Category: Dance Reviews

Dance Reviews 2013

Corning Masterful in New One-Woman Show about Loss

CorningWorks: The Glue Factory Project – Remains New Hazlett Theater Pittsburgh, PA June 5, 2013 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Choreographers as much or perhaps more than any other artists turn to their personal lives for inspiration in creating their works. Veteran dancer/choreographer Beth Corning in her last several productions for her Glue Factory Project – a performance series featuring dancers over the age of forty … Continue reading Corning Masterful in New One-Woman Show about Loss

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Theater Reviews

‘War Horse’ a Triumph of the Human Spirit

Reviewed by Steve Sucato One of the most anticipated Broadway touring productions to visit Cleveland this theater season as part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square, War Horse not only didn’t disappoint, it wowed.   The winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel of the same name, made an immediate impact in a performance … Continue reading ‘War Horse’ a Triumph of the Human Spirit

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Dance Reviews 2013, The Buffalo News

Russian National Ballet dances a pleasing Swan Lake

Reviewed by Steve Sucato A production of “Swan Lake” without its lovers’ tragic end? It appeared so Tuesday as Elena Radchenko’s Russian National Ballet Theatre performed its version of the ballet classic at the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts. The enchanted story of maidens under the spell of the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart who take the form of swans during the day and … Continue reading Russian National Ballet dances a pleasing Swan Lake

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Airings, Dance Reviews 2012, Dance Reviews 2013

AIRINGS: Mini Reviews of Conservatory Dance Company’s ‘The Jazz Nutcracker’, ‘A Son is Given: An Urban Ballet’ and Columbus Dance Theatre’s ‘Cleopatra’

By Steve Sucato Conservatory Dance Company – The Jazz Nutcracker Pittsburgh Playhouse Pittsburgh, PA December 9, 2012 Perhaps no ballet in history has seen more different incarnations than The Nutcracker. From traditional productions after Marius Petipa’s 1892 original to those far from traditional like Maurice Bejart’s pseudo-sexual 2000 production and Mark Morris’ The Hard Nut and everywhere in between, each holiday season brings with it … Continue reading AIRINGS: Mini Reviews of Conservatory Dance Company’s ‘The Jazz Nutcracker’, ‘A Son is Given: An Urban Ballet’ and Columbus Dance Theatre’s ‘Cleopatra’

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Dance Reviews 2013, Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Unspoken’ a gem of a program

Reviewed by Steve Sucato March 13, 2013 A year after he co-founded New York’s School of American Ballet in 1934, George Balanchine created “Serenade” (1935), a ballet that began as a lesson for his advanced students at the school on how to perform on a stage. Since then the iconic ballet has become a mainstay in the repertories of professional and pre-professional ballet companies across … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Unspoken’ a gem of a program

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Theater Reviews

‘Priscilla’ takes audience on a Glam-tastic Adventure

January 15, 2013 State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare Cleveland, OH Reviewed by Steve Sucato Move over Cleopatra, there is another desert queen capturing hearts and imaginations. She’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the outrageous musical about three drag queens traveling the Australian Outback in search of new adventures and new lives. The Key Bank Broadway Series production at PlayhouseSquare’s State Theatre in Cleveland was adapted from the … Continue reading ‘Priscilla’ takes audience on a Glam-tastic Adventure

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Dance Reviews 2012

Joffrey’s ‘American’ Nutcracker Still Sparkles After A Quarter Century

December 2, 2012 PlayhouseSquare Center – State Theater Cleveland, OH By Steve Sucato In the 25-years since Robert Joffrey created his ‘American’ Nutcracker ballet, it has become one of the most popular touring productions of E.T.A. Hoffman’s classic holiday tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. For his version of the ballet conceived from a 1940 production by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and set … Continue reading Joffrey’s ‘American’ Nutcracker Still Sparkles After A Quarter Century

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Dance Reviews 2012, Pittsburgh City Paper

Contemporary Choreographers program is a triumph

Reviewed by Steve Sucato A clap of thunder and the sound of howling winds hailed the four dancers who appeared out of darkness, emerging into the spotlight upstage at Point Park University’s George Rowland White Performance Studio. The startling opening of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre corps de ballet dancer Cooper Verona’s “Very Instinctual” set the tone for an impressive ballet packed with surprises. The work opened … Continue reading Contemporary Choreographers program is a triumph

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Dance Reviews 2012

Spellbound Contemporary Ballet Opens First U.S. Tour with a Program Showing Brilliance but Lacking in Variety

Reviewed by Steve Sucato The old adage about too much of a good thing being undesirable was evident in the program Italy’s Spellbound Contemporary Ballet presented to open their first “official” U.S. tour at Cleveland’s Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare Center. Without equivocation the 9-member troupe from Rome was breathtaking in artistic director/choreographer Mauro Astolfi’s exquisite contemporary ballet choreography for each of the works on the … Continue reading Spellbound Contemporary Ballet Opens First U.S. Tour with a Program Showing Brilliance but Lacking in Variety

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Dance Reviews 2012

Paris Opera Ballet’s ‘Giselle’ a Masterpiece

Presented by the Harris Theater Chicago, IL June 28, 2012 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Chicago in recent years has become a destination city for great dance. So it wasn’t a surprise when the Paris Opera Ballet launched its first U.S. tour in 15-years in The Windy City. What was surprising however, was that POB’s performances June 26- July 1 at the Harris Theater were the very … Continue reading Paris Opera Ballet’s ‘Giselle’ a Masterpiece

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