments’ [REVIEW] 

Garage ExperimentsGalleria GarageCleveland, OhioMarch 26-27, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Perhaps one of the best signs there is light at the end of this global pandemic tunnel is the return of independent dancers/choreographers once again venturing out into the public to present work.  Such was the case with Garage Experiments, a works-in-progress showcase of six dancer/choreographers and one photographer. The drive-up showcase held at the … Continue reading Results Somewhat Lacking in ‘Garage Experiments’ [REVIEW] 

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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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